Yuna’s earliest memory is holding a dagger far too big for her hand. She marveled at the blade’s edge, which glowed a faint cyan. Her next memory is learning to wield that dagger, no longer struggling to grip it. Then, they’re a blur until that same dagger pierces into the chest of a child. She hung over a young boy on the ground, her hands staining crimson as the blood spilled out. The boy’s relieved expression will forever be seared into her mind. Several gunshots rang out before pelting her side. She winced while a blurred, loud voice screamed. The bullets fell to the ground, semi-flattened, inert. She’d have fallen over had she not been gripping the dagger. She exhaled. A profound, unpleasant odor snapped her from her memories back into a locker room in which she resided.

The fuck’s with the random trip down memory lane? Yuna thought. Wonder what that bastard instructor said? No. You stupid ass brain, shut up. Focus, god damnit.

The concrete room held several lockers against a wall, though otherwise barren save some benches. A plethora of stains led from the entrance into an adjoining room. A single individual sat on a bench. Yuna wore a loose-fitting combat suit that covered her from head to toe. It appeared thin yet exuded a great durability to it; countless plating interwoven into a defensive mesh. The helmet had typical slits of a humanoid face but didn’t instill the unsettling nature ballistic masks or full-helmets usually do. Even with no skin showing, her athletic physique stood out. A mechanical sparrow hovered overhead, watching her.

The odor assaulted Yuna again. In an abrupt, lightning-quick motion, she jumped to her feet and burst through a door into a concrete hallway. She let out a deep breath as the sparrow followed her out, landing on her shoulder.

“Hey! What’s wrong?” A young girl’s soft voice emanated from the sparrow.

“Fucking hell, Reina.” Yuna coughed. “It’s like a thing crawled up another thing’s ass, then that crawled up another ass, and they all died together in there. How am I supposed to focus?”

“If you’d learned more about the suit like I told you to, you’d know it can filter out smells,” Reina said.

“Oh. Well. Yeah, right. My bad.”

“And it can—.” Reina rattled off several abilities of the suit.

“I get it, Reina!”

“Sorry, it’s just got so many awesome features.”

“Which I’ll probably never use. I still don’t think this damn thing’s worth the cost. And it’s riding up something fierce.”

“If you’d calibrated it, that wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Yeah, yeah. This wasn’t worth taking from your fund.”

“Yuna, stop. Please don’t start again. We’ve gone over this; I can wait and I’m not going anywhere.”

“You like that lame joke too much. I’d be fine without this overpriced leotard. I look like one of those lame-asses from a comic book.”

“I don’t care and I’m not willing to take that risk; Mama and Papa agreed.”

“Do you doubt me?”

“Not even a little. But it’d be idiotic to underestimate the Praetor. He’s conquered district after district without fail. Even after you win, we'd be in trouble if you got seriously injured. Papa’s reputation won’t hold back other syndicates anymore if they know we’ve come into a big influx of credits. We’d become a target and therefore, need you available.”

“Reina.” Yuna turned her head to the sparrow. “You thought that far ahead?”

“Of course. I’m the brains, remember? I have to prevent my reckless, impulsive brawn from being rendered useless.”

“Ahh, my Reina.” Yuna grabbed the sparrow and squished it into her armored cheek. “I swear when you finally get a new body, I’m going to squeeze the life outta it.”

“Be serious.”

“I am. That’s my goal in life.”

“Not what I meant. Hurry and calibrate your suit already!” The sparrow broke free, hovering at eye-line.

“Fine. Still think you’re worrying too much. To empty our coffers on this expensive wedgie.” Yuna pulled at the suit while shifting about. “You sure it won’t fuck with my movement?”

“I’ve tried to tell you, a genuine Aegis suit is much more than mere extra protection. It’s more like a second skin, enhancing everything. It’s incredible!”

“Ehhh.”

“Don’t ‘eh’ me, just do it!”

“Okay, okay. Don’t get your feathers in a twist. This thing’s not gonna try, like, taking over my body, right?”

“No. It has AI assistance, but I disabled it. I didn’t want to risk you flipping out at a strange voice in your head and damaging it.”

“You know me well, sis. Fine. How do I—?”

“Praetor of the Legionnaires, Vigo!” a booming voice echoed into the hallway.

“Oh, fuck.”

“See?” Reina said. She then barked instructions as Yuna fidgeted.

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“Representative of the Vyxora Syndicate, Yuna!” the booming voice echoed.

“Just in time,” Reina said.

“Wew.” Yuna shifted about as she jogged down the hallway while Reina followed. The suit now moved in concert with her every motion, as if it were her own skin. “Okay. You got me. I’ll admit it’s like I’m not even wearing it anymore. Kinda feel naked.”

“Told you. And I’m glad. But please don’t make such weird movements once you’re out there. There’s enough negative rumors about you already.”

“What? You mean like this?” Yuna wiggled all about, even while jogging.

“Quit it!” Reina burst into a giggling fit. She stifled herself as they reached the exit. “Please, Yuna, your goal aside, I know how much you’ve been looking forward to a ‘worthy’ fight that isn’t Papa, but please, please, please tone down the recklessness. Don’t get hurt.”

“Ha. Maybe.” Yuna pulled dual metallic hilts from her waist as she exited the hallway.

“Ahhh.” Reina sighed as she watched Yuna. “I hope her confidence doesn’t get the best of her. Does she seriously have to twirl her transarms right now?”

Yuna entered a grand underground arena, jogging as the bright lights revealed her to thousands of spectators on every side. The oppressive amalgam of noise had no effect on her while she twirled the hilts. As her fingers danced along an embedded grip, metal shifted back and forth. Various melee weaponry formed, morphing from one to the next; swords, axes, maces, and more. The edges of their blades glowed a faint cyan. Then, when she held dual axes, she spun them in her hands. An announcer’s booming voice soon drowned out boos, taunts, and a few cheers.

“Well, well! This’ a surprise. Ladies and gentlemen, the ‘Berserker of Vyxora’ is actually wearing an Aegis suit instead of her trademark infamous helmet. Kind of shocking they could afford it.” Crowd laughter echoed. “Now, aren’t you all glad we delayed final betting? Before we open them up again, let’s add a bit of flavor, shall we? The Praetor needs little introduction, but—”

Opposite Yuna stood an imposing giant of a man. While it’s clear he also wore an Aegis suit, it had a great deal of ornamentation adorned to it. His suit invoked the armor aesthetic of ancient Roman centurions. He wielded a transarm short sword and shield reminiscent of those warriors. The sword’s edge and tip are a thin, faintly glowing cyan.

“They’ve been swallowing up rivals nonstop as they approach the requirement for council membership. And as usual, the Legion’s out in full force to support their Praetor!”

The pounding of chests and shouts reverberated throughout the arena. The sound emanated from a large group of men and women, all doing so in concert. They, too, sported the aesthetic of an ancient Roman Legion, albeit with a mixture of modern sensibilities. The group had various heights, builds, and skin hues; shades of blacks, blues, browns, greens, purples, reds, whites, yellows, and many in between. The announcer attempted to continue but went unheard until the Praetor raised a fist. The group ceased their actions.

“Ahem. Thanks for that, Praetor. The Legionnaires are a disciplined lot; believe it or not, we had to limit their numbers to make room for the rest of you! Moving on! Many of our audience may not have even heard of the Vyxora Syndicate, being as this is their first time here. Their territory comprises only some slums, but is headed by Yuna’s father, the legendary ex-merc ‘Lionheart’ AKA ‘Quiet Leon’, Leon Vyx. Somehow, none had challenged them until now! You might be wondering, and probably disappointed, where ol’ Leon is? But worry not! Surely trained by her father since a young age, Yuna’s infamously known as the ‘Berserker of Vyxora’! A title not without merit, I assure you! She got caught single-handedly crushing several upstart gangs that threatened their territory. To save the gory details, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. She stomped out every would-be conqueror of Vyxora before even getting to grace our arena. But! That’s not all! The council was none too pleased with her breaking the rules. At her own tribunal, this psycho attempted to challenge a council member!” The spectators broke into jeers, boos, and discussion amongst themselves.

“Now, settle down, folks! You can imagine how she got her nickname. Alas, the details of how all that panned out are still a mystery. However, this is a sanctioned duel by the council, so maybe ol’ Leon pulled some strings? The point is, don’t underestimate her! Bet big, for this’ gonna be a real show to remember! Place your bets!” The lights of the underground room shifted to focus on the arena floor. A sea of faint lights flickered from the audience members’ eyes for a time. “Praetor, any words before we start?”

“The Legionnaires bring order to the chaos of Lyrsium’s streets,” Vigo declared. “Just as in Ancient Rome, we quell the savages to create stability under our rule.” A unified shout echoed from the Legion at each pause. “Politicians do not care. The law do not care. The corporations do not care. Even the council do not care. The Legionnaires do. Scum will be brought to heel and The Legion will ensure there are no more lawless zones of Lyrsium. Only order! Ex nihilo nihil fit.” Amidst even louder shouts, the Praetor pointed his sword at Yuna, then raised his shield. The Legion quieted. “As always, I offer a peaceful integration of the Vyxora Syndicate into the Legion. Submit. Or face death.”

“Death!” The Legion shouted.

“And there it is, the Praetor’s ‘benevolent’ ultimatum!” The announcer shouted. “And your response, Vyxora’s Yuna?”

“Yeah,” Yuna said. “How about you both shut the fuck up already?” She pointed an axe at the announcer, then to Vigo. “I’m gonna bring my heel to this dumbass cosplayer’s head!” The audience erupted in a furor.

“False bravado will serve you poorly, insect.” Vigo shifted into a combat stance, sword, and shield at the ready. Reina, meanwhile, had watched from the entrance.

“Jeez, Yuna. We’re lucky the audience hating you means nothing. Must she always be so antagonistic?” Reina sighed.

“Whelp, folks, bets are entered, just in time!” the announcer declared. “To avoid an axe thrown my way, let the festivities begin. Get ready!”

“For christ’ sake, finally.” Yuna bounced on her feet while twirling the dual axes. “Almost fell asleep.”

“The duel between the Vyxora Syndicate and the Legionnaires shall now commence. Begin!” The announcer declared.

As Yuna’s swift first step forward touched the floor, an ear-shattering boom echoed throughout the arena. Every single soul present froze in place. She watched as the Praetor fell to the ground. After a brief, eerie silence, murmurs spread throughout. As she approached, the announcer spoke, unaware they were doing so.

“Is that a hole? In his head? It couldn’t be? It can’t be? What the… t-that shouldn’t be possible!”

The crowd exploded into a panic. They trampled over one another in a mad dash toward the exit. Screams, shouts, and even crying permeated the underground arena. So many that had been anxiously awaiting blood sport mere moments ago were now a chaotic, fearful mass. A pair of men in the row closest to the Praetor argued in loud disbelief.

“No fucking way. Was he shot? That was a shot, right?”

“That’s not fucking possible, man!”

“Well, he sure as shit looks fucking dead, doesn’t he? He ain’t moving!”

“But he’s even in an Aegis?”

“How should I fucking know? This shit’s crazy. You heard that boom! We need to get the fuck outta here!”

“This shouldn’t be possible!”

“I heard you the first time, now fucking move.”

Similar questions of disbelief and arguing spread throughout the panicked spectators. Yuna reached the Praetor’s motionless, crumpled form amidst the surrounding chaos. She kicked the body for a better view. It gave no reaction. A sizable hole in the direct center of his forehead, clean through his skull, shimmered under the arena lights. She whipped her axes into the ground in fury as she kicked the body again.

“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me!”