The mob's roar crashed over me like a tidal wave, pitchforks and fists swarmed closer as I walked back, the twin swords felt heavy and lifeless in my hands, if they want to talk now would be the right time. Smoke stung my eyes, the temple's black spheres groaning overhead, cracked from the explosion. I mean, if they want to be angry, at least direct it to the guy who crashed their ceremony, where the hell is that guy? Did Lily kill him? If so, that means he's out right? Lily's furious cry "Heretic!", cut through the chaos.
"Look Lily, I'm not the one who destroyed the temple." I said, tried to plead one last time.
"You defiled this place and stole from her holiness!" Lily screamed and I felt every glare pinning me in place. My chest tightened, panic clawing up my throat. These blades were my only hope, but they hung silent, their faint glow mocking me.
"Hey, talking swords, some help?" I muttered, shaking them like a broken toy. Ophy's voice crackled through the pendant, weak but insistent. "Rei, the swords will guide you, give them what they ask!" Easy for him to say, stuck outside this hellhole. I'm her with no transformation, no teleport, and bunch of angry people, and these damn things weren't cooperating.
A raspy chuckle broke the silence, the green tilted sword, I figured, his voice rough. "We have names, boy. I'm Deimos, and she…" Phobos cut in, crisp and firm, "Phobos. That's how Ophiuchus named us." My jaw dropped, that guy really named everything he made huh? Before I could wrap my head around it, Deimos added, "We're weak, kid. The temple drained us dry." Phobos sighed, "We need fuel to fight, silly."
Fuel. My stomach twisted into a knot, not again not after that Sagittarius card took a day of my life for what 60 seconds head start? "I'm not losing another day," I spat, hands trembling as the mob's pitchforks seemed closer. I couldn't lose another day, to be fair I don't know how long I'm going to life but still.
"Who do you think we are? Vampires? We don't want your life stupid." Deimos laughed weakly, the blade twitching in my grip. Phobos huffed, "No silly, we eat your emotions. You're scared, right? Give us that." Emotions? Not my life? These damned things eat emotions? Like that guy from what we do in the shadow? The mob's hate-filled faces with their weapons snaked closer and I'm out of place to back down, Lily holding her trident tighter ready to strike, but emotions? How did that work?
I swallowed hard, glancing at the advancing crowd. "You sure this won't kill me?"
"Do you trust us?" Phobos asked me back.
"No."
"Good, duck."
A pitchfork thrust grazed my arm, the sting jolting me. I ducked a second too late and now the crowd tasted my blood."Fine," I growled, squeezing my eyes shut. "Take the fear, do it!"
A chill flooded my chest, like ice washing away the panic. The terror, of dying, of the mob, of Lily's trident, drained into the swords. My mind cleared, a strange calm settling in, though my hands felt unsteady, like I'd lost my grip on something. The blades glowed brighter, Deimos humming, "Taste like shit!" Phobos scolded, "Focus, dear!" Their edges felt sharpened, and a surge pulsed through my arms.
"Parry left, steady!" Phobos snapped and I swung following her order, the black-hilted blade clashing against a spear. The impact rocked me, but my move was better than I'd expected. Deimos cackled, "Not bad for a shithead!" An acolyte lunged, and I ducked, my move felt surer with these talking swords guiding me.
"Slash high, scare 'em back!" Deimos urged like a football coach. I swung upward with the black-hilted sword as hard as I could, the blade slicing an acolyte's robe. He stumbled back, and the crowd began to move back. Phobos chimed, "Good, next time step with your dominant foot first!" Her tone carried a flicker of pride.
Then I heard it, the clink of metal, the hum of energy. I spun back, and Lily stood there, Cancer's white armor scarred, trident glowing red. Her eyes locked on mine, blazing with betrayal. "Rei…" she hissed, voice warped, "you hurt my people!"
My gut twisted. "Lily, I didn't, I just…" No time before I can explain myself. She charged forward, her trident aimed at my chest.
"Cross us, parry!" Phobos shouted. Deimos added, "Dominant foot, kid!" I leaped, crossing the blades in a desperate upward slash. A shockwave rippled out, forcing her back, the glow fading as my fear ran dry.
I hit the ground, gasping. The calm lingered, but my hands shook, something felt off, like I don't feel like myself anymore. The mob's shouts roared louder, angrier and Lily rose, trident steady. Deimos muttered, "I think she's mad kid," while Phobos sighed, "Didn't I tell you to step with your dominant foot first?" Great. Talking swords with attitude, a furious Rider, and a bloodthirsty crowd I might add. Just perfect, maybe next time I do this with a team a megazord, seems lovely.
Lily's eyes, once so cheerful and warm, were now blazing with a fury I'd never seen, colder than any ice. Her voice, once soft and kind, was a warped, hateful hiss. "Heretic!" she screamed again, her trident glowing red, and she lunged.
The mob roared, swarming me from all sides. I was standing in the middle of a broken temple, and my first date was trying to kill me. This wasn't even fair. I just want a fair chance to win this tournament, it's not my fault the God I'm aligned with is the exiled one.
"Duck, you idiot!" Phobos snapped, her voice crisp waking me up.
I didn't even see the pitchfork. I just moved. The blades felt like they were an extension of my arms, and my body seemed to know what to do without me. I parried Lily's trident with Deimos, the clashing metal sending sparks flying. The impact was strong enough to vibrate through my bones, but the swords felt solid, unyielding.
"Give her a taste!" Deimos cackled, his voice a rough, eager growl. This guy just loves violence, and his trash talk never stops.
I swung Phobos up in a wide arc. Lily dodged with a grace I hadn't expected, but her trident hit an acolyte who hadn't moved out of the way. He fell, a silent, crumpled heap, and the mob surged forward, forgetting their fear in their anger.
"Lily, please stop." I said while parrying another Lily's attack aimed at my head.
"The power of a God is in their followers, you fool!" Phobos scolded in my mind, "She's stronger in a crowd!"
Great. A video game boss with infinite health. My mind was so clear, almost too clear in fact. I could see every angry face, every glint of metal, every move Lily made. But that clarity came with a price. I didn't feel anything. No guilt, no sorrow, not even a flicker of regret for the acolyte I slashed down. It was like I was playing a video game, and this is just another stage I have to clear.
"Can we… talk this out?" I stammered, my voice sounding hollow. I just think keep feeding my emotions to these swords will leave me with nothing.
Lily didn't answer, probably too angry to hear my plea. She was a blur of white armor and red glow, she kept attacking and I just kept parrying her trident deadly dance. She thrust forward, a barrage of attacks aimed at my chest and head. I blocked, parried, and dodged, my movements fluid and precise, with two voices telling me what to do.
"Slash high, now!" Deimos urged, and I swung both swords and met Lily's Trident heads on. The combined force was a shockwave. Lily had to jump back, her feet scraping against the stone floor. She was fast, but I was faster, for now. The swords were my only hope, even though I know they keep sucking my emotions out. This time, it's my only choice.
"We have to go now!" Phobos shouted. "Jump kid!" Deimos added, "Strike as hard as you can!"
I leaped at Lily, crossing the blades in a desperate slash. This time there's force rippled out of the swords, it was a focused blast of energy, like a gust of wind. It didn't hurt her, but it threw her off balance and knocked the acolytes closest to me on their asses. A small window.
"Go! Now, run!" Phobos commanded me, that gives me no time to think.
I hit the ground, gasping. The calm lingered, but my hands shook. No time to think, I have to get out so Ophy can teleport me off this hellhole, sorry Blacksand is not that I hate you but you try to kill me. The mob's shouts roared louder, and Lily was already regaining her footing, her trident steady. I didn't waste a second. I spun and ran, dodging the panicked followers and weaving through the crumbling debris.
The temple was a madhouse. People were shouting, some still praying as if Cancer herself would descend to strike me down like a heretic I was. The ground shook, and the sound of distant fighting with Sagittarius echoed from the outer yards, that F#&_'@r still alive, I mean go get him, not me.
I ran and burst through the gate, crashing into a crowd of confused people on the street. They stared at me, a kid in a white robe, holding two glowing swords. I didn't care. I was out.
"Ophy!" I screamed.
Silence for a few seconds, then Ophy's voice, clear as a bell, rang in my head.
"Rei! I can reach you now. You're out of her range. Now, transform!"
"Transform? Get me out of here!!"
"I'm sorry, I need time, hold on for a couple of minutes until I can recharge the teleporter. I did recharge the Infinity OS. I'm so sorry, please hold on. Please."
"Damn you Ophy."
"I'm so sorry."
I took a deep, no point to argue with him. I just need to hold on for a couple of minutes until the stupid shit recharges and I can get out of here. Good thing I have these talking swords with me now, all right this must.
I pulled my phone, the transform button returned, something I don't know I'll miss. No time for hesitation now, I could hear the mob closer and behind them Lily, I tap the button.
"Henshin."
The world around me seemed to slow. The air grew heavy. A sharp, cold sensation surged from my phone through my body, like thousands of icy needles piercing my skin from within. Green light particles enveloped my arms, forming living armor plates. Metallic scales crawled across my chest, shaping a coiled snake symbol. A helmet formed around my head, and the world transformed into a digital interface.
The light faded, and I stood there, no longer Rei, but the Ophiuchus Rider. My swords, Deimos and Phobos, hummed in my hands, no longer silent, their voices ringing with newfound power. I turned to face the temple gates.
"Is the dance necessary, kid?" Deimos chimes. Probably not but I feel better if I do, don't blame me if I could do the dance and the pose I'll do it.
"You use Ophiuchus' soul? You're our master. Deimos shut up and be polite."
"He's not…"
"Be polite." Phobos said firmer now. I don't really care about being their master, I just want to stay alive.
Lily came battered and enraged, stood in the doorway, her white armor scratched and her eyes blazing. She had tracked me. When she saw my new form, her eyes widened in shock.
"You..." she hissed, her voice filled with a mix of fury and disbelief.
I gripped the swords tighter. I had no idea what I was doing, but for the first time, I felt like I had a chance. This is not how I imagine my first date would be.