"Haaaa… Haaaa… Haaaa…"
"Deep breaths, your endurance is never going to improve if you slop down every time you're tired." Artorian informed Touka, the redhead covered in sweat from relentlessly swinging her sword in the air.
"Shinshisho… I've already mastered… the basics of Zaneizan. Why am I doing this… and so early?" Touka complained, the two out training before the sun was up.
"We've tried doing the next step for weeks, and you haven't gotten any closer to performing a proper execution." Artorian explained, crossing his arms. "So we're reverting back to the basics to see where your mistakes are being made. Your endurance also clearly has needed work. What good are you in a fight if you gas out five minutes in?"
"Most fights are… really fast though…"
"And then there's that part of your narrow mind." Artorian said. "You're forgetting why Zaneizan was developed. I'm not training you to exclusively fight people, I'm training you to fight Savage. Your father and Bastard made this technique to shatter Savage defenses, the utility against weapons was just a bonus."
"Shouldn't Savage be killed… fast though?"
"If there's one Savage, there's another around the corner." Artorian explained, having more than enough experience to know Savage are never alone unless one has already been eliminated.
"Then what's wrong with my… swings? There must be… some pointers you have!" Touka grunted, swinging her sword up and down against her aching muscles, wanting her mentor to find the error in her technique.
"Oh, I saw the problem when you first tried to use Zaneizan." Artorian said calmly, Touka nearly falling back before she turned to him.
"Then why am I wasting time swinging in the basics!?"
"Because you have to figure it out for yourself!" Artorian shouted back. "Along with your physical abilities, mental strength and speed are just as important! Any meathead can swing a sword hard and crack metal, this technique was made to save humanity from the damn Savage!"
"Then teach me how!"
"So you can go and be a one trick pony!? You're the future of the Zaneizan, stop trying to be like me and think ahead for once!"
"How can I think ahead when I can… whoa…" Touka's fatigue caught up as she began to stumble, Artorian catching her before she collapsed. "…Thanks Shinshisho."
"I'm not going to just let you just fall on your face." Artorian chuckled, helping the girl to a seat before sitting next to her. "Well, you got the heart for it in spades, but you're still not getting the full application."
"I just don't understand, Shisho never explained the technique and you only showed me how to use it once. How am I going to figure it out if I don't know what I'm doing wrong?" Touka asked, hanging her head in shame. "It's impossible, am I just not good enough?"
"Maybe, but I sincerely doubt that." Artorian responded, holding a water bottle to the redhead. "Touka, Bastard developed the original Zaneizan, two strikes to completely shatter the armor. But your old man, apparently he saw something greater to the style they used. What I know is the basics, there's a whole arsenal in his mind."
"And so it's lost." Touka sighed in defeat, taking the water.
"No, it isn't. You're still here." The hybrid grinned, ruffling her hair. "Bastard and I only concern ourselves with the basics. You on the other hand want to learn everything, and have been passing out every session just trying to figure out the main form."
"But if I can't figure that out then how can I get it?"
"It's the hardest challenge Touka." Artorian said. "But for the Zaneizan to take off, for you to build it up into a true technique, you have to figure it out on your own."
"But can I actually? I'm doing so bad I'm being forced back into the basics."
"You're the only one who I can imagine doing it. Although… it might be because my singular use of the technique that I have no better way of showing where your problem is. And it's rather hypocritical of me to expect you to go further while I remain the same."
"Shinshisho?"
"I'll figure something out, but for now you should take the rest of the day off." Artorian stood up, stretching his arms with a satisfied groan. "A young body needs plenty of rest after all."
"I thought we started training early to work twice in a day, once in the morning and once at night."
"Gods no, that would impact your sleeping. And considering you start school in a couple days I'm not giving you a bad habit like that." Hearing the reminder caused Touka to groan, the hybrid laughing in amusement. "You can't make it far as a meathead Touka, a little academics will do you some good."
"It's not fair, Shisho never made me go to school."
"That isn't something to be proud of."
"Wait a minute, he didn't make you go either!"
"Learn from my shortcomings instead of repeating them."
"Shinshisho!"
"Learn from them!"
"I'm surprised you volunteered for this Artorian, I would've thought you'd prefer… well, anything but cleanup." Erica admitted.
Due to the Vitaly, Little Garden was still littered with rubble and pieces of her artificial Savage, requiring a more dedicated clean-up crew to clear things out. Due to a sense of duty all of the Slayers from Selections were present, the newly promoted hybrid the surprising addition.
"Hey, just because I'm now the head of a black ops agency doesn't mean I'm not generous." Artorian responded, him and Matthew carrying several large chunks of concrete and placing them into the disposal pile.
"He's hoping to run away from any paperwork that might already be waiting for him." Matthew called out.
"Normally, yes. But today's special."
"You do seem to be in a rather good mood." Reitia noted, the silver-haired hybrid having been smiling the whole time.
"Today's the last day Karen has to spend in the hospital. She'll still need regular checkups for another year but in a few hours she's a free bird."
"Wait, why didn't you say anything!?" Half the group practically dropped whatever they were doing as they registered the news.
"Aside from I was given this information close to midnight?" Artorian responded. "I wanted to keep this day between us. Keep all the massive celebrations for a later time to just… take in that she's getting better."
"A reasonable desire, consider the day yours then." Matthew said, surprising his fellow hybrid.
"Hold on, since when do you give me orders?"
"He doesn't, but I do." Claire responded, patting Artorian's shoulder. "This has been a long time coming for you Artorian. The least you both deserve is to see it through together."
"I… thanks. All of you." Artorian finally relented, throwing a last chunk of concrete into the pile before running for the hospital. "I'll be sure to let you know when we intend to celebrate publicly!" The sight of the hybrid run so excitedly got a few chuckles from the group, Artorian's whole mood having gone a total 180 from before the attack.
"Hmm, Hawkes?" As the team went back to work, Erica's attention went up, seeing a squadron of four Hawke aircrafts flying over. The sleek metal fighters were a rare sight, leaving her to wonder if there was something going on.
"Seriously, I can't thank you enough for this Char." Emilia said, smiling as Charlotte was putting the finishing touches on her project.
"It's the least I can do, I haven't been of much use since they finished the hull's repairs." The scientist said, typing into her PDA before machinery whirled to life, Emilia's mechanical brace completed. "There, a custom-made brace compatible with energy. Won't heal your leg faster but you'll be moving like you didn't break it."
"Yes!" Emilia cheered, immediately jumping to her feet off her bed and ignoring Charlotte's attempt to stop her. Standing firmly, she tapped her foot on the floor a few times, her energy amplifying the effectiveness of the brace and making her feel totally normal. "I was getting sick of laying down and doing nothing! You're a life saver Char."
"Couldn't even wait to hear if there needs to be calibrations?" Liddy questioned with a chuckle. To the doctors' shock, Liddy's arm had recovered rapidly thanks to the Abyss' effect on her, although it still hurt from time to time.
"I can't help it, sitting around without being able to just stretch was awful." Emilia said, tapping her toes on the floor to better figure out her balance. "I have no idea how Artorian does it."
"He usually doesn't." Charlotte corrected, reminding them of the hybrid's habit of "sneaking" out of his hospital bed when he gets bored. "However before you go taking after all his habits, I need you to sit back down for some final checkups. Should only take five minutes."
"If I'm up and walking again soon I can surrender another five minutes." Emilia complied, sitting on her bed and raising her leg when Charlotte supported it on a table. As the woman began her diagnostic, Liddy looked out to the window as she heard multiple aircrafts fly overhead, seeing four Hawkes flying a only over Little Garden by 200 meters.
"There's a lot more air traffic than usual." Liddy commented.
"Makes sense, a lot of Little Garden's AA guns were damaged during Vitaly's attack, probably to make sure destroying her Replicant Trenta would be harder." Charlotte assumed. "Judal's also meeting with some of Warslran's weapon contractors, so security is being upped quite a lot."
"You would've thought calling multiple Serpent-IVs would be enough of a defense. Hawkes seem too unreliable."
"…We didn't order for Hawkes."
"I heard the damage was extensive, but even I have to admit I was caught off guard at the condition of Little Garden when I saw it." Gelen stated. Gelen Treden is the head of Trident Industries, which supplies Warslran with most of their transport vessels for long distance missions. He was sitting across from Judal alongside Nicolas Domen, the lead provider of Anti-Savage artillery for half the world's militaries, in discussions over the ship's latest attack.
"As bad as it is, the Slayers on deck served well and repelled the invasion effort." Judal stated. "Of course, I appreciate you two coming under such short notice. Security is certain but an espionage attack would leave some hesitant."
"Commander Claire runs a tight ship, such a thorough invasion won't happen again I'm sure." Nicolas responded. "I also don't like leaving such an important job as repairing Little Garden's weapon batteries without having a closer oversite."
"How extensive was the damage?"
"Nothing that draws serious concern, but the crippling leaves Little Garden wide open if anyone were to try something like an attack."
"So soon after Vitaly's attempt would be suicide. There's over a dozen Serpent-IV choppers armed with the latest ordnance." Gelen reminded.
"Goals can differ, Vitaly wanted chaos. Anyone else could want a smash and grab."
"Is there something you'd like to say Nicolas?" Judal questioned.
"You've classified a lot of the information, but what was seen on the news is impossible to ignore." Nicolas responded. "Vitaly sent three of her subordinates after three priority targets: Artorian Abyssal, Sakura Kirishima and Karen Kisaragi. As far as I'm aware these three are close to each other, and the name Abyssal carries a lot of enemies and old grudges."
"It has been taken into consideration. I wished for him to remain anonymous however he rejected my orders."
"So how long until someone with a big enough grudge shows up and tries to take him or one of his friends?" Nicolas asked. "A hit-and-run is all they'd need, and we'd only just register it in time before-" Judal's phone then started to ring, the man not wasting a second to pick it up.
"Dr. Dimandias, is something wrong?"
"Did you request any additional air support that I wasn't aware of?" Charlotte questioned.
"None, just the Serpents."
"Then we're going into lockdown, there's been Hawkes making several passes and if they aren't cleared then we've already got another fight on our hands."
"Alright Karen, just one more test." Miharu said as Karen slowly stood up from her chair. She registered that although easier than a week ago, but without the variable suit there was still some difficulty in keeping her balance.
"Shall we?" Artorian asked, standing by the door with a smile.
"Yeah!" With a confident grin, Karen took a few testing steps before the three of them began to walk the halls. A few steps had Karen stumble, but the girl always caught herself without either of their help. The test went well until Karen had to walk down and back up a floor of stairs, the climb taking more out of her than she expected.
But despite her exertion and wincing, Artorian and Miharu watched at the top, neither second guessing her as she pushed herself and in a final burst of strength sprinted up the stairs. "Ragh!" That final shout of determination came as she pushed up the final step, nearly tripping had Artorian not caught her shoulders and help keep her up. A round of applause was heard out in the floor's main lobby, the doctors and some of the patients all clapping as the small girl passed her final physical test.
"Congratulations Karen, you're officially cleared and free to leave the hospital for your own residence." Miharu said with a proud smile, Karen panting after the straining effort to pass.
"Yaaaaaay…"
"Looks like the champs tired." Artorian chuckled, picking Karen up and carrying her in a piggyback. "Come on, let's go and get your stuff."
"Okay." Karen said with a mumble, resting against the hybrid's back as the three headed back for her room. "Hey Artorian, was Sakura busy?"
"Yeah, she's had to do some record work. But she insisted on throwing a party as soon as she is done."
"I hope she gets chocolate cake."
"Knowing Pinky, she'll get every flavor just to be sure she picks right." Artorian chuckled. Once in the room Artorian picked up Karen's packed bag for her, the girl having been ready for this day for over a week.
"Now remember, you need to come back for a checkup every three days for the next two months. Once you've shown complete recovery you'll be as free as a bird." Miharu reminded Karen, getting a nod from her as Artorian put her down.
"I won't miss a single appointment!" Karen said dutifully, her energy coming back to her and getting a laugh from the nurse.
"That's good to hear, it'll be lonely without you here but I'm proud of how far you pushed yourself."
"You always got a place in this little family." Artorian said, hugging Karen to his side as he smiled at Miharu. "Just remember to say yes when the question comes."
"Hehe, I'll keep that in mind Artorian."
"Artorian, stop flirting with Miharu!" Karen half whined, her elbow to the hybrid's side not even felt as he laughed.
The sound of a siren stopped the laughter though, Artorian looking to the window in confusion. "Emergency alerts?"
"Are they testing the artillery?" Miharu asked, recalling the reports on the damage and repairs that are needed.
"They wouldn't use that alarm." Artorian said, his tone going serious as he started to push the two out. "The hospital has emergence elevators to the security bunker, get down there."
"And what about you?" Karen asked.
"I'm going to help evacuate the rest of the floor, so getting there now will let me focus." The hybrid responded, pushing the two out as he remained in the room. "Vitaly's attack leaves us open, if there's an attack they can hit anywhere without much resistance."
"Artorian…" Miharu's shocked voice was only confirmation to the hybrid as his ears picked up the sound of thrusters just before, turning to see two of the Hawkes picking up speed and firing two pairs of missiles.
"Get to the bunker!" Artorian wasted no time as he grabbed his sword and pulsed his energy, sending out an energy slash. The energy barely passed through the wall, but was strong enough to set the explosives off before it hit the building. The explosion however easily destroyed a portion of the area, Artorian was blasted through the door and into the lobby as a third missile flew through the opening, the explosion sending a tremor through the building as alarms blared from the damage.
"Miharu, what's happening!?" Karen said in terror, the nurse laying on top of her as she protected her from the explosion. "Where's Artorian!?"
"I'm… I'm sure he's fine Karen." Miharu winced, Karen feeling blood drip on her face before seeing the cuts across Miharu's face and body.
"Miharu, you're hurt!"
"We need to get to the bunker; we'll worry about me after." Miharu winced, slowly standing up and helping Karen. The roar of a thruster then caused the smoke and fire to spread and Miharu wrapped herself around Karen from the pressure.
As the dust settled Miharu looked up in shock as a transport shuttle was hovering outside of Karen's destroyed room, two armored figures jumping through the opening into the building. The larger of the two caught sight of them instantly, cracking his neck before he approached amidst the chaos.
"We have to run, come on Karen!" Miharu said, pulling the girl with her before a burning pain shot through her leg and she fell to the ground. "AH!"
"Miharu!"
"Going somewhere sweetie?" The man said, tossing several small rocks as Miharu assessed her injury. There was a hole through her leg but her bone and arteries were avoided, the nurse fighting the pain as she fought to stand. "You got spirit, but no bite!" Miharu was then sent across the hall as the man kicked her to the side, pained gasping her as the air was knocked out of her lungs.
"No!" Karen turned to run for Miharu, but was stopped as the man harshly grabbed her shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?" The man said with amusement, Karen hitting at his arm and not even getting a flinch. "Don't go worrying about the nurse, as long as she stays down that's the worst she'll get."
"Let… go…" Karen groaned as she tried to pull away, his grip tightening causing her eyes to widen as a hidden pressure was felt.
'Th..This is…!'
"Now come along quietly, before anyone-"
"Let go!" Pulling out her silver pendant, a blinding light erupted and began to burn the man, stunning him and getting him to let go.
"What the hell!?"
Wasting no time, Karen ran straight for Miharu, the woman struggling to calm her breathing as she felt her ribs crack from the kick. "I-It's okay Miharu, I got you! I got-AH!"
"Little bitch, you think this is some game that you can look away from?" The man growled. "Boss said to bring you in, but if I have to cause some damage I'll gladly-!" Before he could finish Karen vanished completely from his grip, confusing him before he saw his partner holding the girl's wrist several feet away.
"Watch your temper, he wanted her unharmed. And you're on thin ice already with you stunt on the nurse." The second man stated, Miharu's breathing slowing down as she started to calm herself.
"Oh please, she's a damn Slayer sympathizer like the others, what's a little due punishment?"
"I won't let you hurt her!" Karen said as she raised her pendant again, her eyes widening in shock as in the blink of an eye it was out of her hand and in her captor's.
"Don't do that." Was his only warning as he tossed it away, the larger man stomping and crushing it.
"No!" Karen shouted in horror, trying to pull away as she reached for the pendant. "He needs that! If he doesn't get cleansed soon he'll-!"
"We don't have time for this." Dragging her towards the opening, the larger man grabbed Miharu by her hair and lifted her up enough to look her in the eyes, clearly enjoying watching her squirm.
"You better pick a better side next time. The world's changing, and by the end of it the Slayers will be a thing of the past. And traitors like you will be-GAH!" An armored fist caught the man's jaw and knocked him tumbling back, the second man stopping in shock as he was sent past him.
"Bastard!" Artorian screamed in a frenzy, sprinting at the man and throwing his sword for his back. The man completely dodged the sword but was surprised when Artorian changed direction and swung his fist for his head, narrowly dodging as he was forced to let Karen go.
'What the hell, he knew where I was going before I used it?' The man was caught off when Artorian delivered a punch to his chest, the man appearing behind him almost as if he ran into the attack.
"Artorian?"
"Run Karen!" The hybrid shouted as he parried several punches from the armored man, turning and throwing his elbow out and striking his helmet, cracking the visor as he once again appeared to his side.
Karen hesitate for a moment as Artorian seemed to keep up with the man vanishing and reappearing without blinking, but shook her fear away as she ran for Miharu. "H-How bad is it?" The girl asked as she slung one of Miharu's arms over her shoulder, the nurse coughing out a bit of blood as she cradled her stomach.
"A few… broken ribs. My leg's pierced but anything vital was missed." Miharu informed. "Karen, they're after you. They'll ignore me, you need to run for the bunker elevator."
"I'm not leaving you!" Karen shouted out. "After everything you've done, how much you helped me and Artorian, I won't dare leave you!" Karen then groaned in exertion as she helped Miharu stand, feeling her legs burn from the pressure as they began moving to the elevator. "Just… one step… at a time… before… AH!" Just as the two started to move, Artorian was knocked through a wall in front of them, the hybrid wasting no time as he pulled himself out of the rubble and charge at the two men.
As he and the bigger of the two men traded blows, Karen returned to moving, Miharu gasping at each breath but following through. The two flinched as they heard the sound of concrete cracking behind them, not looking back as Artorian pressed the larger man's head harder against the floor. The visor gave way first and shattered, Artorian seeing an unnaturally black skin under the helmet as the man exerted to fight back.
When the second man appeared next to him, Artorian was forced to let go and received a powerful kick to his chest. The hybrid stumbled back a few steps before running back at the two, not even wiping the blood from his lip as he took an abnormal punch to his stomach, grabbing the larger man's arm and landing a clean punch at the front of his face. He then parried a punch from the smaller man as he appeared behind him, kneeing his chest and knocking him back.
"What the hell's the idea Cronu!? You enjoy being some Slayer's punching bag!?" The larger man screamed, sending a flurry of punches at the hybrid that were forcing him to guard himself and step back, parrying a punch a delivering an uppercut to his jaw in retaliation.
"He's doing something to predict my curse, don't go blaming me for your incompetence!"
"What'd you say shit stain!?"
Artorian noted the clear hostility between the two but didn't care as he delivered a solid kick to the larger man's side. However even with the force the man simply delivered his own punch to Artorian's face, the hybrid's head snapping in the direction before the man grabbed him by his head.
"Where are you going!?" He said in excitement as he delivered a headbutt, Artorian's forehead splitting open. As he released the stunned Lord, he was caught off guard when Artorian grabbed his armor and shoulder, throwing his head forward and returning the attack with his own headbutt, the force shattering the helmet and revealing his pure-black skin detailed with orange markings.
'So that's your secret, hardened skin!' Artorian put together instantly, recognizing the feeling of the man's presence as he stepped back in a daze. 'Instant movement and hardened skin, these bastards are far from the real deal. Which means they're easy to beat!'
"You two's time is up." A third voice surprised Artorian, and before he could turn he was struck violently in the back by Envy, the hybrid sent flying through the destroyed lobby crashing against the wall. He was able to react when Cronu attempted to strike him while he was down and kick him away, but before he could stand the ceiling collapse and buried him in rubble.
"Envy!"
"You two wasted our window, it's going to be a difficult exit at this rate." Envy said, turning to Karen as the girl froze in fear at seeing the white mask, feeling sick to her stomach at the man's presence alone.
'W-What is he? This isn't the same as Artorian's but it… it's just as wrong…'
"I recommend not resisting, I don't want to hurt you." Karen flinched in shock as Envy and Cronu appeared in front of her, the former of the two grabbing her arm and carefully pulling her.
"L-ngh! Let her go…!" Miharu said in pain as she was dropped, the nurse grabbing Envy's ankle as he easily contained Karen, looking down to the nurse and seeming unfazed behind the featureless mask.
"A nurse?"
"The meathead decided to have some fun with her, she's hurt bad. The Slayer also fought like hell for both of them; likely her personal nurse and guard." Cronu informed the Sin, Envy debating to himself before sighing.
"Pick her up, she's coming too." Envy ordered, Cronu nodding and picking the nurse up over his shoulder. The three men then went back to Karen's destroyed room, the two powerless to stop them as they were placed into the secured seats and locked in.
"Blow the floor, take that Slayer out." Envy ordered over his comm as the transport took off, two Hawkes breaking off and firing their remaining missiles through the opening. The resulting explosion cause part of the hospital to collapse, Karen and Miharu watching in horror at the destruction. "Let's get out of here."
As the shuttle was about to break away, Envy ducked as Artorian's Hundred sword flew in, impaling into the hull. Everyone looked in shock then as energy visibly pulsed on a piece of rubble and the Slayer flew right at the transport, slamming his shoulder into Envy and knocking the man out, him grabbing the safety railing at the last second to save himself.
"Artorian!"
"Hold on!" Artorian growled as he ducked under the larger man's punch, kicking the back of his head and knocking him against the shuttle's wall. A quick parry of Cronu's attacks and a powerful uppercut that knocked him down and Artorian ran to Karen and Miharu, ripping the harnesses off the second he could. "I got you!"
Before Artorian could grab either of them, he was caught off guard when Envy pulled himself in and went to tackle the hybrid, Artorian regaining his footing and grabbing his shoulder. "Damn bastar-!" The sudden eruption of blood as Envy impaled his stomach with two thin white blades sent the hybrid's body into momentary shock, Envy grabbing his face and pushing him out with the blades still impaled into him.
The shock of being stabbed was snapped away when Artorian slammed against the sea water, his instincts fighting as he desperately tried to swim up. With his bleeding and intake of water the hybrid quickly felt his conscious begin to fade, before in a last-ditch effort he focused as much energy into his mechanical arm as possible and cause a small explosion, sending him right to the surface where he gasped for air and used whatever energy he had left to physically grip the water, keeping his head above as he watched helplessly as the shuttle and remaining ships flew off in different directions.
"Damn it… damn it…" Artorian began to tremble, an aura of the Abyss forming around him as he grit his teeth in sheer rage. "DAMN IT ALL!" He bellowed as he slammed his fist into the water, causing a small burst of the Abyss to go around before vanishing into the depths, the hybrid continuing to tremble in anger as he watched the transport leave his field of vision.
"It… it doesn't seem real." Emilia said with a somber stare. Vitaly's attack was bad, but she didn't see the damage from the initial explosions, the shellshock having kept her focused on the danger. But now, with a hit-and-run leaving the ship licking their wounds, she had nothing but time to take everything in.
"We were too unprepared, the attackers hit us when our artillery was down. It… there's not much we could have done in the amount of time we had." Charlotte said, trying to lighten the burden as she stood next to the Slayer.
"We were still clearing the rubble from Vitaly's attack. And now… is this how quick things can go wrong?"
"I know this is hard for you Emilia, I vividly remember the first time I saw a Savage, it killed five Slayers before I could realize it was happening. But that horror… it's different when people do this to each other."
"I saw all the glances Artorian got in Yamato, but I didn't think the Anti-Slayer factions could actually do this. How many people did they kill that weren't affiliated with Warslran?"
"Too many."
'I suppose it was only a matter of time. The repercussions were going to happen sooner or later.' Charlotte though, looking down to her PDA as she was receiving a call from Ornstein. 'And what's worst is we're not the ones paying for it.'
"How did this happen?" Claire questioned, approaching Judal as he stood at the top of the command building.
"I'm trying to figure that out myself honestly." Judal sighed, seeing the damage done in the short time of the attack. The worst hit was the hospital, but there was plenty of smoke still in the air, the Hawkes having made several strikes on the airstrip and weapon caches.
"It's too big of an attack for you to not know something." Claire argued, motioning to the collapsed hospital. "They attacked Karen Kisaragi's room first, but happen to wait for when she was out and safe enough away from the explosion."
"That's a bold claim Claire, I thought you'd have more compassion for your older brother."
"There are hundreds of more injuries, the hospital collapse killed dozens that we can confirm. If there's even a single word that you think puts things together you are going to tell me."
"…I'll inform you the moment something comes up."
"That shit isn't working this time." Judal visibly flinched as the door was kicked off its hinges, a soaked and bleeding Artorian stomping towards the siblings with murder in his eyes.
"Artorian, oh god your injuries." Claire attempted to reach out to the hybrid, but a harsh push forced her to stumble back before he grabbed Judal by the throat. The man coughed out as his windpipe closed as Artorian held him over the edge, keeping an iron grip around his throat.
"Talk."
"Abyssal this… isn't the-GCK!" Judal attempted to talk down the Abysswalker, but the tightened grip silenced him instantly.
"Karen is in the hands of fucking terrorists, right now there is nothing on this ship keeping you alive but your words. Chose the right ones." Artorian said, staring at the man with a wide glare, giving him the option of a crushed or open windpipe.
"Artorian, stop!" Claire ordered, Artorian ignoring her as he held Judal out further.
"I don't think you get it tough guy, I either drop you onto the roof here, or the sidewalk down there. So please, tell me exactly what you know." The hybrid said, his cold stare being the final warning for Judal.
"…An Anti-Slayer faction, with backing from some of our suppliers." Judal relented, grunting as he was tossed back onto the roof with the hybrid standing over him.
"Please don't wait on me, keep talking."
"Comms… informed me the security clearance was genuine." Judal groaned, rubbing his neck as it burned red from Artorian handprint. "Which means someone that has clearance codes from Warslran gave them their aircrafts."
"Who?"
"We're still working it out. Our clearance changes every five minutes, the codes are deleted instantly to avoid a breach on our comms."
"You better give me a fucking name before I-"
"That is enough Artorian." Claire ordered as she stepped between the hybrid and Judal. "You overstepped your authority with that stunt, don't push further or I will have you detained."
"Karen and Miharu are currently in the hands of fucking terrorists! If that bastard has a single shred of information I'll rip it out his damn throat." Artorian growled.
"I understand you're scared, but you won't get any information from him if you can't prove you can reign yourself in." Claire said, her eyes looking up in concern as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Please, take a breath and sit down. I called a medic to come and patch up your injuries. Just… give yourself a minute."
"…If he doesn't talk, I'm throwing him onto the street." Artorian relented after a tense minute, stomping away and sitting down with a pointed glare at Judal.
"Thank you Claire, it seems Artorian's far from properly integrated into civilized thinking." Judal said, his sister crossing her arms as she watched him stand up.
"Don't think he's out of this conversation. You tried to hide something from me, if I think you're even trying to sneak your way out of this I'll let Artorian take over again." Claire threatened, the hybrid's angered stare all the man needed to register he's lost his leverage in the conversation. "Now, who are the current suspects for our attack's backer?"
"It's as I told him; we're still working out who exactly it could be. We have several backers that supply the transports and Hawkes. And with our security placing a motive and the source will be a challenge." Judal explained. "Until we can recreate the code clearance at the time, we'll have no further idea than the current selection we have."
"Then narrow it down." Claire responded. "Not everyone provides ordnance to the Hawkes, especially not that yield of explosives."
"There's still half a dozen names to consider."
"Fuck this, I'm done with this clear dodging." Artorian growled as he stood up.
"Artorian, I said I'll handle this!"
"I'm not letting the bastard try to keep his hands clean because of some bad fucking press!"
"Amanda Fairbanks Bankert." Before the hybrid could step towards Judal, Nicolas stepped through the destroyed door. "Sorry, there seems to lack a door so I felt it was best I simply spoke up."
"Who's the pinhead?" Artorian questioned.
"Heh, I was told you were rather confrontational, but I assure you there's no need for name calling." Nicolas said, stepping past Judal as he offered a handshake to the hybrid. "Nicolas Domen, I run Dynmo Industries."
"Good for you." Artorian said, simply looking down at the man as he took his hand back.
"I supply Warslran with most of their artillery and ordinance. The yield of the missiles used are the same to a recent transaction I had with Ms. Bankert." Nicolas explained. "She also has a fair share in transportation, but has a bigger hand in the construction of Hawkes. If anyone supplied the Anti-Slayer movement, it'd be her."
"Why would she do that?" Claire asked. "Amanda's been a supporter of Warslran since its inception. She's never made an objection before."
"It's hard to say no when a seven-foot giant clad in silver armor is in the same room." Nicolas responded, stepping past Artorian to the edge of the building to look at the damage his weapons had done. "Slayers also have a large hold in Britannia, objection of any kind would cripple her business. As it would mine."
"If you got a problem, I'm right here for you to try your shot." Artorian said, crossing his arms as he glared at the man.
"Your father caused a lot of problems for humanity, the public recognizes it as doing it for the greater good. But the Slayers were around for over 20 years, before the first recorded Savage attack." Nicolas said. "A lot of criminals got authority they didn't deserve, and most of them abused it against those that survive the First Attack."
"That however, doesn't excuse this." Nicolas then turned to the hybrid, motioning back to the collapsed hospital. "Most of the patients were civilians injured during Vitaly's attack. There were only a handful of Slayer patients by the time they fired on it. Your father caused long-term damage, but that could be repaired. This loss of life, there's no bringing it back."
"Quite sympathetic for a weapon's dealer."
"My weapons have been developed to kill Savage, not humans." Nicolas responded. "The Anti-Slayer movement had support for their unified perspective that Slayers abused their power. What excuse do they have now with bodies under a pile of rubble?"
"I admit, I hate Slayers as much as some of the faction leaders. I hate your father, and I hate Dimandias and Clearrail for their hand in creating Slayers. But you, you're less than half my age Artorian. What I hate existed before you, so I have no reason to hold it to you." Nicolas than approached Artorian, holding out a card to the hybrid that he took.
'A ticket?' Artorian thought, looking at the card.
"Ms. Bankert is known for throwing extravagant parties. Cornering her will be difficult, but if there's a way to get her, it will be during one." Nicolas said, patting Artorian's shoulder as he walked past the hybrid. "The world will be watching you Artorian. And for once I find myself routing for a Slayer to make a mark that humanity can look up to."
"What the hell do you get out of this." Artorian asked. "It's poor business to just give me this. Even if this is charity you're not leaving any sense of wanting something in return."
"I get to know the bastards that used my weapons to kill civilians get what they have coming. That's enough for me." Nicolas answered, saying no more before leaving.
"Shady bastard." Artorian muttered to himself, looking at the card again before flicking it up to hold it between two fingers. "Hey Blond Bastard, this card as authentic as he made it out to be?"
"…I don't know how, but that card's the real deal. One of Bankert's VIP invitations. But that's not the one she normally gives to Nicolas." Judal answered. "Each invite is specially designed for an individual. And that's a card made for Trevor Synclaire."
"One of our covert agent names?"
"You never did have the stomach to be a usurper." Judal sighed to himself. "Well, looks like we have your opening."
"Good. We've wasted enough time already."
(A/N): Well... I got no excuse. Writer's block hits hard when I do original sequences, mainly because I don't know how to fill in time and often focus more on getting to the point. Although the action in this chapter was done fairly quickly, adjustments kept being made so I didn't know when would be a good time to end the chapter. I settled for now but I intend to have some fun with the next chapter, as it's been one of the parts of this original arc I've been looking forward to. I don't expect this arc will be too long, but I intend to do everything I planned so I got plenty to include still.
I'll be trying to work on this better in my free time, if I can complete this arc then I have overcome one of my most difficult hurdles and can really get the swing of my methods. Hope this chapter kept you all entertained and I hope to see you in the next chapter. Peace!