Dave "Yo, dudes. This may be late... but I just realized none of us used our Vortex batteries."
Kanji "Oh... Wow. I didn't notice that. I'm honestly embarrassed... I could've used flight to my advantage."
Gwen "Do not fret, Kanji. Not even I took that into consideration. Thus, it is a result of the heat of battle."
Claire "Yeah! And also we did technically trained with only our skills."
Noah "That is true but remembering that we could fly would be pretty useful."
Azan "I disagree. Jumping in that small space is a lot faster since it takes about a few seconds for us to take off."
Mina "Yeah, I think flying wasn't going to be helpful what about the batteries' other abilities."
Kanji "In that case, I did use it to store a lot of energy. Claire's vortex ability is more of a clue. The rest of you I guess either found it inappropriate to use or forgot about it."
They nod in unison.
Kanji "Ah figures... Everyone makes mistakes. Just make sure to remember this. Oh and Adrian. Can you sense Diana or Sarah?"
Adrian "Yes, I can feel both their presence."
Kanji "Alright, please remind them about the vortex abilities. I'm a bit worried since they are a fair distance away."
Placing his hands together, Adrian focuses...
________________________________________________________________________________________
In a steel confinement miles away from her comrades, a stubborn colossus stirs from an abrupt slumber. She rubs her forehead, puzzled over why she had drifted off on the cold floor.
Diana "Man, was I really that tired? Welp, no time better than now to start doing some pushups."
Her broad palms make contact with the metallic surface, provoking a loud groan from the metal beneath her, a testament to her power and weight. One push-up... no change. Another... still nothing. Third push-up... nothing—
Diana "Wait the fucking minute! I should be escaping!"
She propels herself skyward, her dreadlocks barely brushing against the gleaming ceiling. Diana clenches her fists and unleashes a punch on the ground, instigating a seismic tremor throughout the chamber. The resulting resonating buzz forces the Aspects of Law to shield one of her ears.
Diana "Ah, come on! When will it stop?!"
Several minutes slip by, and the sound evaporates, a phantom echo lost in the vacuum of space. Diana draws in a deep breath, eyeing her arm, still wedged halfway through the floor. She can make out tooth-like iron around her muscles, molded by the force of her punch.
Diana "That some scary-looking teeth you got there Mr. Floor. How about we see who is stronger? You or my muscles.
She tugs with all her might... and frees three steel panels clinging to her limb.
Diana "Hey! What the hell?! Dammit, these steel things or whatever the fuck you call them. Get off!"
?? "Shouting at an object won't make it do as you please, imbecile."
Suddenly, Diana glimpses three beams of light whizzing past the right side of her face.
She glances at her liberated arm, wide-eyed... the iron plates were cleanly cleaved into thirds. Turning around, she spots a man robed in a yukata, his bare chest proudly exposed. His upper body is crisscrossed with both horizontal and diagonal scars. The man's face suggests he belongs not to the contemporary world but to a bygone Eastern era, likely of Japanese or Korean origin. His hair is coiled, save for six loose strands on the front of his face. Three hang on his left side of equal length, and the rest on his right, decreasing in length. His armored arms resemble the tough shells of royal soldiers, and his right hand wields a finely crafted, simple katana.
Diana "Hey. Let me guess. You're swordsmen or samurai, right?"
?? "Yes, that is obvious. You big oath. I'm not pleased with this arrangement. I would rather fight than African warrior with a suit. He's the only one of you who has something that resembles a blade."
Diana "Jeez, so you've been Azan's opponent. Let me correct ONE THING! Don't think I'm an easy opponent! Also, what is your name anyway?"
?? "I won't give a name to an unworthy and unarmed opponent. How about you find it on the edge of my blade?"
Diana "Sure but don't cry when I beat your scrawny little ass."
?? "How vulgar?!"
The man charges, bringing his sword down. Diana traps the blade between her palms and pulls the blade from his hands with little effort.
Diana "Is this all you got little man?"
?? "All brawn and no brain. Deception sword style! Hidden weapon!"
Disarmed, the warrior withdraws a dagger concealed at his waist and aims a swipe at her veiny abs.
Diana "Ugh! How the hell?!"
She retreats, releasing the katana to the ground and creating a series of echoing clanks. The fresh wound on her abs is as clear as day, and Diana stares at the incision in shock... there's a number etched at both ends, spelling out "107".
Diana "So... you're M107. You're a fucking cheater! That was dirty! I thought Swordmen are about honor and shit."
M107 "Heh. HAhaahaha! You watched too many movies. Honor can get you killed though I do admit that defeating someone with honor does feel amazing. Hey, what I did wasn't dirty. It was a technique."
Diana "Blah blah. You just making excuses. Time for me to clean you out!"
M107 "Try if you must. You cannot-
In an instant, her clenched fist is hovered inches from his face. M106's primal instincts ignite, adrenaline surging through his trembling hand. For a brief moment, they shake, and then—
His katana ascends to counter the impending punch.
M107 "Hey, that wasn't so bad-
He loses balance, collapsing onto the floor.
His entire form quivers and his sight blurs in and out. Diana takes a step back, confusion engraved on her face. Her clenched fists seethe with frustration...
Diana "HEY! YOU! WHY AREN'T WAILING IN PAIN?!"
The noise jolts M107 back to reality, his vision beginning to steady.
M107 "Wha... what did you do to me?!"
Diana "I should be asking the question! Why didn't you feel that punch?!"
M107 "What?! Oh! I think I remembered how your powers work. No, that wasn't a part of your powers. Was it? It is a technique. A powerful and admirable one at that. Spreading the force of your punches over a large arena is the stuff of martial art fiction. In this case, you spread it over my body. Didn't you?"
Diana "Wow, you caught on that fast. All you majors are monsters seriously... and also freaks."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
M107 "Hey, I'm not like the other majors. You see... I'm very indebted when it comes to fighting."
He grasps his katana's hilt and steps to the side. Their gaze locks, and in an instant, the room flickers into a dead silence. Diana... then witnesses a swirling gust encircling her adversary. It looks unformed and aimless, but as M107 hoists his katana before him, the wind morphs into four separate spinning rings around the blade. They emit a blueish hue...
M107 "Deception sword style! Soaring wind blade!"
In a blink of an eye, he brandishes his weapon, creating two intersecting slashes that form crosses.
Diana quickly steps to the left, eluding the initial strike. The subsequent cross finds its mark on her left arm, leaving two small cuts. M107's jaw drops as Diana nonchalantly shrugs off her minor injuries and chuckles.
M107 "What?! What did you do?! That technique was supposed to cut a grown man into quads!"
Diana "Eh. That sounds like whining. Looks like you suckers didn't know everything about us." "Whew! That was a bit scary. Thank god I listened to the boss. Reducing action and increasing reaction in Newton's law whatever the fuck is really useful. Thank you physics I guess."
Diana skates across the floor, closing in on M107.
M107 "Stay the fuck away from me, you muscle freak! Don't come a step closer!"
In a panic, he runs, swinging his katana and unleashing additional gusting crosses.
Diana raises her arms in defense, shielding her face as she confronts the zealot. She feels the wind graze her resilient hide, akin to the biting sting of countless mosquitos.
Diana "Hah! Got any more tricks you twig!"
M107 "Fuck you! I'm not playing this game anymore! Take this ultimate deception sword style... Soaring phantom dragon!"
His blade radiates brightly, pulsating with an odd electrifying energy.
She observes his hands grapple with the hilt as a torrent of chaotic, serpent-like energy gushes from the katana. It's similar to that of an unceasing river or an unruly waterfall. Oddly, these energy constructs seem to disband a few meters away from the sword, forming a charred circle around M107.
Diana "Oh no you don't. Stop!"
Diana runs forward and grabs the katana. M107 laughs...
M107 "It's too late! Here I go! Come out, Ryuji!"
The wild energy calms, encasing his weapon on demand.
Diana tries to wrest the sword from his grip, but her expression freezes upon seeing the sight before her. His hands have melded with the handle, resembling molten metal.
Diana struggles to let go of the katana. It proves futile.
Diana "Hey! What kind of bullshit is this?!"
No reaction... his eyes have transformed into an inky void, a soft murmur escaping his gaping lips despite the lack of movement. The whisperings are faint, but Diana feels a malignant chill as she observes the energy solidifying further, shaping itself into a cylindrical form. She squints, noticing one side of the cylinder cloaked in what resembles scales similar to those of reptiles. A massive depiction of an eastern dragon materializes at the sword's tip before fading into non-existence...
The cylinder extends... materializing the complete mythical creature.
It's four mighty claws that could shred steel like paper, its jade-hued skin, crimson eyes, metallic scales, and razor-sharp teeth cause both dread and exhilaration within The Aspect of Law. At last, her hold on the katana loosens, and she immediately retreats toward the opposite wall.
Diana "Yeah, fight me! You overgrown lizard! Not of there though! Follow me!"
It roars!
The room shudders under its thunderous howl, and M107's body disintegrates into a grotesque heap of fabric, bones, and decaying flesh. His lifeless remains send Diana scuttling into a room corner. She ponders her next move as the dragon eyes her down.
Diana "Dammit. What should I even do now? Did that thing's voice do that? Should I just... attack it? Oh on. Those whispers from earlier! Ah fuck! I was tricked! He transformed!"
The airborne beast lunges at her with blinding speed. Its jaws stretch open and clamp down...
Diana manages to keep its jaws apart, but the creature begins to thrash about the room. It hurls itself against wall after wall, aiming to savor the blood seeping from its prey's wound. Her back is riddled with jagged shards of metal, and her limbs are marred by cuts and puncture wounds. Her breath is increasing every second.
Another quick thrash to the right and Diana's left arm tires out— her entire hand is lost.
Diana "Argh! That's it I have had enough of this! Time to take some chances."
Releasing the powerful jaws, Diana launches herself into the dragon's maw.
Her formidable form slips down its gullet, landing in an enormous stomach space that seems larger than the beast's exterior suggests. She doesn't dwell on this anomaly while clinging to the moist walls with dwindling stamina. To her relief, the dragon had ingested large chunks of metal during its rampage. Spotting one big enough to support her...
She takes a leap of faith, concentrating her remaining power... The metal platform shudders slightly as she lands.
Diana "Jesus. Any stronger and this acid will melt me."
Diana scavenges all the bandages she has, trying to dress her injuries. They suffice only to wrap her feet. She takes a massive sigh and begins yanking out the metal fragments stuck in her back before administering two full syringes. The resulting wave of relief nearly causes her to tumble into the vat of acid below. She gazes at her bleeding, severed hand. Diana tears her tank top in two and bandages her injured limb...
Diana "I just realize...Thank god for my chest changing into gold otherwise, I'll be nude-
"Hey! Diana! Are you there?!"
Diana "Oh! Adrian! What's up?!"
"Kanji just want me to remind you that you have a Vortex ability. Remember."
Diana "Wait a minute... Fuck! You can't be serious!"
"Yeah, the rest of us also forgot about it if that makes you feel any better. I'm glad I could help. Hang on we will be there soon!"
Diana "Yeah, cya. Now then what to do."
The Aspect of Law scrolls through her skill menu and hovers over "Regeneration". A prickling sensation pervades her arm and she glances down, finding her missing hand steadily regenerating. Diana examines her other hand, pleasantly surprised to see it fully healed. A smile graces her face as she leaps into the air, her hand reaching for the fleshy ceiling. Despite her efforts, it was too slippery and she plummets back onto the metal platform.
Diana "Okay then. The wall it is."
She bounds upward and lands a powerful punch, boring a hole through the dragon's stomach lining.
Her right hand swings left and right, basking in the refreshing breeze from outside. Diana glances sideways, grinning upon seeing her restored left hand. She thrusts her regenerated hand through the soft, malleable wall with ease. Her arms start pushing aside, creating an exit broad enough to ensure an unimpeded escape. The dragon collapses to the floor in agony, its eyes blazing with fury, pupils darting around like a ping-pong ball.
Diana "Okay, something tells me that I should stay... maybe a few steps back."
Its eyes go blank...
A swarm of a hundred miniature dragons swarms out from the maw of the deceased beast. These offspring, more spectral than their progenitor, dart about the steel room like flying snakes rather than dragons. Diana observes them carefully as she moves across the room—
One of the little dragons notices her...
The swarm engulfs her, assailing Diana from all directions. One by one, they launch themselves at her, sinking their teeth into her flesh. Diana wrestles to rid the little buggers but then she recalls a technique imparted by her mentor. Maintaining her composure amidst the onslaught, she gathers a pocket of air within her palms...
A massive pulse of wind fires out, repelling everything in its path.
Both the corpse of the larger dragon and the swarm disperses, transforming into a vaporous field. Among the mist, Diana notices a vaguely familiar figure moving at the corner of her eye. The figure appears disoriented until it locates her. It was the swordsman, albeit more battered and petrified than before. Diana attempts to address him but halts upon witnessing him groveling on the floor, pleading for mercy. Disappointed, she stands over him.
Diana "Stop. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need some answers. I can tell something is wrong here."
?? "Y-yes, ma..madam."
Diana "First of all, who are you? You're not the samurai from earlier.... are you?"
?? "Yes, I... er... am. Thanks to you, I have remembered some... unfortunately stuff. You have been freed from the control of that man. I'm, Shinji Yamato."
Diana "I still don't get it but at least you're not attacking me. What's your deal?"
Shinji "I'll tell my story. I don't have time left..."
Diana "Then go for it! Don't hesitate!"
Shinji "E-Er okay... Here I go..."
I was once a simple servant to a famous Japanese sword clan whose name I have long forgotten. I was a janitor, responsible for cleaning the room of the clan's master. Everyone used to treat me like a human being until one day I found something I shouldn't have. It was a painting of an eastern dragon.
The next thing I knew, I was blinded and taken to a training arena. The clan master yelled out "For betraying the clan, you shall be punished!". When my eyes were open, they were then closed by the swing of the master's katana. Every day, he would perform three techniques on me and laugh at my torment. It went on for ten years until I heard... "Everyone! Run! There's a fire!"
No one survived except for me. Then... a mysterious man came to me and asked if I want to join him. Having no master to serve, I followed him and became a cultist.
Diana "Wow, that's rough. I understand everything now. Dammit, am I the bad guy?"
Shinji "Heh. No, you are a hero. You see that picture of a dragon was the symbol of a horrible gang infamous for cannibalism and torture. That's why the family head punished me. The truth is that it was the cultists who placed it there, knowing that I would find it. I overheard it multiple times while working for them but each time they erased my memories."
Diana "FUCK! I knew it! I'm gonna pummel each one of those high-ups into dust!"
Shinji "Thank you. This will bring me some comfort to move on in the afterlife. Goodbye."
The man vanishes and the wall behind him erupts, flinging out a barrage of concrete. Diana casually blocks them and sees Mina emerges from the smoke, though she appears rather exhausted.
Diana "Woah! What happened, Mina? Are you okay?"
Mina "I'm fine! Just a little tired from decaying all those walls."
Diana "Hold on. Almost everyone here. We're missing Sarah. Right?"
Kanji "Yes, let's keep digging. With you, I feel that we will make it in time."
Diana "Hold on before we go. Azan, can't you use your last change slot to teleport us there?"
Azan "I wish I could but Sarah's fly cam is busted."
Diana "Ah shoot. That sucks. Welp, leave the heavy digging to me from now on."
The rest follow Diana and Kanji's lead, making their way out of the room.
(To be continued)