The wind sweeps through the skin on my face, creating a chilling effect as I move from rooftop to rooftop. Avery and Shaz were both safe now, all that was left was to grab Saen then reconvene with the two girls, there is a lot we need to talk about afterwards.
Avery had put me back up to speed on everything that was going on since the two of us had been kidnapped. Torika returning, Polly going out to find us, and the inn that they were staying at, and who the people she was trying to protect were, Saen and his mother.
In the distance a large pillar of smoke rose from the streets below, the unmistakable scent of ash and burning filled the air.
A provocation?
This sector of the city was in utter chaos, with all the fighting and bloodshed going on, Avery completely flooding and trashing a block, combined with guards from all over flocking to this location, there wasn’t a better moment to try and disappear from all this.
But people were relying on me… Nah, I like Avery, but she’s not enough of a reason for me to stick my neck out like this.
I’m just feeling nice right now, quite unstoppable, I really can do anything I want right now eh?
The amount of Anku I could draw in at once was basically however much I wanted; However, the Anku I drew from this excess didn’t recover, constantly dwindling down. But at the very minimum… I estimated being able to defeat Celestia 25 times over before going back to normal, so I had quite a window to enjoy myself.
It’s like I’m back in New York, a human stepping on ants, a god amongst men, just here to have a good time and not much else.
I close my eyes warmly, thinking about how to approach this situation then—
I twist my arm and torso around awkwardly, parrying a strike coming from below my feet, as I jump between rooftops. Verbrations run up my arm, the new sword I grabbed while running back shattering under the immense pressure generated in a single instant.
Damn! I briefly glance at the stump on my blade. That didn’t happen last time! Before even identifying my assailant, I lock their closest limb between my legs and pull them down to the street with me. Swiveling to the right, narrowly avoiding a stab and wrapping their elbow with my own, locking them… Well her, in a death grip as we plummet down... Has to be that girl again right?
The two of us plunge into the rock hard ground, I push off her at the last second landing gracefully on the ground, her sword clattering off to the side.
The silhouette framed against the dust was indeed that of a young girl, perfectly matching her frame.
“Boo!” She rolls onto her chest slowly and stays there. “Still alive. Thanks for not killing me. Ow ow ow, by the way, my name is Yumie.” A large darkened scar could now be seen on her neck.
“You’re welcome…?” I grumble confusingly. Is she going to get back on her feet?
In an unexpected turn, Yumie closes her eyes right in front of me, completely devoid of any self-preserving behavior. Is she trying to fight or not?
“What are you planning? Why did you suddenly stop attacking?” I begin to pry.
”Ah, I just changed my mind on something, some old dude gave me some red drug, and as a result, I think I’m way stronger now, but how do I put it…” Yumie tilts her head. “It just doesn’t feel right ya know, using power that isn’t yours, it’s just kinda shameless.”
A sheepish grin could be seen underneath my mask right after she said that, but if what she said was true then… “Do you know about this old dude?”
“Yep, I can hear his voice in my head right now, speaking of… Oi, I don’t like this, I’m not here just to do your dirty work for you.” Yumie complains to no one in particular.
Is she resisting Yeluh’s influence? After consuming an entire thing of his blood? I look around. Thousands of thoughts were currently racing through my mind, related and unrelated to the current situation. A tangled complex of thoughts darted through decision through decision, converging and diverging on to ultimately form a single conclusion.
”He’s threatening to poison me or something now. Wait, what are you talking about? Well it’s your fault for being this vague!”
…
“How about you try it! I’ll fuck you up before you can even think!“
Somehow, I don’t think I’m going to get an opportunity as perfect as this ever again.
I walk up behind her and bend down.
She stops talking as soon as she feels my grasp on the back of her neck.
She cautiously turns and eyes me carefully.
“Sorry, I actually didn’t mean to let you live last time.” I say in monotone.
Yumie laughs nervously, then tries to dart out from underneath my arm, but I increase my strength, holding her in place.
“Wait, are you serious?!” Yumie’s cheerful facade quickly begins to fade away. “I was barely even involved in all of this! I just heard some fighting going on and wanted to see what was going on!”
“It’s nothing personal, you’re just too much of a future threat, if I don’t deal with you right now, I may not get a second chance.” This was indeed true.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“I’d understand it in the heat of battle, but when I’m helpless like this, do you even have a heart?” Yumie begins flailing her wrists and legs around, but her former strength was gone. “Are you kidding me! Yo I’m about to die here, help me out!” Yumie presumably was trying to draw on Yeluh’s Anku.
“5 4 3 2 1… 5 4 3 2 1… 5 4 3 2 1… 5 4 3 2 1…” I then begin whispering, counting down in a raspy crooked tone.
“Oi! Stop mentally preparing your first murder and listen to me!” Yumie tries to lunge for her sword, just barely out of reach, but I pin her hand down as well. She’s definitely fast, but strength-wise she’s not much compared to Celestia.
“I lied a bit, I know you were the one who beat my master back then, and because of you, he’s now—“
”He’s still alive!” Yumie gasps at me.
Thank God— I reign in my emotions quickly before slightly loosen my grip with a surprised expression,
In a flash, before I could even finish my blink, Yumie had wriggled upwards, out of position, and was rearing her legs backwards.
I preemptively recoil back before she kicks upwards, driving her foot right off my mask, throwing my head and neck backwards.
Ow! A small jolt of pain travels up my neck as my spine crunches. Even though I was prepared she still managed to give me some minor whiplash.
Like a bolt of lightning, Yumie twists forwards. Her arm extends in a swift arc, simultaneously grabbing her sword and spinning around with such momentum that she slides backwards on her feet in a defensive stance. I guess she was expecting me to try to match her backpedal, but that wasn’t what I was really concerned with.
I begin rubbing around my deltoid area. “Where is he?” It was always in the back of mind, so I did feel a small sense of relief that he hadn’t kicked the bucket yet. Though I hadn’t really decided if I was going to help him out or just worry about my own things.
Yumie glares at me in response. “Hsssss.” She makes a cat-like hiss at me, with a slightly flustered look. “I spent all this effort keeping your little master alive and all you’re trying to do is kill me! Be a little grateful yea? And what’s with that disgustingly long hair of yours by the way? It’s too long! Wash it or cut it!”
“Why are you bringing my hair up-“
”Cause you’re trying to kill me, what else?!”
“Well thanks, it was pretty good acting right?” I say trying to defuse her.
“...” Yumie opens her mouth then closes them, looks away for a couple seconds and then looks back blinking constantly before clearing her throat.
“Hmph, well then. You’re not going to get any more information out of me.” Yumie’s pride was clearly hurt.
“You’ll tell me everything in a couple minutes.” Hopefully. Given that he hasn’t run off yet. Actually I probably shouldn’t have said this at all. I continue to look around cautiously.
“Hmph.” Yumie clears her throat once more. “
Yumie’s eyes widen as she begins clutching her throat, drool leaking out of her mouth, viciously gagging. There it is.
My nose, the wind brushing against my skin, my sense of hearing, all of them heighten at once. “Where? Point.” I communicate quickly and simply. If she is as skilled as I think she is then she should already have sensed his exact location after taking the drug. Given their strained alliance, then I’d have no doubt that she will…
Yumie lifts her arm and finger, retching as she does so. There was a max range to the link as well, no more than a hundred and fifty meters or the link dissolves, therefore.
I turn at the sound of a small gasp within the second floor of a little antique shop.
I can see you~
I step once, my muscles tightening. Then—
I look at Yumie, pausing a couple seconds for emphasis. Get going! Her eyes seemed to be screaming at me, but I let that moment continue to linger, sending a clear message.
Okay, let’s go.
█████████████
A second explosion hits the area as I tear through the side of the wall, sending splinters and glass everywhere. I’m feeling a bit giddy right now, after all everything went perfectly to plan.
“YOU’RE MINE!” I grab him by the back of his neck, lifting him into the air and then…
I freeze, my mind going blank, all the thought process I agonized relentlessly over had fallen off a cliff, into a pit full of sharp jagged rocks.
“Who the fuck are you!?”
Novel Proposed Interactions Between the Innate Energies of the Ankudo and Tetsudo, and a Challenge to Contemporary Philosophies and Theories Over the Matter
Dr. Yeluh Virct
Abstract: Since the formation of the rift between the lands of the Tetsudo and the Ankudo, we have strived to lay out the dogma of Anku utilization and theory, with great advancements coming from scholars such as Cikakido, Liirit, Rovewerg, and Sanrot to name a few. We have developed two admittedly outdated classifications of Anku, Sananku as a way to heal the body, and Anku as a way to strengthen the body. Many groundbreaking papers have come out showing not only is this classification outright wrong and frankly a bit of an affront to scholarly thought. Nevertheless, these classifications have stuck as status quo due to their convenient simplicity. However, our understanding of the subject has continued to evolve even with major breakthroughs attributed to the last decade, with Project 3a41 headed by my good friend, the late Torika Roswall. Although it famously had an unfortunate outcome, the insights it provided were anything but unfortunate, proving that Anku didn’t need blood, spit, or any organically derived vessel in order to act on external things. As such we must keep an open mind to new possibilities, with the arrival of Tetsudo around 5 months ago opening up a new avenue of research. I believe I have discovered some important interactions between the two energies. The existence of Anku is potentially being able to propagate the creation of Tetsu and even manipulate it to an extent without a need for the Tetsudo to be present or even alive, which could have major implications in the current ongoing war against Lyster if harnessed correctly…
Yeluh?
I take a quick sip of water, my throat a bit sore from the lengthy ongoing conference.
And I need to wrap this up soon. Roko’s heart has stopped beating, which means I only have a small window to prepare the body then rush down to save him before he’ll become unrecoverable.
If Torika’s there he’s probably a lost cause anyways.
“Therefore, I would like to request multiple considerations, funding for the ongoing project, at minimum 2000 Doons will be required to get the necessary tools, due to the nature of the war, reduced governmental oversight would be appreciated, I would happily provide a prototype proof of concept model to secure these grants; however, in order to accomplish this, I request that we announce to the general public that the Tetsudo Avery has escaped, and conduct a full scale manhunt for her subsequent capture. Thank you, unfortunately I cannot personally take any questions right now, please direct any questions you have to my assistant Mrs. Peline.”
I hurry down from the podium and exit the stage. Briskly walking before breaking out into a run once I was out of sight.
Honestly, it was a disappointment the drifter decided to run. Was it his conscience? He didn’t seem like the type of person who had developed a sense of it in the first place. An immature boy in the body of a late teenager, barely an adult. A pure white blank slate which to smear anything on.
…
No, maybe I misread him, I should be more critical of myself, best to keep an open mind.