Objects of Desire


"Then it appears we've reached an impasse." Rafael sighed, reaching a hand out to Marcus. "Such a shame to destroy such fine examples of female anatomy."

The Demon Sword dug in her heel, face a snarl as her forearm disappeared in a flash of white.

"I'm gonna make you eat those words."

"We'll see who's eating what when I'm done with you." Marcus chuckled darkly, disappearing in a flash of dull violet. Sonya and Alexa fled into the hands of their Meisters, assuming weapon form as Rafael caught Marcus in midair. Roland and Kyla jumped back as the bleach blonde Meister lunged, Weapon forcing a small cloud of sand into the air as it dug into the tunnel's soft floor.

"By Death, he's-" Sonya gawked.

"Huge, I know." Marcus interrupted from within his weapon form, grinning wildly. "I hear ladies like 'em big."

Marcus now resembled an immense sword, almost two feet longer than his Meister was tall with a blade wider than a human head. His blade, however, was a long rectangular piece of metal with flat edges and a rounded point, ringed with countless small dagger-like teeth. Situated on his long haft was what appeared to be a trigger, and just under his cross guard was the pale gray handle of a rip cord.

"Oh come on!" The image of Alexa palming her forehead was reflected within her blade. "Who the hell combined a chainsaw and a sword?"

The thundering roar of Marcus's engine drowned the Demon Sword's tirade as Rafael gave his Weapon's rip cord a forceful tug. Marcus's now spinning teeth threw sand in all directions as his Meister flourished the immense sword, pointing the whirring blade at his opponents.

"I am Rafael Giordano, Chainswordsman!" Marcus's insane laughter could barely be heard over his Meister and the growl of his own engine. "I shall claim your souls in the name of the Black Knight. You have offered me no recourse."

He took a single step forward, slashing Marcus at both Roland and Kyla in the same swing. Roland leapt back, barely deflecting the threatening edge with his own, while Kyla deftly sprang out of reach.

Already an unpleasant prickling sensation began to chaff at Roland's palms as he thrust Alexa at the advancing Chainswordsman, only to be forced further in the opposite direction to avoid Marcus's screaming blade. But even as Roland fell back Kyla went on the offensive, letting the chainsword pass harmlessly under her as she leapt and planted her feet on the vertical tunnel wall, seeming to hang there for a moment before pushing off and lashing at Rafael while she sailed over his head.

She landed in a crouch several feet behind him, spinning just in time to catch Rafael's immense Weapon with Sonya's edge. Marcus's spinning teeth caught on the Demon Hoop's blade, and suddenly Kyla found herself struggling against not only his oppressive weight but also his roaring engine as his teeth fought to pull her Weapon from her hands.

But as he tried to overwhelm the Hoop Meister Roland took the opportunity to slam an open palm into the small of his back, making Rafael grimace at the stinging wavelength attack. With a muttered curse he disengaged Kyla and lashed at the other swordsman, Marcus carving a jagged line in the sandstone wall before crashing into the ground at Roland's feet as he backpedaled to avoid the blow.

They paused to catch their breath, Rafael looking back and forth between Kyla and Roland. Blood wept from a gash in his shoulder, staining his white blazer red.

"Any closer to my neck and this battle would already be over." He said sheepishly. "You're going to regret missing that shot."

"Give it up Rafael." Kyla began, holding Sonya loosely at her side. "There's no way you can fight both of us in such an enclosed space."

"If that's the case…" Marcus chuckled. "I guess we'll just have to make some room, eh Rafael?"

"Right you are." Responded his Meister.

In a sudden blur of motion he slashed at the roof of the tunnel above Kyla, forcing her to dive past him as large pieces of stone fell from the gutted ceiling and blocked off the passage. Without wasting a moment his blade continued on to meet the wall, spitting small chips of sand stone in all directions as Marcus lacerated the ancient barrier. With a final flourish Rafael withdrew his Weapon, having gouged a gaping hole that appeared to lead into the neighboring chamber.

The Chainswordsman disappeared into the improvised entrance without a word, leaving Kyla and Roland in the tunnel to ponder their next move.

"With the tunnel blocked there's no way to bypass him." Sighed Kyla. "We'll just have to play along and hope we find another way through."

Sonya whimpered as the pair moved to pursue their opponent.

"I hope the others are having a better time than we are."


"Jackson's right. Fighting in your current condition would be detrimental to our cause." Chris's left arm hung loosely at his side as he assumed his gunfighter's stance, eyes not leaving the witch as he continued to address his teammates. "Leave this to us."

This elicited a girlish chuckle from Lila, to which Chris responded with a tired sigh, cherry blossoms swirling lazily past him on a slight breeze.

"Come on Claire..." Moonlight glinted off the Demon Gun's chrome barrel.

"Let's show her the power of a Two-Star Meister."

Lila was a cackling blur of black and violet as she charged, claws trailing parallel gashes behind her as she streaked towards the stationary Gun Meister. But her glowing talons passed harmlessly by as Chris lunged and slammed his elbow into the witch's solar plexus. There was an audible crack that was quickly followed by Claire's bark as Chris slammed six wavelength slugs into Lila's leather clad stomach.

The combined force of the blows were enough to not only bring the witch's charge to a abrupt and painful halt, but to lift her off her feet and send her sprawling in the other direction. She landed on her back with a choked cry as the impact jostled her now fractured ribcage, claws twitching spasmodically as pain wracked her body and tears sprang to her eyes.

Isabelle could only gasp in disbelief as Jackson slung an arm around her shoulders and helped her to her feet. He's so fast, is this what a Two-Star Meister is capable of?

With another pained cry Lila struggled to her feet, only to fall whimpering to her knees as her Cobra Flayer claws dissipated.

"You witches never learn, do you?" Asked Chris, taking a step forward with Claire trained on the witch as she fought for breath. "How many of you do we have to kill before you understand the futility of your actions? How many of you must die in this pointless struggle against Death?"

She met his gaze with steely eyes, but her voice wavered feebly. "Our struggle stops at extinction, Meister. So long as there is a witch who draws breath, there will be no peace."

He pulled Claire's hammer back with a click. "So be it. Lila, Mongoose Witch, your soul is mine."

"Any last words before we paint the floor with your brains, skunk head?" Quipped Claire, beaming triumphantly within her weapon form.

The witch's piercing stare was enough to send a shiver down the cocky Demon Gun's spine.

"Weasels, weasel, mongoose!"

Chris's shot went awry as a sudden shock wave threw him across the courtyard. Jackson stooped to shield his Meister from the sudden burst of energy as Lila rose from the crater she had left in the wake of her transformation.

"Mamba Flayer!"

"Um… Chris? I think we should seriously consider adopting a shoot first ask questions later policy." Chris ignored his Weapon's comment, springing to his feet and shaking off the daze of the impact.

"You know, most witches shy away from close-range combat. But not me, no sir." Lila began, her voice no longer reflecting her grievous wound. "In fact, I went as far as to custom build a series of spells specifically designed to boost my melee abilities." She held up a single glowing talon. "The first was Cobra Flayer. This, is the second."

The original talons had returned, but this time with the addition of a half dozen quills that sprouted from each forearm and swept up towards her shoulders. Her legs were similarly clad, enveloped in gently glowing energy with violet ribbons trailing from her knees and hips while her feet were tipped with small, wicked looking claws. A nebulous orb of the same energy encapsulated her chest, rising from between her shoulder blades to wreath her head in a mantle of violet flame.

Though he would never admit it to anyone, Jackson was secretly glad that his Meister had been wounded so early in the fight. It meant that she wouldn't have to face the witch in her current form.

That was assuming, of course, that Chris and Claire survived.

An outcome that seemed increasingly unlikely as the Gun Meister barely dodged a stone shattering blow, throwing himself into an evasive roll as Lila threw of volley of Pin Missiles in his direction with a backhanded flick of her arm. The projectiles blossomed into brilliant violet explosions as she sprang at her quarry, claws shredding stone like paper as wavelength slug after wavelength slug failed to slow her attacks.

Jackson looked on with increasing anxiety as the one sided battle continued to rage, Chris barely keeping a step ahead of his determined opponent. A pained moan from Isabelle prompted him to dip his head to hers.

"Just hold on, all right? I'm gonna get you out of here." He assured her, helping her limp towards the gate that led out of the courtyard.

"Jackson, we can't." She whimpered, amber eyes pleading with the Demon Axe. "They'll die if we don't help."

"And how are we going to do that? You're not going to be much help in your condition." He snapped, hoping his severe tone would dissuade his Meister from the foolish course of action she was insinuating. "Or do you want me to lean you against the wall and go fight her myself?" He added, immediately regretting the addendum, knowing that if push came to shove he'd probably do just that.

"Please, just wait a minute, I…" She cast a desperate glance over her shoulder as another series of explosions rumbled through the courtyard.

"I have a plan."


Rafael and Marcus had kept their word, the chamber that they'd broken into was truly massive. Its ceiling was shrouded in darkness unmoved by the torches that lined the lower sections of the walls and cast their orange glow on the smooth sandstone floor. Roland and Kyla entered cautiously, stepping gingerly over the scattered rubble at the improvised entrance the chainsword had left in its wake.

The purr and occasional hiccup of Marcus's engine gave the room an edgy ambiance which seemed to contradict the smile his Meister greeted their opponents with.

"This guy is ridiculous." Roland heard Alexa grumble.

"There, now we've plenty of space in which to maneuver. Our contest can continue uninhibited." He turned his back to them, not noticing Roland and Kyla edging closer as he rolled his shoulders. "Shall we resume?"

Roland's answer came with the searing impact of his wavelength attack, slamming an open palm into the Chainswordsman's side and throwing his soul against his enemy's. The attack sent Rafael skidding sideways and before he could steady himself Kyla inundated him with a blinding flurry of slashes, Sonya's blade humming as she spun around her Meister.

"There may be more room for you to use your Weapon-" Kyla said as her relentless attacks continued, Rafael bracing the flat of his chainsword against his arm in an effort to stymie the Demon Hoop's stinging blade. Marcus's engine roared with mechanical vigor as Rafael launched his counterattack, simply forcing his immense Weapon through the incoming blows to chop at the attacking Meister. "-but all you've done is give me more room to avoid it!"

Marcus's teeth met stone as Kyla threw herself into a roll, coming up behind the Chainswordsman and whipping Sonya across his back. Rafael gave a pained growl as the Demon Hoop drew a bright red line from his hip to his shoulder, and Marcus matched his Meister's growl with the scream of his engine as Rafael lashed at his attacker.

But the nimble Hoop Meister sprang over the slash; letting Marcus's gnashing teeth gut sandstone as she gracefully landed several feet away.

"And now you can't even touch me." She smirked, predatory violet eyes twinkling from under her deep azure bangs.

Rafael prepared to spit a dignified response, but his Weapon's shouted warning drew his attention elsewhere.

"On your right Raf!" The Chainswordsman raised his Weapon just in time to catch Alexa's blade, Marcus grinning at the Demon Sword. "Just couldn't wait for your turn, eh?" He chuckled. "Don't worry, most girls share that sentiment."

His comment left Alexa gawking, flushed. "You're such a pig! Roland-!" Her Meister grunted. "Let's kick this guy's ass!"

With another grunt of affirmation Roland disengaged the chainsword, side stepping the Weapon as it fell forward without resistance and sending his own whistling towards Rafael's chest. In a blur of bleach blonde Rafael ducked under a snarling Alexa, slipping past Roland and blocking the backhanded slash that pursued him before retaliating with one of his own. Kyla stalked around the periphery of the fight, waiting for an opening to present itself as the two swordsmen came together in a tangle of blades and screeching metal.

Marcus's size denied his Meister some of the speed Roland enjoyed with his smaller Weapon, but the Demon Chainsword made up for the difference with raw power. So far Roland was still able to avoid the blows he would've been unable to block, and Rafael's technique gave him periodic openings to launch wavelength attacks, but the Chainswordsman was not the only one Roland had to contend with. Alexa's hostile wavelength had already numbed his arms to the point where he couldn't feel the impact of his Weapon meeting Rafael's, his blows becoming increasingly sluggish as the Demon Sword seemed to grow heavier and heavier. It had gotten to the point where she was less a Weapon and more a piece of metal with which to fend off Rafael's attacks while he waited for an opportunity to land a wavelength strike.

And after a few moments of struggle, one did. Roland lunged to press an open palm against Rafael's stomach, slamming his wavelength into the Chainswordsman and sending him skidding backwards. Kyla took advantage of his vulnerability, springing forward and catching his neck on Sonya's dull inner edge. With a grunt Kyla rolled backwards, pulling Rafael with her and planting her feet at the small of his back to send him sprawling in the opposite direction.

"Alexa, remember that electrical attack you did during our duel with your sister?" Roland hurriedly asked as Rafael struggled to his feet, coughing.

"Yeah, what about it?" There was obvious annoyance in Alexa's response.

Kyla lunged at Rafael just as he regained his footing, but Marcus's gnashing teeth quickly forced her to dance out of reach.

"Now might be a good time to use it."

Before the Sword had a chance to protest her Meister had already covered half the distance between them and the dazed Rafael, knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip around her haft. Alexa's mind raced as she tried to remember how she'd performed the attack in the first place.

Let's see, we were fighting and… She felt her blood run a degree cooler at the memory of her sister's comment. That's it. Her eyes darted to Sonya, torchlight glinting off her razor edge as Roland seemed to speed past the pair in slow motion, drawing closer to Rafael and Marcus with crushing inevitability. It was her. A familiar bitter taste filled the Demon Sword's mouth. I thought of her. Roland was swinging her now, angling her towards their opponent, her blade splitting the air. Why doesn't he understand?

It was her-

Almost too fast to see, a single brilliant arc of electricity leapt from her cross guard to the tip of her blade.

-fault.

A single word found its way to the tip of Alexa's tongue, bursting from between her lips almost against her will, on instinct.

"VOLT!"

Time seemed to hang still for a moment. Alexa could see Rafael's dismayed blink and Marcus's angry snarl with startling clarity, rivulets of energy bridging the gap between the her blade and his own as they drew ever nearer to each other. But despite the coming violence, her mind orbited only one thought.

It was her fault.

The crash of their Weapons meeting thundered in the cavernous chamber, the screech of Marcus's teeth against Alexa's edge matched by the hair-raising crackling of the electricity that danced along the Demon Sword's blade. Now it was Roland whose silhouette began to blur as he spun, slashing again and again at the Chainswordsman, electricity trailing behind his Weapon as she forced Rafael further and further back with her newly empowered blows.

Alexa trembled with seething anger. What right did she have to come between me and my Meister? All she's caused is trouble! The Demon Sword shuddered with a whimper as Roland's wavelength began to mesh with hers, gently enveloping her stormy soul. Eager and hopeful she moved to reciprocate. See? Look at what we can do! Can't you see? We don't need her! Don't you understand? A ripple of doubt disturbed their growing resonance. Don't you? The doubt turned to resentment, manifesting itself as increasing friction between the wavelengths of the Weapon and Meister. Do you even care? The electricity skittering across her blade became sporadic; some of the unruly ribbons crawling up her Meister's arm to add to the quickly intensifying pain of her bristling wavelength. You don't care!

"Alexa-!" Roland's warning was cut short as the wavelength rejection physically threw them apart, forcing Alexa to return to human form and sending both skidding away from each other. It was only upon hitting the far wall of the chamber, however, that Alexa's thoughts returned to the battle at hand.

Roland had sunk to his knees, shoulders slumped, arms hanging weakly at his sides. She swore she could see steam rising from the reddened limbs. Did I do that?

"Dear me, that was impressive." Coughed a familiar chainswordsman. His left arm hung at his side, twitching spasmodically as blood wept from a gash just above his elbow. "Using electricity to inhibit your enemy's nervous system… quite a tactic indeed."

"I think we need a boost Raf." Growled Marcus.

He rolled his good shoulder. "Against all three of them… yes. That seems reasonable." Giving Marcus's trigger a squeeze he imbedded the Weapon in the sandstone floor, reaching the freed hand into his pocket. Alexa's breath caught in her throat when it reappeared. No…

"Bastard!" Kyla hissed as he drew two faintly glowing blue orbs from the pocket of his white blazer. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? Those are the souls of innocent humans! You'll go mad if you consume them!"

Rafael shot the Hoop Meister an annoyed look, tsking quietly. "So naïve, but I suppose it's to be expected from one of Death's soldiers." He tossed one of the souls to Marcus, who caught it with an outstretched hand and a feral grin as his torso emerged from his blade. "We will show you the price of your ignorance." Head tilted back he lowered the pulsing sphere into his open mouth. Marcus laughed darkly, practically shoving the unfortunate soul down his throat as he retreated into his weapon form.

Even Alexa, who possessed no Soul Perception to speak of, felt their twisted souls inflate with power as they consumed those of the innocent humans. Marcus's engine filled the chamber with its roar, seeming to saturate the air with his aimless anger and madness as Rafael gave their enemies a grin that now sported pointed, shark-like teeth. The Demon Sword cast an anxious look to her allies, the disheveled but collected Kyla and her Meister, Roland, who had yet to rise, his shallow breathing reaching her ears like a pained whisper.

Rafael leveled Marcus at Kyla, holding the immense chainsword with only his good arm. "Come, my blade hungers."

With a huff, Alexa staggered forwards, surprised at how weak her legs felt. That wavelength rejection must've taken a toll on me to. Eyes steeling she whipped her arm to her side as it disappeared in a flash of white, the billowing cuffs of her bell-bottoms shifting as she brandished her blade arm. Marcus's cackling could barely be heard over the scream of his engine.

"Delicious."


Spirit, the scarlet headed Death Scythe, was leaning silent and unseen against the towering mirror that was the lonely and central furnishing of the Death Room, his Meister bobbing up and down in gesticulation as he spoke into it's opposite side. Hands buried in the pockets of his slacks he let his bloody red bangs hang over his eyes, quietly following the quirky tones and melodies of the Death God's paradoxical voice.

"I'm glad to hear it! I'll admit was just a teeny bit worried that Europe Branch would have some trouble with Justin here in the States."

There was an effeminate laugh.

"Well sir, as an Autonomous Weapon Justin never really spent much time at Headquarters anyway." Another chuckle. "We're all quite used to having him disappear for days at a time, hunting pre-Kishin and whatnot, so we're well adapted to operating in his absence."

The Shinigami bobbed again, eyes smiling. "Good, good. With most of the Death Scythes here at Shibusen, I wanted to make sure that their jurisdictions were still holding together without them."

"Did you hear?" The faceless voice had the hint of a sly smirk. "They had a 'wear-your-pajamas-to-work-day' down at East Asia Branch the day after Azusa left."

They shared a laugh at that, Spirit struggling to stifle his own mirth as Death's laughter drew to a close with a happy sigh.

"So, how's Sasha been?"

The Death Sycthe's face and mood immediately darkened. The fact that the voice did not hesitate for even a moment before responding only exacerbated his growing anxiety.

"She's doing fine, a little bit restless though. We haven't been on a mission in months. How has Roland been doing? Has he found a Weapon yet?"

Spirit found himself grinding his teeth. How can they be so nonchalant? It's like they're pretending nothing ever happened!

"He has, as a matter of fact. They've collected a little over thirty souls, but they're in a bit of a rough patch right now."

A proud smile was evident in the voice when it responded. "He'll pull through, he's a pragmatic boy. Just like his father was." There was a moment of silence. "What kind of Weapon is he?"

Death cleared his throat. "She is a Demon Sword."

"A Demon Sword… just like-" The voice had the whimsical quality of reminiscence.

"Yes-" The Shinigami interrupted. "In fact, that's just what I've been meaning to discuss with you."

Words were exchanged. Spirit winced. He and the Death God had discussed how they were going to break the news to her at great length, with the hope that Sasha's short temper had not rubbed off on her Meister in the years since the accident. Though that was proving to be the case, Spirit could tell from his former classmate's quickly straining voice that she desperately needed a hug.

"Did anyone sense his soul?"

The Death God was silent. There was a resigned sigh from the voice in the mirror.

"There are only three people in the world with a soul like that. It's the only way to know for certain. Are you sure no one saw it?"

Death raised an angular finger to his invisible chin. "Actually, come to think of it, one of the students on that mission did have Soul Perception. Perhaps she could-"

The voice had an aggressive, almost desperate edge. "He was attacking students?"

"He's in league with witches Madeline. We don't know why, and we're not even sure it's really him, but either way this character has made their loyalties plain."

The voice in the mirror whimpered, and Death continued in a softer tone.

"I'm sorry it's come to this, but we knew his sanity was compromised by the Tibet Incident. The only reason we didn't act earlier is because he dropped off the radar, but I'm afraid I can no longer stay my hand."

There was a moment of silence.

"Under normal circumstances I'd be sending Stein and Marie, but both of them are already committed to locating the Kishin. It's the same story with Sid and Nygus, though I doubt they'd be able to beat him either way. The other Death Scythes are all occupied with their respective duties, so you see the predicament I've been placed in."

Another moment of silence. This time it was Madeline who ended it.

"So… you want me to do it." There was another lull in the conversation as she seemed to mull over the inferred request. "You know how much stronger he got just after the accident, how much stronger we all got. And I have no doubt he's only been getting stronger since."

The God bowed his head. "Madeline, I truly wish there was another way. I know how close you all were, but without Stein you're the only person I can rely on. Will you do it?"

There was a tired sigh. "Yes sir. I'll gather my things and contact you again in a week's time."

Death's chipper attitude suddenly, jarringly, returned. "Well then, catch 'a later! Keep up the good work! Keep Europe Branch in line for me, eh?"

A faint click signaled that the communication had ended. Spirit peeled himself from the back of the mirror with a sigh.

"I still can't believe that you two can talk about it so nonchalantly. Like she's still there." He shivered at the thought. "It's unnatural."

Death groaned. "Spirit, we've been over this. Sasha isn't dead. None of those Weapons are. They're just-"

"I know, I know." Interrupted Spirit, waving off his Meister's imminent explanation. "Do you think she can do it? I mean, he was strong back when he was a student. Imagine how much stronger he'll be now that his soul has-"

"Don't forget that Madeline went through the same process. As far as we know, they're on an even playing field." He steepled his rectangular index fingers. "But only time will tell. Hopefully the students can put a stop to whatever he's planning before it's too late."


"COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SNAKE!" Chunks of stone and clods of dirt were thrown into the air as one of Lila's claws gouged a sizeable furrow into a piece of courtyard once occupied by a certain nimble gun fighter. The aforementioned gun fighter had darted out of reach just in the nick of time, barely avoiding the blow and slamming three more unnoticed wavelength slugs into the snarling Mongoose Witch.

"This isn't really working." Observed Claire, her voice surprisingly calm despite the glowing talon that whistled within inches of gutting her Meister.

"Ah, really? Such insight Claire!" Bending slightly at the waist, Chris avoided a second swipe before rolling to the side to avoid a third. "Have you considered a career as a military strategist?"

"Psh, who put the bee in your bonnet Sassafras? So sassy today!" The tip of Lila's middle finger nicked the sleeve of Chris's dress shirt. "But seriously, we're kinda gettin' shafted out here. How about we hit her with Brontide?"

"That might be a wise course of action." With a flick of his wrist he whipped Claire's stock across the witch's jaw, stunning her for the moment he needed to spring back and take firm hold of the Demon Revolver with both hands. "Prepare for Soul Resonance!"

Claire began to glow blue in his hands, a look of fierce concentration on the Demon Gun's face. "Wavelength calibrated, capacitor locks disengaged, ready!"

"Soul Resonance!" The two cried out in unison, Chris's face painted by an uncharacteristically fierce expression.

"Bron-"

"HEY! OVER HERE!"

The unexpected and jarring shout broke the pair's concentration, Claire's azure glow fading as she and her Meister lost Resonance. But, luckily for them, the shout had also successfully caught the witch's attention.

Lila gave them a dirty scowl before turning to face the intruder.

"Didn't I already finish with you?" She spat, obviously irked at having been interrupted.

Jackson shot the witch a cocky grin. "Nope. You got my Meister pretty good, but you forgot about me." He laughed the most stereotypically masculine laugh he could muster, hands finding their way to his hips as he struck a heroic pose. "And now I'm back to make you regret it."

"Are you kidding me?" The witch gawked. "What do you expect to do without your Meister?"

"Yeah!" Barked Claire. "What the fuck are you thinking Jackson? We almost had her!" Chris cocked an eyebrow in silence.

"HAH! You've made the fatal mistake of underestimating me!" He pointed a condescending finger in their general direction. "For I-" A half moon axe-blade erupted from his forearm, glimmering in the moonlight. "-am an Autonomous Weapon!"

A moment of silence.

"WHAT?" Claire tangled her hands in her curly blonde hair in frustration. "What the hell is he talking about?"

Lila, however, gave the Demon Axe an appraising look. "Interesting. Well, I suppose I'll just have to maim you then." She took a single threatening step towards him.

And he turned on his heel and ran.

"Wait, what?" Her scowl fell, replaced by a look of confusion. "Where are you-"

"Gotta catch me first!" He shot her a cross eyed look over his shoulder, tongue sticking from his mouth at an oblique angle.

His taunting had the desired effect, Lila's face actually reddening with anger, stone splintering under her clawed feet as she stormed towards the retreating Weapon. Jackson pumped his arms furiously, the sound of his tennis shoes slapping the stone of the courtyard seeming to mock the Mongoose Witch as she drew ever closer, violet claws rigid in anticipation of the imminent kill.

Heart hammering, Jackson poured all of his strength into his legs as he neared the cherry tree sitting by the pond at the center of the courtyard. With a huff he dove past it, barely avoiding the glowing talon that threatened to hamstring him. Lila growled, expecting it would take at least another seven or eight seconds to catch the wily Demon Axe.

What she wasn't expecting was the hand that shot out from behind the tree and caught her quarry as he disappeared in a flash of blue.

Ah crap.

"Flash Freeze!"

Countless veins of ice rushed from the point where Jackson's blade met the ground, quickly strangling the tree and the surrounding stone in his icy grip. Lila, moving too fast to change her course, came to an abrupt halt in the middle of Jackson's web as the creeping substance bound her feet to the ground in a chilled vice grip. And before she could pull her legs free, a very angry looking Isabelle emerged from her hiding place behind the tree and whipped Jackson at the witch's head with blinding speed.

Lila caught the Demon Axe's blade between her palms, grinning wildly.

"Was this your big plan? Do you really think you can win by immobilizing me?" The ice around her calves began to crack as she flexed the claws on her feet. "You should've tapped out when you had the chance!" Isabelle's fierce amber eyes seemed to burn with determination, and for a moment Lila's resolve wavered. "What are you trying to prove? What will-"

Isabelle slid a hand to the bottom of Jackson's haft.

"SHUT-" A blur, she freed her Weapon's blade from the witch's grasp and levered his pommel into her already fractured solar plexus. "UP!"

Lila's eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets as the blow connected, before her mouth tore open in a choked cry as the ice around her feet shattered and she was sent sprawling. Tears sprang to her eyes as her spell dissipated and the pain of her damaged rib cage burned with renewed vigor.

"Just… stop talking." The blonde huffed, sinking to her knees and clasping a hand to her still bleeding side, giving the witch an icy glare as Jackson reverted to human form to stoop beside his Meister.

The witch threw her head back against the cool stone, biting her lower lip in frustration. I can't keep fighting like this. You let 'em land one lucky shot and the whole battle's lost. She tried, unsuccessfully, to lever herself into a sitting position, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. After a few failed attempts at sitting upright, she fell back with a dull thud and a pout.

"Fine!" She snaked a hand into a small pouch hanging at her waist. "You get the Omni-Resonator, this time." Still prostrate, she scattered a handful of purple powder around herself. "Just remember…" She took a moment to pat her hands against her leather pants. "In the end, to tool belongs to us."

The Mongoose witch gave them on last hateful look. "Warp Powder!"

And in a flash of light, all that was left in her place was a plume of bitter purple smoke smoke.

The students stood still for a moment, Jackson giving the spot where the witch had disappeared an uneasy look before Claire spoke up and returned to human form.

"Jackson, are you really an Autonomous Weapon?"

He shot her a sheepish smile.

"Nope."


Roland took a shuddering breath, eyes squeezed shut, shoulders quivering.

Come on, get up.

He'd never felt so tired. His arms hung at his sides, limp and numb, the occasional finger twitching as his body reeled from the wavelength rejection.

Pull it together. Get up.

Even his legs refused the call to move and be upright. It was as if his body had simply given up, broken down, become a cage to the mind that willed it to stand and fight.

Get up!

Nothing. His burn ached; he couldn't feel the smooth sandstone that scraped against his knuckles. The sound Marcus's screaming engine forced his eyes open to bare witness as the Chainswordsman forced Kyla across the room with unrelenting slashes; carving the floor into a ruddy mess of gravel as the nimble Hoop Meister deflected and avoided his blows.

They need my help.

His hands weakly clenched into fists, trembling. A shock of blood red hair caught his eye as Alexa darted towards Rafael, slashing at him with her blade arm and a snarl before ducking away from Marcus's gnashing teeth.

She's still fighting. Her Meister is incapacitated and she's still fighting.

A deep breath. He planted one foot firmly on the sandstone, pausing in a kneel to catch his breath.

So tenacious. But I can't let her fight alone.

With a grunt he rose, swaying, unnoticed by any of the combatants. His steps were clumsy, but he walked with purpose towards the Chainswordsman as he bared his razor teeth at a tentative Kyla.

Because the Weapon is only half the warrior.

He raised his hands over his head, both still balled into tight fists, flooding his wavelength back into the numb appendages. Only then did the Demon Sword notice that her Meister had reentered the fray.

"Roland-!"

Her call fell on deaf ears as Roland brought his fists down on Rafael's shoulders, giving him an unhealthy double dose of his wavelength, forcing him to one knee with a startled cry. Face a snarl Rafael spun, bringing Marcus down over his head.

Nice going.

Marcus's whirring blade drew ever closer. Roland's conscious scoffed at him as he fell back, putting another half-second between his face and the chainsword.

At least you won't die like a coward.

The glint of metal out of the corner of his eye. He had glimpsed her soul, if only for a moment. He had reached out and touched it, and she had reached back. But after mere seconds of warmth, her soul had become turbulent, bristling. A tide of resentment had swept the budding resonance away, just as it had the first time they'd attempted the technique, but only now did he consider that he might indeed be it's cause.

Idiot.

Sparks, the roar of the Chainsword straining against steel.

"ROLAND!"

A blade of steely gray, accented by a lonely line of blood red, denied the Dark Weapon Roland's flesh. The swordsman blinked. Alexa was stooped next to him, weaponized arm raised against Marcus, braced with her human arm at the elbow while her piercing blue eyes sparred with Rafael's mad glare. He snapped at the Demon Sword, grinning.

"Adorable. You're terribly cute when you're-!"

Roland planted two open palms in the Chainswordsman's stomach, throwing him back with another wavelength attack. Alexa shot him a grateful look as they rose, side by side, while Rafael pulled himself upright, shaking off daze of the wavelength attack and revving Marcus's engine.

The swordsman gave his Weapon a quick look. A few beads of sweat clung to the Demon Sword's forehead, each breath evenly timed but bordering raggedness as they passed through gently parted lips. The way she held herself, muscles taught as she swayed on the balls of her feet, hinted at the coiled kinetic potential that turned the length of sharp metal that flowed from her elbow into a weapon.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. She had a certain air of grace about her, despite the fact that they teetered on the cusp of death at the hands of a gentlemanly chainsword wielding maniac. But perhaps they could win. It seemed unreasonable to think that Rafael could really beat all three of them. And with only on good arm to fight with, it would only be a matter of time before he left himself open for something more lethal than a wavelength attack.

That's right. The numbness began to abate as newfound confidence flowed into his tired limbs. We can win.

And with a rasp of plate armor and a resounding metallic voice, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

"Enough Rafael. I have the Eye."

All eyes turned to the Knight as he ducked through the hole in the wall, immense rectangular sword slung over his armored shoulder and inky cape billowing around him as the pieces of sundered stone that Roland and Kyla had stepped over so carefully were nudged aside by his ebony boots. Roland's burn throbbed, his heart sunk as he felt the Knight's invisible eyes settle on him.

"I thought I felt a familiar soul. Tell me…" Roland spied a cloth wrapped bundle hanging at the Knight's waist. "Did you forget the warning I imparted when we last met?" He took a step forward, a motion that made the students tense in fear and anticipation. "Will you force me to act on it?"

Alexa's eyes darted between her Meister and the Knight, pulse beginning to quicken. He's going to hurt him. The Knight was approaching now, shrugging his sword from his shoulder. Her mouth went dry. He's going to hurt him again! She couldn't let the Knight fight him again, the sight of his bandage wrapped chest still simmered fresh in her mind. She hadn't forgotten the terrible few seconds it'd taken the Knight to tear through them in Ireland. And she feared that if she didn't act, the Knight would make good on his promise.

By the time Roland had a chance to call her name in warning, it was already too late.

Blade arm poised she sprinted across the dozen feet that separated her from the Knight, blue eyes fierce and face a snarl, a cold metal hand wrapped around her throat before she could strike. She didn't even bother to struggle as he lifted her off her feet, glaring at him with unhidden and unflinching loathing as he silently appraised her.

"I am unmoved by your foolish act of courage."

Roland called her name again, moving to aid his Weapon, but with a cackle and a roar Rafael and Marcus put themselves between the swordsman and his blade. With a huff, Alexa spat a sizable glob of spittle onto the Knight's faceplate, which he ignored.

"However, Lady Lila did request that I acquire a Weapon for her construct to resonate with…" He trailed off. With a cry Alexa slashed at his abdomen with her still transformed arm. The blade met the ebony plate with a dull clang, leaving only a faint mark on the obsidian armor. "You'll have to do."

Her body went rigid as the Knight loosed a controlled burst of his wavelength from the hand coiled around her throat, going limp as the attack subsided.

"Rafael, Marcus, it's time for us to depart."

The apprentice and his Weapon retreated to their master's side, leaving Roland and Kyla panting at the other side of the chamber. The Knight passed the unconscious Alexa off to Marcus as he returned to human form, the Chainsword shooting Roland a toothy grin as the Knight scattered a handful of purple powder at their feet.

"Let-" Roland was dashing towards them, eyes steely.

"Her-" He threw himself into a skid, a cloud of sand rising behind him as he drew his fist back. Kyla loped beside him in a crouch, Sonya held across her chest defensively.

"GO!"

The Knight threw down his immense weapon, catching Roland's fist in one hand and Sonya's blade in the other. He let both struggle for a few moments, Sonya screeching helplessly against the metal of his palm and Roland's soul crashing helplessly against his own, before throwing them both back with a painful jolt of his wavelength.

All three of his enemies were sent sprawling, Sonya being forced out of Weapon form with a yelp as her Meister managed to catch herself on her feet, Roland landing with a thud several feet away. The Knight addressed him as he struggled back to his feet.

"Savor the struggle, swordsman. Struggle leads to growth and progress; it is only through struggle that we attain strength. Just as scarred flesh becomes tough and leathery upon healing, should we cross paths again you will meet me with ever greater skill and power until one of us falls. Tell me, what is your name?"

Roland shook himself, shoulders sagging as Sonya staggered to his side to keep him upright.

"Roland. Roland Frey."

The Knight paused for a moment.

"Roland… Frey." Rafael shifted in obvious discomfort at his master's brooding silence.

"Master, Lady Raena will be awaiting our return-" The Knight silenced him with a raised hand.

"Frey. Should you wish to retrieve your Weapon, you will go to the Ivory Tower in the Cradle of the Sun. Come alone."

Rafael bit his lower lip in a display of urgency. "B-but master-"

"Enough Rafael." The Chainswordsman visibly shrunk as the Knight waved a hand over the powder at their feet. "Warp Powder!"

With a flash and a plume of bitter purple smoke, they vanished.


A/N: Wow, I'm terribly sorry, this took hella long to update. This is actually quite embarrassing, but I suppose it can't really be helped. Summer jobs and whatnot.

Also, a huge shout out and thank you to all the people who have reviewed, favorited, subscribed, or performed some delicious combination of the three. You're the coal that makes this train roll.

Addendum: Another cliffhanger. If I could find a text-based troll face, I would place it here, but as I cannot, here is a rather half-assed "u mad?" face.

:)

Good day. Review!