Translator
The art of beheading calls for a supreme level of skill.
The necks of those with exceedingly tough vertebrae and muscles cannot be sliced off so easily.
A single, clean severing is all the more exacting a task. More commonly, the neck is chopped countless times in succession. Indeed, the spectacle at the execution chamber is not for the faint of heart. Yet for this one occasion, every single person of notice has come to attend the execution off…
The Luminous Avenger, Sumeragi's greatest enemy and for the longest time boogeyman. Was now reduced to sitting on his knees with his hands behind his back, bound by the strongest steel there is in the market. A kneeling figure in the middle of the circular room to be displayed to everyone.
Many of the Sumeragi heads gawked at the sight of his appearance, how his youthful look made him look no different than some of their sons and daughters. Yet the records of his activities spun for decades to show the opposite. Whatever mystery he held would finally be answered once his head is severed from his neck, already many a medical had wanted to claim to be the one to analyze his remains, if only for the immense fame such knowledge would bring with it.
Still, excitement was not the only feeling pervading throughout the room. Dread was the second most felt emotion, for some it felt hard to believe that the execution would go smoothly, be it the avenger suddenly standing up so he can slaughter all in the room, a sudden break through the walls out of which his allies pour out to save him. Or some other scenario that would let him live.
"This has to be a trap," Bakto said what they're all thinking, seated at the special front row where the Falcons can jump out off to act instantly if anything goes wrong. "Or it doesn't make sense."
"I have to agree," Crimm drummed a finger against a lock of his hair, the other hand firmly held against the stand as he held in excitement. "Surely this can't be the end? It'd be anti-climatic."
"The two of you are just paranoid," Isola sniffed, wearing her professional uniform in a shade of black, fitting for a funeral. "If anything happens, we act. Until then this is a moment of joy."
"Hmph, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Crimm said dismissively, then dramatically raised a hand as if he was holding a cup of wine. "Not only have I not had the honor of facing him, but-"
"Ah, keep your mouth shut. I don't wanna hear it." Stella let out a puff of smoke, then dropped it in the ash tray Dystnine silently held out, "The sooner this is over, the better. I've no time to waste."
Whatever was about to be said next is interrupted when a giant screen attached to the ceiling showed the Sumeragi Symbol alongside the white chess piece of a King. Demerzel's icon.
Welcome everyone.
A text to speech voice spoke to the group, belonging to the grand AI that managed most of the decision making of the Sumeragi Council. The one programmed to lead Adept kind to further evolution and has done so for decades. Without the fickleness of man to get in the way.
We are here today to attend the execution of the Luminous Avenger iX.
They say some more words, details about the crimes the avenger has committed. The many lives he has ended and how from now on, his legacy of blood will finally come to an end. All thanks to…
Blade, the Armed Blue. Demerzel's personally chosen Falcon and the one that has captured and will be execute the Luminous Avenger in front of everyone. His hand is firmly set on the sheath of his namesake and his masked face keeps a close look on their target. Nobody can tell if he's listening to the words spouted by the AI, but the moment he hears the word "execute" he pulls out his weapon.
"Do you have any last words, iX?" he asked calmly. Filtered voice calm and betraying nothing, likewise the avenger's face is just as unreadable as he looks up and stares into his gaze.
"Not particularly," iX replied, as if bored, but that can't be right, who would be bored at their own execution? "But if I had to say something, it would be: The only thing I regret is that I'm dying."
"Very well," Blade said -ignoring the loud snicker he can hear from an amused Rebellio, followed by an exclamation of pain of being elbowed by Isola- "Now put your head down, or I'll force you."
The avenger doesn't flinch or make a last desperate attempt to prolong the inevitable. Blade can give him that, at least he is dying with honor. He raises his blade like an axe and lets it fall.
It shatters off the avenger's neck.
The crowd's instinctive gaps of surprise lead into confusion. Blade pauses, then sheathes and pulls out his blade again to restore it and then raises it into the air with both hands this time.
It still doesn't work. Vivid laughter comes from the falcon's row and the one responsible is silenced even harder than before. A glance their way shows that Crimp is entranced, Bakto looks grimm, Isola is nervous while Stella, Dystnine and Rebellio are surprised, indifferent and amused each.
Forget decapitation. Just make sure he dies.
Demerzel's voice booms out, Blade looks at the screen and then nods.
He strikes iX with a burst of lightning yet he remains unharmed. Cleaving him with a giant sword doesn't work any better than the other attempts. The crowd is getting restless, deprived of the spectacle they were promised. Already they are fervently whispering, wondering if their boogeyman is immortal and it is at times like these that a crowd can quickly turn into a mob.
Demerzel knows, as it orders the avenger brought back inside. It's voice so animated that for a moment it makes everyone wonder whether it's actually capable of being angered.
IX goes back to his cell, with the same stride he entered the room, face still in something that could be boredom or simply determination. If only he had smiled to confirm he knew this would happen.
"What is the meaning of this?" Demerzel demands, hours later. Blade remains quiet, posed in a respectful kneel in front of a giant screen inside the AI's personal room. Something is nagging the AI and until he's actually addressed, it's best to just sit still and let the AI talk itself out.
"He could've turned the people against me. He could've created a frenzy." Demerzel continues, frantic theories coming out that are a step close to paranoia. "He could've said anything!"
Silence, another three seconds and Blade realizes it's his turn, "Perhaps he had nothing to say."
"The silent hero type, hm." Demerzel ponders, "But his 'last words' were a taunt, right?"
"I'm...not sure?" Blade doubts. He remembers the words clearly, and how iX had said them with not an inch of humor in them. Perhaps that could be considered a taunt of some sort. "Perhaps."
"He's planning something." Demerzel concludes, "It doesn't make sense otherwise, what is it that he wants? What could he obtain inside a cell that he couldn't outside one?"
"You could interrogate him." Blade suggests, voice careful, AI or not, Demerzel was easy to anger. Even now he could feel an intense gaze bore down on him, "Find out what he wants, that way."
"Very well, then I'll entrust the interrogation to you." Demerzel decides, "Find out what you can, afterwards we'll try out another method of execution. Now go at once, and do not fail me, Blade."
"For the glory of Sumeragi," Blade recites and obeys the command.
He reports back an hour later.
"So what'd he say?" Demerzel asks.
"That-" Blade's mouth shifts a bit, "He has no agenda, but he just didn't feel like dying today."
"Ridiculous, so he is playing games with us? So be it." the AI replies with an intensity that's close to a snarl, "He must be stalling or trying to make us let our guard down, tomorrow he dies."
The next execution is decided to be death by boiling.
An execution style oft dubbed 'The Kettle'. It used large quantities of oil.
However, since oil naturally ignites past the 370 degree-point. Sumeragi uses their own synthetic substitute that burns all the way between the 1500-2200 range. For reference, almost certain death already happens at the 109ish degree-point. And the pot the target is put in is strong enough to resist even the trample attack of a Mantis. So if it isn't the heat that kills him, it will be drowning.
Is what everyone thought, until a pair of red eyes greeted them when the pot was opened a few hours later. Stepping out of it as if he had gone through a simple sauna, was an unharmed iX.
"Why won't you die?!" one of the magistrates overseeing the process, screams in despair.
A simple shrug is the only answer iX deigns to give.
Ushizaki is the next execution method.
It is one involving the tying of limbs to runaway cows. Or in this case, mechs.
It is said that human legs can withstand 500 KG of force, but a cow can pull with a force of 950 KG and a Mantis ten times that amount. That's force enough to tear a person's lower body from their chest, let alone rend the legs.
The mechs run out of fuel before his body shows the slightest damage.
When they hang him, he dangles around unamused.
A syringe of poison is jabbed at his veins. It doesn't pierce the skin.
Rebellio covers him in strings and tries to cut him apart.
He breaks free with a single gesture.
Stella crushes him between giant blocks that ascend towards giant rotating blades.
The blades stop moving once he's wedged between them.
Crimm throws every explosion he can at him. Even sacrificing an entire facility filled with explosive capsules. The avenger simply digs out of the rubble and dusts himself off.
"ENOUGH!" Demerzel shouts, truly irritated by the failed attempts. The avenger refuses to die or do anything at all. He isn't attacking, he isn't trying to escape, he isn't even talking.
"SO WHAT THE HELL IS HE PLANNING?!" he asks nobody in particular, though Blade is the only witness of his tantrum. "FIND WHAT HE WANTS OR HOW TO KILL HIM AT ONCE!"
"Understood, my lord." Blade says reverently, before moving towards the dungeons. Part of him unnerved at the AI's drastic change, while it is true that rumors of iX being immortal are starting to spread like wildfire. It doesn't stop the fact that he is still their prisoner...or is he truly?
If he is capable of enduring everything Sumeragi throws at him. Then why did he let himself be captured? If it was for a way inside or something else, then shouldn't he have broken out by now?
Blade shakes his head, theories won't help at all here. There is only one thing to do.
Talk once more to the Luminous Avenger and try to truly figure him out.
And that's the Drabble, it's a drabble cause I forgot how it was meant to continue.