"You got everything?" Artorian asked Touka, seeing the girl and her uncle exit the taxi they took with a bag in tow.
"Everything I need." She answered, pausing as she looked to her uncle. "Are you sure you're okay with me leaving, Shisho?"
"We've been over this Touka, this is for your wellbeing." Ryusei responded. "The Mikado wants you to take a test to see if you're compatible with a Hundred. I don't want you risking your life for this shit of a country."
"B-But what about you!?" Touka questioned, looking up to him in concern. "Your symptoms are getting worse, you coughed out blood for five minutes this morning! What if the medicine doesn't come in soon enough? If I'm here then I could-!" The girl was interrupted as Ryusei patted her, rubbing the top of her head as he looked down to her. "Shisho?"
"I'll be okay Touka. I'm not as hopeless as you think I am." He encouraged her, kneeling down to match her height. "The coughing wasn't as bad as you think, only happens once a month. I still have plenty of medicine, the little shit even gave me a fresh batch from Charlotte. I'll be okay."
"But you'll be all alone…"
"Then you'll just have to call frequently. Your old man did when I retired. Oh, that reminds me." Ryusei realized, reaching behind him and gripping a sword hilt. Placing the sword in front of her, Touka stared in astonishment of the masterfully crafted blade. "This belonged to Hokuto in his Slayer days. He made it with material Artorias gave to us."
"It's amazing…"
"Yep, your old man was a one of a kind smith." Ryusei then lifted the blade to hold it horizontally, placing his hand under the blade and holding it out to her. "And he wanted you to have it."
"W-What? But, but I can't-"
"It's what he wanted Touka. It was kept in this condition so that you could inherit it." The man said, his niece reluctant to receive the blade before feeling Artorian place a hand on her shoulder. A silent nod from him told Touka all she needed to know, turning back to her uncle and taking the blade carefully. She initially grunted as the weight was more then she expected, but the young girl had impressive strength and held it up.
"I promise, I'll take good care of it."
"It's yours kid. No need to promise." Ryusei chuckled before Touka surprised him with a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck before he returned the embrace.
"I'll miss you uncle."
"I'll miss you too kid." Ryusei responded, patting her back before they released each other, the man standing up and looking to Artorian. "If she so much as gets a scratch, I will rip you apart."
"I'll remember that when she slips for the first time because she doesn't understand ship safety." Artorian rolled his eyes before getting surprised as the man hugged him.
"Stay safe you little shit. No more losing limbs."
"I… don't drink yourself under Bastard." Artorian relented, embracing his mentor.
"No problem, ya little shit."
"How can you just say no?" Matthew questioned, closely following Charlotte as the scientist was walking towards an elevator.
"Easy, I pronounce the letters N and O in a certain pattern." Charlotte responded, entering the elevator and clicking for her lab, the hybrid stopping the door from closing to enter.
"Doctor Charlotte, you of all people must understand why I need to know as much as possible. You were transparent with my father when you worked with Artorias." He stated, Charlotte taking out her lollipop as she looked ahead.
"Your father knew everything before I did, there was nothing to hide."
"Except he didn't know the concept behind human Vessels, that's something I need and his notes lack."
"You must see why I'm as reluctant to this as I am?" Charlotte asked. "Human Vessels are rare, the ones we made for Slayers are almost all gone. We only have one still on active duty, one that is expecting to have a child any day now."
"This has nothing to do with Carver, I said my peace and will let that go. My concerns are about the Anti-Slayer movement that's been gaining ground."
"You shouldn't know about that."
"I had read the reports my father had been getting, they were important for me to understand the Abyss more." Matthew said, looking to the human with somber eyes. "Please doctor, I need to know as much as I can."
"You kids… putting all this pressure on us…" Charlotte sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she stopped the elevator. "Even if I wanted to tell you more about my research there's no point. You already know all that there's needed."
"That isn't accurate, there's hardly any information of Artorias' Virtues. Why would you leave out the most compatible and strongest of his forces out of the report?"
"Carver is the only active one of the batch, all the others are dead. Their data was limited since most were killed before or shortly after the First Attack." Charlotte answered. "So no, it is accurate Matthew."
"You processed and developed all of them." The hybrid argued, the elevator opening before the scientist stepped out. "Surely you'd have the knowledge behind the development stages of-"
"Listen now Matthew, I will not repeat myself." Charlotte interrupted, turning back to the Slayer with an apathetic stare. "Most First Generation Slayers were criminals on death row, but all of Artorias' top lieutenants were volunteers. Good people who died for the sake of the Lords' interest. All of which I considered my friends." She then took the stick of her lollipop out, pointing it to Matthew as he remained on the elevator.
"There is nothing more to them then the limited data I have archived. I will not reveal the secrets of them for your sake of developing strategies for killing Artorian should he succumb to the Abyss." The scientist then flicked the stick down to Matthew's feet, looking up to him unflinching. "You want that information? I'll tell you the same thing I told Vitaly when Meiko died. Pry it from my cold. Dead. Hands."
A sudden chill went down Matthew's spine as he stared back down to the scientist. A powerful malice almost seemed to ooze out from the small woman, but it wasn't like the Abyss. This was her raw emotion, and it alone gave him pause despite his insistency to get the information.
"…I apologize if I came off as rude or insulting towards their sacrifices." Matthew eventually spoke, relenting in his gathering of research for the time. "I only wish to be ready, Artorian is a unique entity in the world. I simply want to make sure it's as quick and painless as possible when the time comes."
"If, not when. Don't underestimate that boy, his parents weren't anything to scoff at. His father at least." Charlotte responded, her stare remaining before she began to smile once more. The malice surrounding her disappearing as if it wasn't even there. "I also want to say sorry if I came off as too intense. I spent a lot of time around Ornstein and Artorias, the only way I got a message across was being the sternest in the room. I guess I haven't grown out of that habit yet."
"I understand. We Lords can be a… stubborn bunch."
"Understatement of a lifetime." She laughed playfully. "Be sure to get some rest Matthew. Everyone will be back tonight, and soon afterwards you'll have to worry about protecting the festival."
"I will. Thank you for your time."
"Of course. And hey." She spoke up, getting Matthew to pause as she brought his attention up. "Come down sometime for coffee. We can talk about something besides business. I'm an open ear if you have anything you want to get off your chest."
"I'll keep that in mind doctor." He nodded before clicking the ascending button, the elevator closing before Charlotte sighed heavily and leaned back against the nearest wall. Hitting her head against the metal framework, she barely registered it as she looked up to the dim light, somberly staring at the light as it occasionally flickered.
'Great, and that needs changing too.' She groaned, pushing off the wall and going to sit in front of her computer and tapping the side of her head. 'With the Hunters, Anti-Slayers and Gudenberg's recent pressuring, I really could use a smoke.'
"Char?" Hearing Liza speak up, Charlotte broke out of her thoughts, she looked to the screen in front of her to see the words form. "Are you okay?"
"Of course Liza. Just a bit of stress building up with the Hunters."
"Are you worried about Vitaly?"
"She'll never come here. She isn't nearly stupid or desperate enough."
"Artorian."
"She won't even touch him."
"Ow!"
"Yay! I won again!"
"Surprising no one." Liddy commented, grunting underneath her breath while blocking a punch from Artorian with her forearm.
It was only the morning after Artorian and co returned to Little Garden, and with the open opportunity the hybrid decided to take Touka on a tour of the vessel ending at the arena where he and Liddy trained. Introductions were shelved to start, both he and Liddy wanting to spar to relieve some built up stress.
While the two fought, Touka was stuck with the greatest challenge she's faced so far: competing against Mei Mei in a series of games of Janken. The young human was shocked at the raw speed the woman possessed, unable to follow her burst of speed unlike Artorian and Liddy could.
"This is unfair!" Touka argued, pointing to Artorian as he blocked a kick to his side from Liddy. "Why do you two get to do full-contact sparring while I'm stuck getting my head hit by a mallet!?"
"Because Bastard put me in command of your training and I said so." He answered, throwing two quick punches that Liddy parried. "Now stop whining and get back to losing."
"You mean training?"
"I know what I said." He responded, grunting as Liddy raised her leg up and delivered a harsh knee to his chin.
"So remind me why you came back with a plus 1?" Liddy questioned, stumbling back as Artorian forced his head down, landing a kick to her side.
"Owed Bastard a favor, wanted her out of Yamato." He explained, the two trading a few blows but blocking effectively. "She's also a bit of a security issue, so she's safer here then back there."
"What kind of issue?" She asked, kicking high and missing as Artorian ducked under.
"The Abyss kind." He stated before tripping Liddy off her leg, tackling her to the ground and pinning her with a forearm on her neck. "Her parents were both Vessels, she has the Abyss inside her naturally."
"Vessels can be born naturally?" Liddy grunted, attempting to push up. However with his superior position and higher strength, moving Artorian was impossible for the Slayer, forcing her to tap out in surrender.
"Not exactly." He continued, rolling off her so the two could sit as they recovered. "Someone naturally born with the Abyss has it fused with their flesh. The mass that was growing in you is basically her entire body, the same as mine."
"You're not saying she's…"
"It's exactly what I'm saying." He interrupted, looking to Touka as she rubbed her head, nursing the bump on her given by her latest round of Janken. "That girl over there is an Abysswalker. Just like me."
"I didn't know humans could become Abysswalkers." Liddy muttered in confusion, having seen nothing like that noted within the records she had access to.
"Charlotte figured it out during the second batch of Slayers that humans were more compatible with the Abyss then initially guessed. But the Lords were concerned about the potential of a human Abysswalker." He explained, looking back to his fellow Slayer. "They can't control her, not the way they could me. She's out of their reach, and therefor a threat to their idea of balance."
"What do you think then?"
"I think she should've been able to be a normal girl, with normal problems in a piece of shit country like Yamato." He answered. "There's a reason my family has held the Abyss for thousands of years. Because if we hold it, then no one else suffers because of it."
The response left Liddy silent, looking towards Touka as she lost yet another round of Janken to the cyber-cat maid. Thinking on Artorian's words, it left the implication that Touka could have a familiar path to the Abysswalker beside her. Everything he told her, the mental scarring, the physical alterations, even her own soul is nothing like a person her age.
"What about her family?"
"Dad died during the First Attack, mom apparently died roughly two years ago." He explained. "Uncle… Bastard doesn't have much time left on him. He had the Abyss removed and it's slowly getting to him. I'd say he has… three years if he's lucky."
"And if he isn't?"
"I don't like to think about it." Artorian answered.
The Slayer was surprised but kept it to herself. Artorian wasn't one to often hide what he was thinking, much less on survivability odds. He had openly stated they would die on multiple occasions, but at the thought of Ryusei dying caused him to drop the subject. Considering he trained the hybrid she could at least guess why the subject was hard, which is why she respectfully dropped the conversation all together.
"Any idea what her physical strength is?"
"No idea on max, but she could knock out a thug with a swing of her shinai if she's lucky. At best I say she's roughly around how strong I was around three years ago."
"Is that strong?"
"I could break a guy's jaw, in Yamato that's something. They're built differently."
"So we basically have another you?"
"Not quite. She doesn't have any energy." He detailed. "She can't use a Hundred or form a barrier. Although I'd wager her physical strength won't be something to scoff at in a couple months to a year. So it likely won't matter."
"To put it simply, she's a First Generation Slayer. Pure blooded at that."
"Think she'll be good in the field?"
"Need's more intense training, but she'll be a powerhouse once she gets a grasp of her power. There's a titan in that little girl."
*POMP*
"I win again!"
"This isn't fair!" Touka whined, nursing her latest bump at the hands of the maid.
"…Somewhere." Artorian muttered out, Liddy sighing at the girl's complaining after her latest defeat.
"So, how much of Zaneizan did Bastard teach you?" Artorian asked, standing next to a training drone Charlotte developed for the pair to train with.
"Only the basics, posture, arm strength, you know?" Touka answered, getting a deep seethe from the hybrid.
'Damn it Bastard, you're making me literally teach her everything!'
"Well, that's something anyways." He shook his head before unsheathing his sword. "Okay, Zaneizan has two simple steps. However, the execution in succession is the challenge behind the technique." Turning to the drone, he'd grip his sword with both hands, hovering the edge just over it. "The first step requires no skill to preform, just simply hit the thing with a large amount of force."
Demonstrating, the hybrid raised his sword over his head before swinging down hard. The drone had withstood the blow, not only in place but also fully intact.
"The next part however, is the challenge." He detailed, focusing close on the drone for a few long seconds. Then without a word, he slashed down at the drone, this time cutting his blade deep into the machine while the point of impact had completely shattered.
As pieces flew from the blow, Touka stared in amazement while Mei Mei covered the girl's eyes protectively. Liddy winced as she felt some of the metal breeze past her, her enhanced senses making the small shrapnel feel closer than they were.
"When dealing with Savage, you aren't going to likely be able to damage the armor quick enough to destroy the core." Artorian explained, turning to the group while sheathing his sword. "So to work around it, you use your inability to break it into an opportunity."
"I see… I don't get it." Touka admitted, getting a sigh from Artorian as he started to pick at his arms and pulling out a few of the shards that pierced his skin.
"When you strike a solid surface, vibrations will be produced." He started. "Regardless of strength these vibrations occur, it depends on the composition of what you're hitting on how much it vibrates. That and how hard you hit it. These vibrations are your saving grace, striking them at the precise moment will help you break apart the armor and destroy the core."
.
.
.
"By the fu-Hit it hard. Look for when the vibrations go up to you, and hit it hard again at the same spot!"
"Oooooh, why didn't you just say that?" Touka asked, getting Artorian to walk to the nearest wall and hit his head against it several times in restraint.
'This girl's more of an airhead than any I've seen. How the hell is she the daughter of two Vessel Virtues and trained by Shizuka and Bastard!?'
"Shinshisho?"
"I told you not to call me that." Artorian responded, resting his head against the wall.
"But you're my new master. And since Shisho isn't here, that makes you Shinshisho." Touka explained, getting an irritated sigh from the hybrid.
"Fuck it, we'll deal with that later. For now let's see how well you handle the Zaneizan, try and break the drone."
"Yes, finally!" Touka cheered as she pulled her sword out of the ground, grinning madly as she approached the drone. "Shisho's been holding back this for three years! Time to see what I got!"
"Can she do it?" Liddy asked as Artorian walked over to her, unsettled by his silence while he had a wide smirk on his face.
'Why does that smirk look so malicious?'
"Good luck, Touka!" Mei Mei cheered, supporting the girl as she raised her sword over her head.
"The technique my father made…" She spoke, swinging her sword down and striking the drone on it's base, raising her sword high again as she swung down with pride in her eyes. "I'LL MASTER IT HERE!"
*CLANG!*
"OOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!" Touka shrieked in pain, her second strike hitting the drone. However the impact had completely off put her, the recoil sending the sword out of her grasp flying back as she lost her grip.
Artorian's smirk remained as he stepped out of the way, not even flinching as the sword narrowly missed his face before impaling into the wall. He then looked back to Touka, the girl on her knees while looking to her shaking hands.
"W-W-What was… what went wrong?" Touka muttered to herself, her palms bright red from the force the sword returned to her when she hit the drone.
"You messed up, you hit the drone when it was vibrating down." Artorian answered, going over to the girl's lost sword and pulling it out. "So not only did you not do any damage, the metal flung back to you immediately after your swing."
'He knew she was going to mess it up like that.' Liddy thought in understanding, looking to the drone and seeing that Touka's failed attempt barely damaged it. If anything, there was only a dent from her first strike.
"Sorry if it disappoints you, but that mess up was going to happen." Artorian stated, walking over to Touka as she nursed her hands.
"Did you make the same mistake?"
"Of course I did, this technique isn't something you just get right the first try. Especially with our swords." He explained, putting her sword down next to her. "The metal used reacts heavily with vibrations, far more then regular metal or variable stones. You have to be precise with each strike, swinging widely only works when you're fighting something with a flexible movement. Solid defenses like a Savage gets you nothing but injured hands and a quick disarm."
"Okay… I understand." Touka breathed in, slowly curling her fingers in. She winced at the momentary pain, but steeled herself as she looked over to Artorian. "I'm ready to try again Shinshisho."
"I said not to call me that. And good, it'll be a hell of a process."
*CLANG!*
"AHH!"
"You're acting too quickly! If you swing like that you'll just tear the muscles in your arms."
"R-Right!"
*CLANG!*
"No, no, no! Now you're waiting too long to swing! Patience is useful in a fight, but not when you're on the attack! Find that middle ground!"
"I will!"
*CLANG!*
*CLANG!*
*CLANG!*
*CLANG!*
*CLANG!*
Touka's striking went on for hours, the young swordswoman striking at the drone with growing ferocity. Every strike was followed with the secondary blow, a hopeful rush that the next swing would be the one that broke through. But every time there was a mistake made, every attempt faced an error in timing or placement, making each blow hurt more.
Eventually Touka's body simply couldn't continue and she collapsed, passing out from exhaustion with no further result then dozens of dents across the drone.
"She worked so hard." Mei Mei muttered in concern, walking next to Artorian as he carried the young redhead in his arms.
"Yep, she really pushed herself to get it right." He commented, smiling to himself as he easily carried Touka, her sword and his own. The moment she passed out, Artorian caught her, not even letting her lose her footing when he picked her up.
"You knew she wouldn't even get close though." Liddy called the hybrid out, to which he shrugged in response.
"Of course she wouldn't. This technique requires strength, focus, patience and prediction. If she got it on day one I would be in utter shock."
"But shouldn't you have told her?" The maid asked.
"If you're going to fail, fail swinging." He responded. "She hit that drone with all her might, never stopped even as her muscles burned in pain. She has the drive, now all she has to do is get it wrong until she figures it out."
"Is this how Mr. Kenzaki taught you?"
"Worse, I used giant boulders that sent out debris with every swing." Artorian chuckled. "Mistakes for me hurt a helluva lot worse than they did for her."
"How long did it take you to master it?" Mei Mei asked.
"Bold assumption. I haven't mastered it yet." He revealed. "The technique is incomplete, Hokuto and Bastard never fully developed it."
"Then you're teaching her enough to defend herself?" Liddy assumed.
"Unlike me, she won't just stop at the incomplete technique. She'll keep going and improve it until she gets the result that she wants. If she's half as stubborn as her old man that's a promise." He said, smirking as he looked down to the redhead in his arms.
"I recall you being a lot harsher when you made her swing at that drone for several hours." Liddy commented, giving him a narrow stare.
"She's got a long way to go, holding her hand won't help her." The hybrid responded. "Besides, she did what she was supposed to do. So what more can I say then I'm hopeful?"
Despite the confidence in his voice, the Slayer noted the presence he was releasing. She couldn't identify what exactly she felt, but the presence seemed almost to contradict his entire persona. A moment of weakness or confusion, or something she couldn't put together. She couldn't put her finger on it, and she was mindful enough not to ask. It was a split-second feeling, so it could simply be a lapse in judgement.
Training someone with the same dark entity he has could put doubt in a person. Especially when you could doubt your own control at times.
"Well, I have to head back to the lab." Mei Mei stated, bowing to the Slayers. "Charlotte likely hasn't left yet and someone has to make sure she eats something."
"Make sure she gets a couple hours of sleep too." Artorian added. "Force a sleep pill or two down if she won't. That's what dad did."
"That doesn't sound safe… but maybe she'll get some sleep if I approach her right! Good night Artorian! Liddy!" The maid announced before running off, the hybrid smiling as he watched her run off.
"Your dad forced Dr. Dimandias to take hypnotics?"
"Tricked more, she never checked the water he gave her." He explained. "Abysswalkers view sleep very differently from most people. A night of full sleep without a nightmare is a blessing to us. So we often encourage others to get all the sleep they can. Ya get me?"
"…Yeah, I suppose." Liddy muttered, confusing Artorian. "Artorian?"
"What's up?"
"…Never mind, it can wait for another day." Liddy said, walking away while waving back to the hybrid. "The roster and schedule for guard shifts during the Founding Festival will be out tomorrow. Be sure to check it as soon as possible."
"Yeah, sure." Artorian responded, sighing as he turned around. "Get some sleep Liddy."
With the group now dispersed, Artorian headed for Charlotte's residence. Although Claire had gone with bringing Touka onto the vessel, the young swordswoman would've needed somewhere that she would be private. Or at the very least, somewhere that made it less likely for the information about the Abyss to be disclosed.
Luckily Charlotte has more than simple experience to deal with the girl's potential outbreak. So obviously she was ideal choice, and according to her "I'm never there anyways, so it works either way". The last part the hybrid felt he'd have a talk with her about, but regardless having a house further from the center of Little Garden was perfect for a late blooming Abysswalker.
Once he reached Charlotte's residence, the hybrid carefully went through the building to where he recalled Touka's room was. It wasn't until he tucked her into bed he saw how peaceful she was sleeping, if he didn't see the rise of her chest he wouldn't even realize she was breathing. The sight sparked something in the hybrid, recalling the last time he had slept that calmly, knowing eventually where it all went to.
All he could think then was how long did she have until the nightmares came? Would the girl be able to handle the burden that came with being an Abysswalker? He didn't normally think so much for someone else's well-being, but the redhead was now in the same boat as him. And he knew well how damaging the Abyss could be.
"Sleep in runt." Artorian muttered, pulling her blanket over her before placing her sword on the wall next to her bed. When he stepped out, he'd hear the sound of the TV in the living room turn on, looking over to see Emilia sitting on the couch. After being found out, Emilia was moved into Charlotte's house as well, the sight of the Variant idly watching getting a small smile from the hybrid.
"Hey. Scooch, scooch." He said when he walked over, the girl blinking her exhaustion away before giving him room to sit down.
"Hey… yaaaagh… what're you doing here so late?" Emilia yawned, rubbing the tear out from under her eye.
"It's early, a little after midnight." He responded, chuckling as the girl blinked in surprise before groaning. "Can't sleep?"
"Time zone's messing with me, I was just getting used to Yamato's time." She answered, leaning to the hybrid and resting her head on his shoulder.
"So you came out to watch TV until you went back to sleep?"
"I like having a little back noise when I go to sleep. It helps sometimes." She then sighed blissfully, relaxing as Artorian's cool skin mixed with her natural heat. "This helps too."
"Well you're in luck, I have nowhere to be so I'll stay with ya until you fall asleep."
"Thanks…" Emilia smiled, looking at the TV screen but barely registering what was actually on it.
It was a moment of peace for the two; no training, no school, and no one present except for the other. As much as they enjoy everyone being around, there isn't much opportunity for a breather. And even with the trip to Yamato, the hybrid had clearly not dropped his guard in the slightest. But here he felt he could, evident as he let out a deep sigh, smiling as he watched the global news.
"So what's playing?"
"News, apparently the clean up in Qin is almost finished. Casualties are low, but a few Slayers are injured and being pulled out. Wendy and Aly, the two who were in Reitia's group?"
"Are they okay?"
"The short one has a broken leg and cracked ribs. Blondie seems mostly alright, but she's dazed." He explained, looking at the report and taking note of Wendy's distant stare. It put him off a bit, but didn't think much of it.
"I hope they recover; they were nice."
"Eh, never bothered to really know them."
"Seen anything yet?"
"Not a thing, no signs of a surplus or lack of energy in the air."
In Qin, most of the Slayers were being called back in to move out of the country. Only a single agent was active, a Slayer wearing a green and yellow variable suit on. The blonde man looked through the woods with a wary stare, his Hundred not activated while he moved.
"Most of the Savage are either destroyed or inactive. Perhaps you should go back to base Carver." Ornstein said, communicating with the Slayer.
"Maybe, but that isn't exactly why I'm looking." Carver responded. "Team D returned with no casualties, but were dragged back by Wendy."
"Assuming you're still out there, there's a problem with that."
"Wendy was dazed, looked like she was either pumped with drugs or hallucinating, hell maybe both." The Slayer explained. "And last time I checked; Savage don't have drugs on hand. Not the ones I've seen."
"Do you think the Anti-Slayer's are making a move?"
"If it was them, the three would've been dead. Drugging isn't their MO." Carver's eyes then narrowed as he heard scuttling, stomping a foot down and discouraging a large insect from approaching. "My money's on her."
"Are you sure?"
"Come on Ornstein, it's me." Carver chuckled. "Nothing what His faction does matches up, and I'd feel an Abysswalker's infection. So it has to be her."
"Carver, don't underestimate her." Ornstein warned, the Slayer reaching up to his collar as the Lord continued. "Vitaly's mental stability was in question BEFORE she worked with Artorias. Right now? The best we've heard her do was torture children to develop Artificial Variants. We haven't heard anything about what other experiments she's preformed."
"Good thing I'm here then." Carver smirked, feeling a shift in the air as he opened his collar. "I'll get you and Char a report as soon as I'm done."
"Hundred On!" When the Slayer cut the connection, he threw his variable stone to the side, orange energy bursting to life as his Hundred formed across his arms. He then reached forward, catching the creature he heard in his palm, a two-foot ant scrambling in his grip.
"Well hello there little guy." He said, seeing the metal exoskeleton with a black shine, red glass over its sides contrasting his silver gauntlets. An indented pattern across the armor then began to glow orange as he powered up, the intensity causing the ant to slowly burn.
A massive blast of energy shot out from his palm, obliterating the ant and going past the tree line before exploding in the distance. Several meters of trees caught fire, getting an entertained laugh from the Slayer as he cracked his neck, hearing rapid movement go around him.
"So was that your newest or oldest toy Tynyanov?" Carver asked, looking behind him as he registered the sound of human footsteps.
"Now, now, why such a hostile formality?" Vitaly asked, the redhead stepping out of the shadows with a red glint in her glasses before stopping a few feet away. "I would have thought Artorias taught you to be more respectful to your elders."
"He said I didn't have to if they were a bitch-and-or-cock. So take it up with him." He responded, shifting his left foot to point at the scientist. "Besides, you're the one keeping the modesty at a minimum." Carver jabbed at her, noting her more revealing purple and black getup, her lab coat unbuttoned to show her outfit.
"My, find yourself distracted?"
"Sorry Tynyanov, but I'm a married man." The Slayer answered, twisting his wrists to loosen himself up. "Can't go ruining it, not with Jr. on the way."
"Oh, a soon to be father." Vitaly smiled. "And the Abyss in you is still intact, what a benefiting subject." The scientist then had to quickly dodge a blast of energy from the Slayer, the tail end of her lab coat getting scorched as an explosion went off behind her. "Well, the same short fuse as always."
"Not a short fuse, just an itchy trigger finger." Carver warned, his green eyes glowing red as a black mist surrounded him. "And it always gets to scratch when dealing with a cold bitch like you."
"No need for such harsh language, that's simply the scientist in me." The woman laughed, her glasses glowing red while reflecting her eyes matching the Slayer's crimson. "It's why Artorias invested so much time with me, I was an ideal candidate after all."
"A mistake he would never make again." The Slayer then tightened his fists, the energy trails going across his arms heating up as he lowered his shoulders. "And a burden I'll lift off the kid's shoulders."
"As much fun as testing how powerful Artorias' Charity, I have too many projects nearing completion. And a few subjects that need collecting." Vitaly then shifted her glasses up, the red glow vanishing. "A shame my Disck didn't get you. Would've made the Founding Festival easier. Nevertheless, I bid you farewell."
"You aren't going anywhere!" Carver shouted lunging forward and clearing the gap between them without the dirt even settling. The woman stared surprised at his lunge, but his hand went right through her. The Slayer was caught off guard, but quickly spun on his heel, turning to see Vitaly flicker with a blue hue.
"You didn't honestly believe I would risk discovery did you?" She laughed, waving the Slayer off as her hologram slowly broke apart. "My presence wasn't needed, but I couldn't think to leave you without a friend."
At her parting words, the Slayer felt the ground shake for a moment. Turning around, he winced at an exhale of air and saliva, groaning as he saw the mutated bear, Savage fluid dripping from its mouth and eyes as several armor spikes came out from its back.
"How the hell did everyone miss you?" Carver questioned, firing a burst of energy from his palm to jet himself to the side, avoiding the bear as it slammed both its paws down. He then twisted his body to plant his feet on the tree he landed on, pushing out and swinging his fist out, striking the bear's face as it turned to face him.
It skidded back several meters, roaring as it recovered. But as it did he was already in front of it again, crouching below it before punching up at its chin. A loud crack was heard as the animal was sent high into the sky, the Slayer appearing above it was he sped past it without blinking.
"Hide's tough under that fur." He said, grinning as the energy in his Martial Arts Hundred glowed brighter. He then began to barrage the mutant's belly with blows, energy pooling at his knuckles as he struck the beast. One final blow sent it crashing to the ground, only to be knocked back as he landed directly in front of it again.
The mutant rolled for several meters back but skidded back onto its paws, its jaw readjusting before looking to the Slayer. Seeing him smirking with his fist raised up from the attack caused it to explode with rage, vibrant green pooling in its mouth as it opened up to charge its energy.
"Just as I thought." Carver said, lowering his arm and holding his palm out to it as the energy built up in the mutant's throat. "Big enough to charge energy. And dumb enough to leave itself open." Firing a small orb of energy, the Slayer would prevent the mutant from firing as the energy inside it reacted, spreading throughout the entire body before exploding violently.
A small patch of meat would land on the Slayer's shoulder, smoke rising from it at the direct contact with his skin. With a groan he flicked it off, flicking a small bit of energy to burn it up before firing a final blast to dissipate the contaminated blood around the area.
"So, Vitaly's planning to make a move against Little Garden." Carver noted, his Hundred deactivating. "Better warn Char. Looks like she's been experimenting with Savage fluid and making her own devices."
As the Slayer walked away, his thoughts went from the strange ant and bear the scientist threw at him to the woman herself. He was aware that due to her work, Vitaly would have a trace of it with her. However the glint in her eyes, the glow released he knew was too much for a simple minor exposure. It was insane, irrational and most of all dangerous, which only solidified what he was expecting, getting an angered grow from him.
'How the hell did she get Artorias' strain?'
"Oh, good morning Artorian!"
"Morning Amy, sleep well?" Artorian asked, waving to the woman behind the desk in the main lobby for the hospital on Little Garden.
"Enough, had to stay a little late compiling all of the Slayer's medical records. Well, most. Someone doesn't let us see it." Amy chided, getting a chuckle from the hybrid as he signed into the visitor list.
"Comes with being the son of a Slayer commander." He responded.
"Oh, just to let you know, Ms. Kashiwagi is out for the day." Amy brought up, stopping him before he got to the elevator.
"Break then. So I guess Kaede is watching Karen today?"
"Actually, Dr. Dimandias had taken over." She stated, confusing him. "She and Ms. Kirishima are present, something about the Founding Festival."
"Both you say?" He muttered to himself, pondering for a second before waving the woman off. "Thanks for the heads-up Amy. Now I'll know to knock first."
The hybrid then went into the elevator and clicked on Karen's floor, letting his thoughts on what the trio could be up to before exiting. He walked the halls rather briskly, narrowly walking past the staff as he felt a nervous ping in the back of his neck. He couldn't tell why, but the feeling he had last night was getting worse, and it was reaching it's peak when he reached Karen's room.
"So… how does it feel?" He heard Charlotte's voice, confirming the scientists presence.
"It's… a little tight." He heard Karen next, confused at her words. "Is this what they really feel like?"
"You get used to it quickly, eventually it feels like you're wearing nothing." Then Sakura's, confirming the three expected people in. "I'm still upset though; I think one like mine would've been better."
"Yours is made of multi-functional fibers with alternating patterns to energy flow. She needs this basic design to grasp it first." Charlotte explained. "We can discuss a new one later. For now it'll help with the early developing process."
'What are they on about?' Artorian thought before knocking, waiting a second before Sakura slightly opened the door.
"Artorian! How are you?" The idol smiled, getting a relaxed sigh from him as he looked to her through the crack.
"I'm doing good. I was heading to class but figured I'd visit Karen real quick." The idol then grew a nervous smile, instantly putting him on edge.
"Oh, well… she's fine."
"I figured, but I'd like to see her."
"Oh I'm sure you could wait maybe… two minutes? Or at least however long it takes for her to change?"
"You're getting defensive, what is going on?" Artorian questioned, putting his hand on the door and slowly opening it before Sakura started to pull against him. "What are you doing?"
"Y-You can't come in yet! Karen's um… uh… she's naked! You can't just walk in on her!"
"Okay, Sakura: One, I've bathed with her. I've seen her naked. Two, you are physically incapable of holding me back." He said, slamming the door open and getting the idol to jump back in surprise. "Now, what is going… on… here…" The hybrid started, but slowed down as he looked around the room, seeing Charlotte sitting in front of several monitors.
But what had his attention was Karen, the girl sitting in her wheelchair. Unlike the hospital gown he was expecting, the girl was wearing a variable suit, a lighter shade of purple on the interior with a darker shade surrounding it. She had her hands clutched together, appearing to hide something as he stared at her.
"Well, looks like cat's out of the bag." Charlotte responded, sighing as she did. "Guess the surprise was going to come out sooner or later."
"Karen… what are you holding?" Artorian asked, the girl looking to the side.
"It's okay Artorian, nothing's happening." Sakura said, moving to go behind Karen and place her hands gently on the girl's shoulders. "We're just doing a little rehearsal is all. Karen's recovery has been so fast, and with it we thought of doing something special for the Founding Festival."
"Not only that, but with her energy she might be able to move even more with the variable suit. A little testing is needed, but she might even be able to use a variable stone." Charlotte explained.
"…Pardon?" Artorian asked.
"You know, her very own Hundred!" Sakura cheered, smiling as she leaned her face next to Karen's. "Her recovery has been so impressive that the energy she's showing could support her body. And if she uses a Hundred, it could jumpstart her nervous system!"
"Karen, what does she mean by Hundred?" Artorian questioned, the girl visibly trying to shrink away. Eventually though, she would unfold her hands, revealing a violet and lavender variable stone between her palms.
"It's stripped of the material in most variable stones, but it works all the same." Charlotte explained, shifting her glasses as she did. "It was a hassle to make, especially to have it match Sakura's. But I think it came out whether well, don't you?"
"She could become a Slayer Idol like me! Isn't it great!?"
That final information caused Artorian's eyes to widen in genuine shock. The thought of Karen being able to fully recover, to be able to use energy and activate a Hundred. Her whole body could be recovered in an instant, and all she had to do was activate the variable stone. All that, and a sudden wave of cold entered the room, the air snapping in a second with a thunderous shout.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
(A/N): I think I'm just done making excuses. My writing had just taken a hit for the past few weeks with moments of inspiration. I've been distracted with college work and also playing games, got back into Dead Space and am aiming to complete the trilogy again. But outside of that, I've felt lucky enough in writing this latest chapter out. I was grateful for the ending too, it should at least make starting the next chapter easier.
The next couple chapters should be better managed, since the arc will be much more managed. I don't have much intent on making this arc super long, at least not as long as I made the previous one. And not to mention I'm very excited for the arc after this. But that's for another day, and I'll be working hard to get the next chapter out when I can.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you in the next one. Peace!