[Warden Society–America]
Zhang passes many Wardens, clutching the report papers in his hand. He reaches Edward, staring at a memorial piece on the wall.
"There was apparently an Elusive in Coral Bay, yet it never showed up on our radars," Zhang explains, confusing Edward. "Apparently, Kiara has already neutralized the cursed spirit, yet her readings just disappeared."
"Kiara?" Edward raises his brow, turning his head. "Her readings just disappeared?"
"I don't understand why the Surveillance Corp never saw anything about it," Zhang pressed his finger on his chin.
Flicking open his phone, he presses his ear against the receiver. "I have to make this quick with their director."
As the receiver rings a classic tone, a sudden message furrows his brow.
"Quincy Harlow is conducting a secret mission with the main Surveillance unit," the Warden clarifies, voice lagging behind. "The Surveillance Corp is unable to answer any calls or sudden meetings at this point."
"Secret mission?" Zhang questions.
In the inner Surveillance Corp chambers, Quincy Harlow stands highly elevated, watching over his subordinates check off readings, watch over surveillance recordings, and look over the live feedback on the screen.
The room is sterilized, with a shade of grey-blue from the rows and rows of computers perfectly aligned.
Eyes focused. Fingers typing.
Pictures of a washed-out strawberry blonde-haired man hang on the walls—Aldehard Romano. Another picture pinned over the man, a printed image of a new section of a stolen meteorite.
Meanwhile, in the alternate dimension, Kiara looks over her new surroundings. Just pitch darkness and an occasional breeze coming from nowhere.
"Hey, Evander, you're old. Where are we?" she asks, annoying the Ascendant.
"We're in a Requiem duel," he explains, cracking his shoulders a bit too fast—it bruises Kiara's shoulders.
"Sorry about that," he says, continuing. "In ancient times, Requiem duels were used to mitigate and settle conflicts."
"That sounds pretty terrible," Kiara mutters, seeing only a black void and a stone platform under her feet.
"I mean, it only becomes terrible if both combatants decide the punishment is. A luxury given to both fighters," Evander cuts in, looking below the platform. "The choices are endless. You can either decide that the punishment is eternal damnation to walk the earth for eternity, or you hang up your sword forever. "
Kiara peeks her head, seeing hundreds of transparent, miserable souls in chains wandering the floors of the dimension, some flowing through the other. Faint whispers of regret linger in the air, suffocating them like molasses.
It was like being distanced away from modern life to the colosseums.
"Oh, you're here as well," Trajan walks forward, broad sword glaring at the two.
Evander's gaze narrows, sensing an abnormality with Trajan's spiritual energy. There were almost like two different–split– alien systems—almost invisible yet clear as day. A human frame reinforced with Elusive muscle fiber, yet artificial.
Extra spiritual glands to process both spiritual and Elusive energy. His brain flickers between human reasoning patterns and a curse spirit's predatory nature.
"I knew you looked different," Evander comments, preparing his stance.
"What do you see about him?" Kiara asks.
"He's not fully human. Nor a humanoid curse spirit," Evander explains, summoning an ancient blade. "He's some sort of hybrid."
"A hybrid?" Kiara mutters, eyes widening.
Trajan respectfully lowers his sword. "Now I don't want to be a bad sport. How about I fight the Ascendant? That's who I really want to fight."
"What?" Kiara says.
"You're way too weak. You won't make do for what I want out of you," Trajan scowls, tilting his head.
"That is?"
"Stubborn spirit, the kind of flame that refuses to go out. If I break you, I get stronger. But I also want you to be something worth remembering. Not speeches. Not statues."
"I want the thrill," he continues, unexpectedly growing more philosophical. "Wardens have a drive—a motivation, a reason you want to pursue and fight. But what's next after that? An emotional fuel—in the heat of battle, you don't think about the reason you fight, you want to feel alive."
"Peace is a slow death. You become roles, titles, and expectations. "
"So what are your terms?" Evander asks, stepping forward.
"Let's say this—you defeat me and everything will return to normal," Trajan compromises, tilting his head upward. "I defeat you, and you both are coming with me; that seems fair."
He raises his hand forward like a dealer.
Evander turns his gaze back to Kiara, then back at Trajan. Letting out a sigh, he shakes hands with his opponent. A translucent chain wraps around the two fighters as the deal is signed.
"You can pick the environment," Trajan suggests. "Where do you want to decide what our arena should look like?"
"I prefer it just the way I want it," Evander says smugly, walking back to the edge of the arena. Trajan shortly follows.
"Are you going to follow his deal?" Kiara asks.
"Technically, I have to, but we're technically one person, remember?" Evander whispers, leaning forward. "Since we're one person spiritually, you can attack him without interference. I just have to actually deal the final blow."
Trajan swings his blade, bringing it over his shoulder before glaring at Evander.
"It doesn't matter anyway–I'm like 6000 years older than this guy," Evander chuckles, before rushing forward.
Twisting the sword, Evander arcs on his feet before gliding the broad steel.
Trajan raises his gladius blade upward, crashing into Evander's sword. "Caesar Trajan. On guard."
The world whirls around him as he slices through a spinning streak of grey.
Evander steps aside, steel whispering beside him. "Evander."
Swiping his sword up into the air, he glides forward, grabbing his weapon by slashing Trajan's armor.
Sparks spat sideways, momentarily illuminating both fighters in flashes of light.
Trajan retaliates, ramming the tip of his blade forward. Evander intercepts this, bringing it towards the stone floor with his sword. Swinging his arm, he smacks Trajan in the face before carving through his opponent's armor like a Sunday roast.
Retaliating, Trajan slices through the empty space between him and Evander. Too slow. The Ascendant smugly tilts his head to the side.
Kiara's eyes darted in all sorts of directions, trying to catch up between the two fighters. It was like their bodies were moving from point A to point B, skipping individual movements.
Trajan's hand flares up with spiritual energy.
"Burn it all: Aegon," he commands, a dark shadow forming behind the warrior. "Rise over: Herald."
Evander's gaze drops, spinning his arm and extending his leg forward, he strikes a ghostly Viking. Suddenly, another ghostly Viking manifests in front of the Ascendant, slashing him across the chest.
Kiara winces, clutching her chest.
Evander steps back, maintaining distance. His body heals from the wound, muscles closing up.
A black iron knight with a jagged blank mask and a serrated broad sword leans over Trajan. Armor cracked like a golem with vines etched over its body.
Three spiritual companions? Evander questions, lifting his head. His power levels must be high to summon three of them without difficulty and in quick succession.
"I wonder if I could do this now," he smirks, walking forward. His spiritual energy flares up, anddeep red flares cascade through the air. "Reign and overcome: Kaiser."
A dark shadow stretches from Evander's legs, forming a mass of darkness behind the Ascendant. Its arms pull itself out of its chains as it rings itself forward. Kiara watches as the spirit companion fully forms its armor.
A dark spiritual knight, with a feathered lapel, leans forward. Its cloth hood drapes a long shadow over Evander.
Tilting his head back, Evander smirks. "Never challenge me."
Kaiser swings its massive broad sword towards Trajan, but the man grabs the flying blade to a complete halt. Evander's eyes dilate, bewildered. The sword glows and turns into pure spiritual energy, leaving Trajan's grasp.
"Kaiser–battle axe," Evander commands.
Bringing up its shoulders, Kaiser's outstretched hands clasp a giant double-bladed battle axe towards Trajan. Aegon's jagged sword intercepts Kaiser's battle axe, and a burst of energy explodes through the arena with a shockwave.
Kiara could feel her feet pull up from the stone floor.
"Follow my lead," Trajan orders Harald before leaping towards Evander.
Steel crashes against steel.
Evander and Trajan spin and twirl against each other, sparks fly away like fireworks. Coming to a halt, they pause. Then they strike. One Herald Viking jumps over Trajan, meeting Evander's gaze above. Another appears below, knees bent towards Evander. Trajan was moving straight forward.
A three-way pincer attack.
Trajan outstretched his hand, palm ready to snatch Evander's collar.
Suddenly, Kaiser appears right next to Evander, body tilted, battle axe arm outstretched. The weapon slides under Evander's feet before launching the Ascendant up in the air.
"Whoa," Kiara says.
Momentarily distracted, Trajan turns his head to see him slamming into his spiritual companions. Bringing its battle axe, Kaiser slices the two spiritual companions into three clean slices–exploding into pure spiritual energy.
Trajan's body cracks, and blood splurts out as his companions are destroyed.
Evander flips through the air, turning as he grabs his blade mid-spin.
Trajan swings his broadsword, meeting Evander head-on. The platform extends itself as the two opponents keep reaching its edges.
Flicking his wrist, the blade spins in the air before being kicked by Evander. The spinning blade hits Trajan straight in the breast plate before ricocheting back to Evander. He throws it again. Then again. Each strike sent the warrior back further and further.
Appearing in front of Trajan, Evander slams his flat palm into his opponent's face. The force pulls Trajan back to the unforgiving floor as his body is carried by Evander's momentum.
Curling his legs, Trajan kicks Evander straight in the stomach. The Ascendant's feet skip across the stone floor.
Aegon slowly walks over to Evander, drawing down its sword like a drawbridge.
A dagger flies through its peripheral vision, teleporting Kiara behind the knight. Grabbing the dagger, she jams the weapon into the spiritual companion, momentarily halting Trajan's movements. Kaiser comes sweeping forward, crashing its battle axe into Aegon's side.
"What?" Trajan questions, seeing Kiara interfering in the fight.
He clutches his side before Evander grabs his face.
Gritting his teeth, Evander slams Trajan to the floor before grabbing him back up. Aegon grabs Kaiser's head, throwing it against the two fighters. Trajan and Evander leap in the opposite direction, dodging the flying knight.
Kaiser crashes into the border of the platform, shocking the spiritual companion. Kiara and Evander fall to the ground, feeling the electricity surge through their body.
Grasping the cracked stone floor, Kiara glances at Trajan, making his way forward. "Evander, I have a plan."
"Okay, what is it?" Evander asks, clutching his side.
"Oh, it's going to be very stupid," Kiara says bluntly. "I'm going to fight him by myself, but you are going to be my ace in the end."
"What?" Evander says, acting like she was crazy. Kiara tilts her head, pointing to the three spiritual companions that Trajan is with. It's just as crazy as it sounds. He looks at the determined look on her face, a similar look she gave when they first clashed, still daring enough to stand between a blade through her throat.
Taking an undeserved breath, Evander leaps towards Aegon. "This is going to get me killed. Return Kaiser."
The spiritual knight instantly shatters like cracked glass and redisperses back into pure spiritual energy.
"What the?" Trajan gasps as he watches Evander directly on top of Aegon's metal armor.
"What happens if I do this?" Evander wonders as he rams his ram straight into Aegon's face, piercing through like it was just butter. Trajan rattles in pain, clutching his right eye.
His other two companions—the ghostly Vikings, Herald—writhe, sensing the disruption. Evander stumbles back, already starting to deal with those two.
Kiara doesn't wait.
She appears right below Trajan, katana outstretched and ready to bite.
Their weapons kiss one another as they twist and turn, meeting on opposite sides.
"Hey, focus on me," Kiara aggravates, distracting her opponent.
"You carry the bond of a conqueror, girl," Trajan states coldly. "The world is not safe if he's still around or the rest of them. Don't dress him as your ally—he's a threat."
"I think the threat is under control for now," Kiara cuts back casually.
"Guess one of you is really deluded after all," Trajan says, absently.
Kiara's spiritual energy flares up, an awakened energy radiating off her katana.
The Zone? Trajan amuses, slamming his blade harder into Kiara's. "Don't even bother, the Zone is not just an emotional phenomenon, it's also a luck-based one."
"Well, I just learned how to do cool tricks like this—" Kiara answers back, throwing her katana against Trajan's armor. He knocks back an inch. The blade ricochets back into Kiara's hand before being turned into a dagger.
She throws her weapon again. It knocks Trajan back. She grabs her weapon. Each knock back sends Trajan an inch farther; however, Trajan, noticing the pattern, knocks her katana out of his trajectory.
Her body teleports towards her katana, grabbing it midair as she collapses onto the floor.
"It's interesting to see why the Covenant is interested in you," Trajan says, bringing his sword down like a bridge. "It's hard to see why, though? Maybe it's more symbolism than actual strength."
Sparks grind over Kiara's katana. The force cracks the platform below her, momentarily bringing her down to her knees.
"A sign that your old order is dying," he continues, piquing Kiara's interest. "The old laws are breaking, girl. It's time you adapt, or be forgotten like all the fossils of war."
Pulling her arm back, Kiara's katana spins back into pure spiritual energy before shooting forward as a dagger.
"You talk too much," Kiara groans, before being intercepted by Trajan. Her spiritual energy faintly burns a hot pink before returning to its usual faint outline.
Trajan swings faster. His next swing comes low, forcing Kiara to leap. Her feet skid across the stone, landing hard.
She breathes, her stance low.
Trajan jumps forward, blade slashing downward. Loose gravel scatters beneath Kiara's feet as she dodges. She lands hard on her palms and knees.
A sharp kick sends her sprawling.
Kiara tries to rise, but her arms give out under the pressure. She raises her katana, but it's met with an onslaught of barrages. Her katana trembles as spiritual energy flickers erratically.
Her breath catches, but her opponent is already on her.
Trajan doesn't relent.
Quickly, her defenses collapse under the weight. Trajan lifts his blade, driving her right back to the floor. The sting of the impact shoots up her arms as she groans.
A shadow looms over her, casting itself like a veil.
Trajan doesn't move.
He watches, blade lowered.
Kiara stares up before her gaze directs somewhere else. Her lips part, whispering something only she can hear.
"You have an arrogance to you, girl," Trajan sneers, stepping closer. "It's best I carve that out of you myself."
"Better if you handle your insolence instead, Trajan," Evander's voice rings out from behind. Trajan turns around, being slashed through his armor by Evander's blade. Twisting the blade, Evander's arm arcs like a whip, slicing through Trajan again, armor splitting with a metallic shriek.
Both of their spiritual chains glow a bright white, fulfilling the conditions.
Not even a blink of a second, the world of the requiem duel blips out of existence, returning the fighters to the real world.
"Alright, I have a bunch of questions for you," Kiara orders, raising her katana. "You're coming with me."
An Elusive bird perches itself on a branch, glancing at Trajan.
"Hmm, it seems like Trajan has lost," Merrick says, his eyes glowing a piercing white. "Well, as long as he has enough data, that's all I care about."
The Elusive flaps its wing towards Trajan, landing right next to the man.
The world around Trajan cracks as a spiral pitch black portal opens. An endless whisper of words and screams swirls in between them.
That same portal as that creepy guy from before, Kiara recognizes, steadying herself on the concrete.
"Sorry, but I really have to go," Trajan apologizes, "I can't wait to see you two again. The Covenant is especially interested in seeing you, Ascendant girl."
Entering through the portal, Kiara covers her eyes as the blinding light flashes in front of her. She links a couple of times before grabbing her phone. Typing a familiar number, she leans the device to her ear.
"Kiara?" Edward mutters, voice hitching. "What's happening right now? Where are you?"
"Hey grandpa, I need to tell you something very important," Kiara says, leaning her phone to her ear. "I think everyone else needs to hear about this.