AN: I said expect a new chapter quicker than usual considering I almost wrote two chapters worth of content accidentally. And here we are, two chapters within a week of each other. Unless I'm doing a mass release for a new story, I don't think that's happened in anything since I graduated college. I hope everyone enjoys this one as well.
Chapter 75: Choice
Giovanni Scarlatto's attention was suddenly drawn to his scroll ringing. He recognized the number and gave a curt nod before answering it.
"9 of Spades here," he said.
"We're just wrapping up here, 9. We'll form up at your location soon enough" Came the cold voice of a man on the other end. Giovanni winced slightly, hearing the sounds of mortal pain and terror from a woman in the background. It would appear that 4 of Spades was 'working' again.
"5," said Giovanni, "when I told you to eliminate all loose ends, I didn't say you could let 4 do whatever she pleased to the target. I was hoping you could reign her in just a little. Furthermore, your Semblance is far more suited to eliminate targets quickly and efficiently than hers is…and that's only because she chooses for it not to be the case."
"I am aware. I simply did not care enough to do so. More importantly I believe we were assigned to punish those who have fallen out of favor? What 4 does to her victims is certainly a punishment." 5 of Spades justified. Giovanni rolled his eyes, not in the mood to argue semantics with the man.
"Well, wrap it up." Giovanni ordered. "The situation involving 2 of Clubs and the Thimble Huntsmen is almost over. We need to wrap things up and collect those we came for."
"Very well, 5 of Spades out." Giovanni hummed as he heard the line go dead. He sighed to himself.
"Assassination really does attract the strangest bedfellows…probably more than politics." He mused before turning his attention back to the chaos in the forest. "Now then…how shall the final act proceed from here?"
Meanwhile, back with Hansel Kobalt, Ruby Rose and 2 of Clubs, Hansel finally found himself slowing to a crawl as the monster man advanced on him. 2 of Clubs cackled madly, thinking he had both Hansel and Ruby right where he wanted them.
"Perish, Hansel Kobalt!" 2 of Clubs declared. At that moment, five Thimble Huntsmen came bounding out of the forest behind 2 of Clubs. Ruby's eyes widened, recognizing them all as the Huntsmen she spoke to the most during her visit to the Ruby.
"Protect Ruby!" Elise yelled.
"And make him fucking pay for everyone else!" Sangria added, speeding ahead and stabbing at 2 of Clubs, only for 2 of Clubs to calmly lean away. His stinger stabbed into the back of her head, driving her into the ground and killing her instantly, much to Ruby's horror.
"Sangria!" Onyx screamed in horror. Ruby just stared at the corpse of Sangria in disbelief.
"So…mind if I call you 'daddy' like your daughters do?" Sangria had playfully said to Taiyang that day. "I kinda have a taste for older men."
"You piece of shit!" Nava swung his warhammer into the leg of 2 of Clubs to try and get him to buckle. 2 of Clubs scoffed at the attempt and slammed the flat end of his claw into Nava's face, sending him flying into a tree and snapping his neck upon impact. His face was practically ground meat from the blow.
"Ha ha ha! That's a good one, Yang, truly!" Ruby remembered the seemingly stoic Nava belly-laughing. "There are fewer things better than a good joke."
"Stop it…" Ruby muttered in horror while Hansel desperately tried to summon up his strength to either run or fight. Something. Anything. 2 of Clubs then continued advancing on Ruby and Hansel. Slater then leapt above him, intent on stabbing him through the nape of his neck with his glaive.
"Die you freak!" Slater yelled, stabbing his glaive into the nape of 2 of Clubs' neck, only for his weapon to shatter.
"Take the fucking hint!" 2 of Clubs roared, raising his claw and scissoring forward, bifurcating Slater.
"See, Ruby? See? Aren't my kids just the cutest?" Ruby felt tears coming on as she remembered Slater practically shoving those pictures in her face.
"He had…he had…" Ruby muttered as 2 of Clubs continued advancing. Elise and Onyx stepped between her and Hansel and the 2 of Clubs. The two began firing their guns on 2 of Clubs. She could see the electricity coursing across 2 of Clubs' monstrous body.
"You stay the hell away from Ruby!" Elise yelled.
"That trick won't work anymore." 2 of Clubs sprinted forward, readying his claw to stab forward.
"Shit, dodge!" Onyx yelled, jumping backwards. Elise continued bravely firing. This proved to be a fatal mistake. Ruby watched in horror as 2 of Clubs' massive claw protruded out from the back of Elise's body.
"I really hope I can have a daughter as sweet as you, Ruby." Elise had said to her, tousling the girl's hair. "My husband and I are in the process of trying after all."
"Stop it!" Ruby screamed. "Please, stop it Stein!"
2 of Clubs callously tossed Elise aside and continued moving towards Ruby. Onyx looked at his dead comrades and horror, particularly Elise.
"Elise!" He shouted her name, visibly terrified. In spite of that, however, he raised his gun once more and fired on 2 of Clubs, screaming in rage and terror.
"Onyx!" Ruby yelled while Hansel desperately tried to summon up enough strength to try and save the man. "Run, Onyx!"
Onyx ignored Ruby and continued firing, only for 2 of Clubs to move right up to him and swipe his claw across his throat. Onyx limply stumbled about, revealing that 2 of Clubs had torn his throat open. Hansel could see his Aura feebly trying to mend the damage. He winced as the man soon collapsed to the ground, twitching and spasming before expiring entirely.
"What do you think, Ruby?" Onyx had smiled. "Pretty cool shoes, right? Didn't have a lot of money growing up, so I wanted to use my paycheck on something I always wanted."
"Their blood is on your hands, you know." 2 of Clubs said to Ruby as he approached her. Ruby winced. Was he right?
"Fuck off, you're the one who killed them all, 2!" Hansel yelled at 2 of Clubs in Ruby's defense. "You don't get to push the blame on her, you son of a bitch!"
"But if she had just come with me, I could've left this damnable town and returned to my superiors as a hero." 2 of Clubs proclaimed. "But she just had to let you try and save her. I may have been the one to make them bleed, Ruby, but, you as good as killed them yourself."
No sooner had 2 of Clubs said that, he felt two pairs of mouths clamp down on his legs. Ruby and Hansel gasped as the Crocodile and Dog from Baza's Semblance returned. The snake then managed to wrap itself entirely around 2 of Clubs' arms, restraining him.
"Quit talking to the poor girl like that, you bastard." Baza Doom growled, walking into the clearing, the stump where his arm had been no longer bleeding due to flexing his muscles. "You're the monster. You're the murderer. Kobalt's right. Don't you dare push that on her."
"The Chief's right." Gardenia LeSouhait added, revealing herself as well, she was visibly bruised but still good to go. "He's right, and you know it. You're just saying that to torture the poor girl. You're inhuman on the outside and the inside.
"You two should've stayed down." 2 of Clubs looked over his shoulder. Baza looked over the corpses of more of his subordinates. He then looked at the stump where his arm used to be. He glared at 2 of Clubs.
"Hey, asshole." Baza growled. "I got 30 years out of the arm you took from me in the field of Huntsman work, and I wanted another 30 years at least well into my retirement years. So you're gonna have to pay me back for that. More importantly, I had a total of 20 years with all those Huntsmen you've killed today. I wanted more years with them as well. Another debt you're going to have to pay."
"Right, I care." 2 of Clubs, in fact, could not sound like he cared less if he tried.
"Gardenia," Baza said to her, "I give you permission to use your trump card. Use the third wish. I'll back you up.
Gardenia took a deep breath as the third star tattoo on her neck slowly disappeared. 2 of Clubs' eyes widened as her Aura suddenly grew in strength considerably.
"What?" 2 of Clubs only had time to say before Gardenia vanished from sight and reappeared in front of him, delivering a punch so powerful his enhanced jaw actually shattered from the impact. His Aura immediately set to rewiring it.
That…was way stronger than before. 2 of Clubs immediately realized before taking a powerful blow to the stomach that pushed him back and dropped him to his knees. Baza narrowed his eyes in morbid satisfaction at the sight of 2 of Clubs going down. Though a part of him lamented that things had gotten so bad he had Gardenia use her trump card.
Gardenia always saves her third wish, if she needs it, for one thing: supercharging her Aura to 150% of its normal capabilities. Baza remembered. The number was found through trial and error of just how far Gardenia could push herself before her body tears itself apart from the strain. It's basically an all or nothing wish where even if she still has her other two wishes, she just can't go on any longer due to fatigue. And due to the nature of the wish, she can't use the star she uses it on for an entire week. There's a reason she chooses to seek my permission to use it. It's also why we avoid using it off the bat unless we're absolutely certain of the threat…hence why we didn't use it earlier. It's the definition of an all-or-nothing gambit, a trump card. In return, she gets power comparable to that of an A-Class Huntsman.
Gardenia continued to assault 2 of Clubs with fast and powerful attacks. For the first time since this rampage started, 2 of Clubs found himself completely on the defensive. No, saying he was on the defensive would imply he was even able to defend himself. The truth was that Gardenia was so fast that he had no time to put up any sort of defense against her attacks. She simply battered his Aura again and again and again.
Damn…this is where not being a real fighter starts to bite me in the ass. 2 of Club lamented as his jaw was broken by another blow once more, his Aura working to rewire it once again. He then saw Baza finally step in, clutching his axe with his one hand, flanked by his three beasts. Shit, I forgot about him.
2 of Clubs managed to recover enough to sweep his tail across the ground. Baza leapt upwards while the snake, dog and crocodile were swept away from the tail. Baza managed to use the leap to spin and create more momentum and drive the axe right into 2 of Clubs' neck. 2 of Clubs grunted from the impact as the blade dug into him. Baza grit his teeth, trying to drive the axe further in, only for 2 of Clubs to flex his neck muscles and prevent such a thing.
"Chief, get away from him!" Baza managed to pull away his axe in time Gardenia to strike 2 of Clubs in the stomach with a kick to the stomach. 2 of Clubs grunted from the attack.
I have to turn this around. Their numbers advantage finally means something. 2 of Clubs realized. Think…what do I have that can place this situation back in my favor?
2 of Clubs knew deep down he already had the answer. It was time to embrace his inner beast more than he already had. A Deathstalker Grimm had a powerful exoskeleton, certainly. But its greatest defense was the bonelike armor plating atop its body. And a normal scorpion was a dangerous encounter in the wild because all you could usually see is its back. So, to protect himself, 2 of Clubs decided to take the bestial route and crouched down the first chance he got, exposing his back more but creating a defense for the more vulnerable spots on his body. Gardenia and Baza, however, were not deterred. They continued to press the assault on 2 of Clubs, only for their attacks to suddenly start to have less effect due to the bonelike plating on his back taking the brunt of the attacks.
Nearby, Hansel Kobalt winced at the sight. He had to admit, 2 of Clubs knew how to use his Grimm-like body in this state. Though he was impressed that Baza and Gardenia were holding their own so well against this transformed monstrosity, Hansel still worried. They were already injured from the earlier showdown with 2 of Clubs, and Hansel was smart enough to know that Gardenia's technique was an all-or-nothing gambit. He had to do something.
My body is still at its limit though thanks to the kid's attack earlier. Hansel noted, looking at Ruby, whose vision was trained entirely on Gardenia and Baza's relentless assault on 2 of Clubs. But even so…I have to do something.
With that, Hansel forced himself to stand tall, gently setting Ruby on the ground. Ruby stared in shock as Hansel sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, trying to concentrate every ounce of Aura he had left into offense, rather than defense.
Maybe my defenses are wrecked thanks to the kid's attack earlier. Hansel acknowledged inwardly. But…I can still sense my own Aura. Between that and my attempts to fight back earlier, that means I can still attack if I wish. But…if I'm going to do this, I need to end this with one single, powerful blow. Hmph…that damn Adam Taurus. I hate the idea of using his style of attack.
Hansel took a deep breath as he envisioned it. The Flames of Purgatory being gathered around Wolf Fang, sheathed in his scabbard. He concentrated every ounce of Aura he could manage into that single, visualized act. As he did so, Hansel came to one conclusion.
This is going to fucking hurt. He was not referring to 2 of Clubs when he thought that.
Iaido. A sword style originating from Mistral. A martial art consisting of four major components in a normal battle. First, the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard. Second, striking or cutting an opponent. Third, shaking blood from the blade. Fourth and finally, replacing the sword in the scabbard. In Hansel's case, however, the act of Iaido would be different in one crucial area.
First the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard. Second, striking outwards, as if I were cutting an opponent. Third, instead of shaking blood from the blade, shake flames off as though I were launching it like a projectile like always. Fourth and finally, replacing the sword in the scabbard. Hansel thought to himself. All the material I carry on my person is fireproof. From my battle outfit to the scabbard itself.
Semblances are given further power by visualizing what you want your ability to achieve in this moment. If you can justify that such a thing is possible in your soul, it can be done. Belladonna further awakened her Semblance during the incident in Ever After Forest by justifying that a Semblance designed to run away could also be used to swap and protect what's dear to them. Whether it's merely projecting your Aura as a ranged attack…or creating a powerful Iaido strike…visualization is everything when training to improve and expand your arsenal.
The truth is, while I've always known such a thing is possible…this is the most impractical tool in my arsenal. It's why I never use it. Hansel admitted to himself. Three minutes should be all I need. But during that time, I cannot move. It is a powerful but utterly useless tool in battle.
Ruby watched in awe as Hansel began to charge up a powerful Iaido strike. She knew exactly what he was planning. It was the same as what Gardenia and Baza were doing. An all or nothing strike that would decide who lives and who dies at this very moment. And she hated it. She hated that far too many people had died during this rampage while she was defenseless. Meanwhile, Gardenia and Baza continued to assault 2 of Clubs, desperately trying to get him to drop his defenses long enough for one of them to land a final blow.
"Chief!" Gardenia yelled. "Try to use your beasts to force him to show his belly!"
"Right!" Baza yelled, mentally commanding his beasts to charge forward to try and pounce at 2 of Clubs to push him upwards. The crocodile and dog both tried to get low and attack his shoulders while the snake slithered around them both. 2 of Clubs had both his claws occupied by Baza and Gardenia, so he instead had his stinger lunge at the crocodile and dog.
"Nice try!" 2 of Clubs roared as the stinger stabbed rapidly at the ground while the crocodile and dog tried to avoid the attacks. Unfortunately, if Baza had been at his best with no injuries, such dodging would have been easy. But the Thimble Huntsman was heavily injured and exhausted. It was reflected in the increasingly sluggish movements of the dog and the crocodile. That was the difference as 2 of Clubs impaled the heads of both the crocodile and the dog within seconds of one another. Baza found himself coughing up blood, not because he was sharing the damage, but because he was losing the strength to maintain his Semblance. As a result, the dog and crocodile both fell apart and the tattoos reappeared on Baza's body.
With his options dwindling, Baza knew he had to act and act desperately. There was no way he would allow this monster to win and to live. Not after all the lives he had taken, civilians and Huntsmen alike.
I wouldn't be able to face a single one of you in the afterlife if I failed! Baza declared to himself, fully committing to a do or die act. So, with one final desperate attack, Baza threw his axe with his one remaining arm. The axe flew towards 2 of Clubs like that of a pinwheel. 2 of Clubs saw the toss and lowered his head to take it head on, trusting in his Aura and the bonelike armor in the back to defend. The axe itself impacted against 2 of Clubs, but the momentum picked up created an impact strong enough to push 2 of Clubs back and leave his neck open. At that moment, the snake leapt up and wrapped around 2 of Clubs neck like that of a noose?
"What?" 2 of Clubs could only say in surprise before Baza managed to take advantage of that single opening and leapt over 2 of Clubs, grabbing the head and tail of the snake and pulling upwards. 2 of Clubs gasped as he felt his body slowly start to be pulled back upright. Baza's remaining biceps bulged as blood poured from his mouth and nose due to overexerting himself.
No way…I knew he was strong, but to manage something like this with one arm? 2 of Clubs desperately tried to keep himself crouched like that of a beast, only for Baza's added momentum to pull him fully upright.
"Gardenia, do it!" Baza screamed as Gardenia charged forward and began pummeling 2 of Clubs' soft underbelly repeatedly.
Keep striking! Baza grit his teeth as he kept 2 of Clubs held upright for Gardenia to beat like a punching bag.
Keep striking! Gardenia thought the same as she continued to pummel 2 of Clubs.
Keep striking and wear him down…so that Kobalt's plan succeeds, whatever it may be! The two both immediately knew what the other intended to do with this all or nothing attack, because they both immediately realized that Hansel Kobalt had put himself back into play as well. 2 of Clubs roared in frustration as he began stabbing at Baza repeatedly with his stinger. Each stab was stopped by what was left of Baza's Aura.
"Let go, dammit!" 2 of Clubs roared angrily, wincing as his underbelly continued to be pummeled by Gardenia. "You fucking insects! Let go!"
"This is for all the lives you stole, you monster!" Baza exclaimed.
"You will not escape!" Gardenia added. 2 of Clubs grunted with each attack but still stabbed at Baza, intent on throwing him off. Meanwhile, Hansel continued to charge whatever power he had left into his sword. He could feel the heat building. This had to work, it just had to. 2 of Clubs then roared as he stabbed one last time.
"INSECTS!" He screamed, his stinger finally going through Baza's Aura. As the Aura around him shattered, the snake finally faded away, the tattoo reappearing on Baza's body. The stinger then went right into Baza's shoulder impaling it. Baza's mouth opened in a silent scream as he was yanked right off of 2 of Clubs' massive body and thrown away through several trees. Gardenia winced as she felt the impact against each tree, but she had no time to worry about Baza. Not when she had to continue pummeling 2 of Clubs with the energy she still had left. Using the third wish pushed her body beyond its natural limits. With Baza now off of him, 2 of Clubs was finally able to recover enough to put up a defense against Gardenia's relentless assault.
Just a bit longer, Hansel frantically thought as he continued charging. Please, just hold out a bit longer.
"Gardenia…" Ruby muttered fearfully. Then, disaster struck, Gardenia threw a powerful haymaker and she felt every bone in her right arm splinter. The adrenaline immediately kicked in, so thankfully it did not hurt. However, at that moment, Gardenia knew she was in serious trouble.
No…my third wish did not last as long as I thought it would. Damn it…the damage I sustained earlier must've caused this! She realized.
"Begone, LeSouhait!" 2 of Clubs screamed, slashing across Gardenia's vulnerable body in the shape of an x, sending her onto her back. 2 of Clubs then turned his attention to Hansel and Ruby. "And as for the two of you…"
No, it's not ready yet! Hansel's eyes widened.
2 of Clubs froze in place as he felt something wrap around his tail. He turned to see Gardenia, having literally forced herself to her feet to grab onto his tail with the strength she had left. He just chortled.
"Oh that is just precious." He mocked. "Now let go!"
Ruby watched in horror as 2 of Clubs started to slam Gardenia onto the ground repeatedly, in an attempt to get her to let go. She turned to Hansel with a frantic expression on her face.
"Professor, please! You have to help her!" She pleaded.
Should I? I know what she's doing, Hansel noted to himself, she knows if she buys me enough time, I can end 2 of Clubs with one swing. But…if I take the time I still need…she'll die for sure. I can't let that happen!
"Is that really such a problem?" Hansel's eyes widened as time seemed to stop around him. Perhaps it was his own delirium from his own injuries, but he saw a version of himself entirely in black strolling in front of him. "Come now, is it really such a big deal if she dies and you get the time you need to kill 2 of Clubs? We both know what the more important thing is, Hansel. And that is making sure this monster doesn't hurt anyone again, no matter the cost."
Hansel's eyes widened, realizing that standing before him were his own inner thoughts. The darkest thoughts in his soul, focused on victory above all else. Again, perhaps it was his own delirium from his own injuries, but as the proverbial 11th hour arrived for a major choice, Hansel soon saw that time tended to slow down for people in their minds during moments like these, like how car crashes tend to slow down time for the victims.
"Like I said," Hansel's dark thoughts continued to address him, "why are you even debating this? Let the woman die so that you can fully charge your flames and win for sure. You've seen people die before. From Huntsmen to civilians alike, victims of people like that monster before you. So what's one more death?"
"And what if it fails?" Hansel gasped as a version of him dressed entirely in white stepped into view alongside the Hansel in black. "Then Gardenia dies for nothing, you die for nothing, and poor Ruby gets taken away."
"My choice is the logical one."
"My choice is the realistic one."
"And yet you don't seem…"
"...to be thinking logically or realistically."
"It's the girl, you never should've let her get so close."
"2 of Clubs was right about one thing, unfortunately. She and those other students have become a chink in your armor. But especially her, and I think you realize that."
"Cut her off, before her presence becomes a danger to you."
"Or at the very least, recognize the simple fact that for the first time ever, you honestly care how another person sees you. Deep down, you don't even care how Ozpin and Glynda see you, as long as you're useful to them."
"She will be the death of you, because you can't be the Huntsman you need to be if she's a part of your life."
"She will be the death of you, if you continuously try to push her away and deny her."
"Let Gardenia die, what's more blood on your hands at this point?"
"Risk it all to try and save Gardenia for Ruby's sake. You know she won't be able to forgive you if you don't act. You're dead if you fail to kill and you're dead if her opinion of you is damaged beyond repair. So gamble on life."
This is one of the true, horrifying manifestations of the damaged psyche of Hansel Kobalt, all for the viewing pleasure of those capable of seeing such things. A manifestation of self-loathing and self-deprecation, torn in two, trying to make a logical choice or a realistic, but also moral one. He was torn, he was torn and running out of the little time he had as his mind began to catch back up with the world around him. 2 of Clubs was about to make a move to slam Gardenia down with enough force to snap her neck. He could tell as much just by looking. Life or death? What was Hansel going to choose?
"Professor!" Hansel was cut from his thoughts from one last tearful plea from Ruby. With a scream of resignation and exertion, Hansel finally unsheathed Wolf Fang and launched a significantly weaker flying slash of black fire at 2 of Clubs. The attack collided with 2 of Clubs and several things occurred in that moment.
First, the impact wrested Gardenia from 2 of Clubs, knocking her around and leaving her sprawled out on the ground, barely alive. Second, the slash dug into 2 of Clubs' body, leaving a blackened miasma that reminded Hansel of blood. Finally, the blast created an explosion that sent 2 of Clubs flying away. Gardenia gazed at Hansel for a brief moment, knowing that he had thrown away a better chance to kill that monster to save her.
"You fool…" She muttered before losing consciousness. Adrenaline wore off for Hansel as well as he vomited blood. His eyes, ears and nose started to bleed as well. His innards were an utter mess. He had enough strength for one thing though: a warning. He knew that would not be enough. He knew that 2 of Clubs would be back after a moment of recovery.
"Run…kid…" He said to Ruby before collapsing forward. Ruby summoned up the strength she had to instead move to his side.
"Professor!" She called out. "Professor, please! Get up!"
Meanwhile, Giovanni Scarlatto shook his head in disappointment, having perfectly sensed everything that just transpired. His sensory abilities were among the best in Gray Jackal, it was what made him such a tremendous assassin.
"That was the wrong choice, Hansel Kobalt." He lamented. "How will she feel about this, I wonder?"
Meanwhile, back at the location of the massacre that just took place, Ruby continued desperately trying to stir Hansel. However, she soon found herself sensing pure malice. All the color drained from her already pale face as she turned to see 2 of Clubs angrily emerging into view once more.
After all of that…he's still standing? Ruby thought in disbelief. Indeed, 2 of Clubs was heavily injured. His Aura was repairing his wounds much more slowly than usual. However, he was still alive and very angry about what just took place.
"YOU PHILISTINE PIECES OF EXCREMENT!" He screamed in rage. "HOW DARE YOU DO SUCH THINGS TO ME!"
Then, with a deep breath, he calmed down. He calmly advanced on Ruby.
"Fine, it doesn't matter. None of it did. I've won." 2 of Clubs declared with a snarl. "You little brat, whatever the organization wants with you better be worth it. I had to exert myself far too much for my liking. The only upside is knowing I get to remind you that all of this is your fault until the end of your miserable days. Doom, LeSouhait, Kobalt, and all those bastards I slaughtered. Every single one of them; their blood is on your hands because you didn't cooperate like a good little girl. Between all of this and those brats earlier, I'm shocked you're trying to be a Huntress. The fact is, you can't save anyone. If anything, based on the evidence before me, I'd say your existence brings nothing but pain and misery."
Ruby felt what was left of her self-worth shatter with 2 of Clubs' words. She wanted to deny it, she wanted to believe that Gardenia and Baza's words rang true when they spoke in her defense earlier. But they were either dead or dying…so was Professor Kobalt.
"...You talk too much, asshole." Ruby's eyes widened at a familiar voice. 2 of Clubs gasped.
Behind me? 2 of Clubs turned to see Taiyang Xiao Long, surrounded by an Aura comparable to that of golden flames, glaring up at him.
"Dad?" Ruby whimpered.
"When did you-" 2 of Clubs began before feeling a kick to the jaw that sent him flying away from Ruby. Taiyang had roundhouse kicked him in under a second. So fast that 2 of Clubs did not see it coming at all. Meanwhile, Giovanni's expression turned smug as Taiyang finally joined the fight.
"And so the final piece on the board arrives." He mused, rising from his seat. "I guess that means it's time we make our move as well."
AN: Oof, I mean, oof. I know I've always said I believe in putting characters through the wringer to make them earn their happy endings, but oh man. I mean, I just don't have much to say here. I wrote this chapter and I feel bad. So, I'm just gonna leave it at that.
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Don't expect the next one so soon, considering this was completely by accident. I'll see y'all next time.