A tall and well built woman would be walking across the streets, eating a glazed donut. Though enjoying the peaceful moment, she was going back to her duty within just a few minutes.
Her black ponytail, highlighted in multiple red streaks, swayed in the gentle winds as she continued walking forward. She even adjusted her ROSS uniform a bit to keep herself from looking unprofessional. After all, most eyes would be on her if she did something in public.
"Xiu Lan!" a voice suddenly shouted on the speaker. It was muffled, but it was a cry for help.
Xiu Lan, the lady, quickly pressed the button on her radio. The sudden cry almost spooked her, but keeping her guard up she quickly replied.
"Repeat that. Chief Xiu Lan is here."
"Your ward is going insane! Knocking all of our teams back to back!"
"Ward…? Zale?"
"She's becoming a bigger threat!"
She shouldn't be this strong to be able to take down team after team… Xiu Lan sighed.
"I'll be there, send the coordinates." she replied, her tone now shifting as she immediately took a turn to one of the alleyways.
Don't worry Zale, I'll be there soon!
. . .
Zale's eyes began to dilate, her lungs trying the rest of their strength to breathe. But her heavy breathing only caused her fatigue and a massive migraine. After knocking down and taking out many of ROSS' officers, they'd expect her to tire out. But Zale seemed to only adapt.
But fueled by anger, Zale glared right at Orion. Who stood there watching her the entire time she knocked officers back and forth.
Orion quietly stared back, standing still. But not in fear. He was aware Zale was only out of control, and if he acted first, Zale could quickly adapt. Or die trying.
Without hesitation, Zale dashed forward. Raising her arms as she was prepared to wipe Orion out, a figure quickly slid in front of her. Zale not only paused in fear and hesitation, but within her inner vision she spotted a piece of black hair with red streaks.
Zale paused, her arms twitching as her fueled anger tried to break out of this fear. But it wasn't forced, it was automatic. Her eyes slowly lifted, staring at a pair of red innocent eyes. Xiu Lan's eyes.
Xiu Lan gently laid her hands on Zale's wrist. Slowly pushing them down as Xiu Lan gave a soft smile. Signaling Zale that everything would be okay, and to rest.
. . .
At ROSS' department, Zale sat still in a room. Covered in strong material that prevented a human from being able to escape. Her clothes were covered in dirt and there were a couple of tears from attempts of being pinned down. Her golden eyes stared at the metal table. Full of guilt and regret.
However, a cup of hot chocolate would slide across the table and within her vision. Zale's eyes flinched a bit before looking up. There she met Xiu Lan's warm smile again. But she could see behind that smile was a sense of disappointment but confusion.
"Xiu Lan…" Zale mumbled softly.
Xiu Lan took a seat on the other side of the table. Without hesitation, Zale quickly moved forward, wanting to give every single word out. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint her own guardian and ruin her reputation.
"Xiu Lan! I can explain—"
"Go right ahead, Zale. Just be honest with me alright?" she replied, keeping a straight expression.
"I just… wanted to help Judie out. You know her family was financially struggling and I just wanted to help her out… I know there could've been much more peaceful and better options, but Judie suggested stealing the artifact would be faster…"
"And so?—"
"And so…" Zale's tone suddenly dropped. Her volume became much quieter as she slowly remembered. The sudden "dream" that slipped in just moments before she fled.
"... Xiu Lan. Before I fled, I had some kind of dream… I think. I don't even remember falling asleep."
"Hm?" Xiu Lan raised an eyebrow.
"I was in some kind of.. Capsule? Things were kind of dark, but all I could see was you and someone else."
"Who is that someone else?"
"Someone with… red hair. Blue eyes. Wore some kind of uniform. Maybe more noticeable by the white long coat—?"
Xiu Lan's eyes widened a bit as it was noticed by Zale. Her tongue twisted a bit, now knowing that Xiu Lan is aware of it.
"You know something about it, don't you?"
"... Take a sip of your hot chocolate before it gets cold. Once you do, I'll explain everything." Xiu Lan replied, leaning back on her chair.
Zale glanced at her cup of hot chocolate, the mug was still warm in her hands as she slowly leaned in. Feeling the slight steam cross over her face as she took a sip.
Xiu Lan sighed softly, watching her silently enjoy her hot chocolate. As she was about to continue the conversation, the alarms suddenly went off. Turning the once white rooms to now a red shaded color.
Zale looked up in confusion, along with Xiu Lan. She bursted from her seat, checking her gear.
"An invasion? Quick, Zale! Head to the emergency exit!" Xiu Lan pointed.
Zale quickly stood up, dropping her hot chocolate entirely as she took Xiu Lan's order without hesitation. Though as she exited the interrogation room, she took a left. Running through the hallways.
An invasion? At ROSS' Department? That shouldn't happen… Zale thought, her eyes glancing on the ground as she ran past multiple guards running past her.
Slowly stopping in her tracks, Zale turned a bit before running off in a different way. She needed to know. She must know the truth. She wanted to anyway. Her gut feeling just tells her… something's off.
Running across another hallway, going further away from the emergency exit, Zale continued her path to the sounds of gunfire, screams, and slashing noises echoing across the dozen of hallways. As soon Zale proceeded to take another turn, her body froze. Her eyes widened as they slowly looked up. Her eyes met a shadowed figure. Taller than her own figure, but yet shaped abnormally, like a beast. It now knew her existence. Zale proceeded to back up, though the shadow beast followed as it seemed to telepathically call backup. Two other shadow beasts began to show up just right behind the shadow beast, clearly outnumbering the woman.
Zale clenched her fist, frowning as her fist trembled softly. Not in fear, but in sudden anger. Either a choice of dying, or fighting to survive.
I'm not going down this easily!… Zale thought, her body shifting into a stance.
The beasts seemed to understand her resistance, dashing towards her as they all raised their claws. Only thinking of tearing and slashing her apart. Though as Zale has gone through just a little bit of training, Zale quickly zoomed towards the closest beasts, grabbing it by the wrist before tossing it across the hallway as she quickly moved to the side to avoid the second beast. Axe-kicking it to the ground. But by surprise, the third beast slipped behind Zale, wrapping its arms around her to perform a chokehold. With a quick reaction, Zale immediately slipped out of the chokehold, throwing her fist across the third beast's face.
The two other shadowed beasts quickly snuck up onto her however, bashing their bodies against Zale to knock her off balance. Her eyes widened as she slid across the hallway a bit. Falling to her knees from the impact.
Shit!
One of the shadowed beasts soon ran up to Zale, launching itself into the air. Though within her vision, Zale quickly looked up. Her eyes widening as she knew she wouldn't have enough time to react.
Her body flinched as she used her arms to wrap around her face defensively, closing her eyes tight.
SLASH!!
A sudden thud was heard. Though it wasn't Zale who had fallen. Her head slowly tilted up. Though her arms still covering her face, Zale could suddenly feel a strong grasp on her arm. Pulling her up as the side of her body and head gently bumped into another. Uncovering her face, Zale realized her body was leaning against someone. Hearing their heartbeat and their perfectly breathing lungs.
"Hm." a deep male voice mumbled.
Zale quickly looked up, spotting a rather tall man. Around six feet, with short jet black colored hair. His teal colored eyes stared blankly at the fallen beasts before he glanced at Zale.
"You alright?" he asked.
Zale pulled away gently, getting up as she stared at him.
"I'm fine?"
"... Sure."
"Atsuji!" a high pitched female voice called out.
The man, Atsuji, turned to the direction of the voice. His face and posture remained calm as he spun his sword a bit before sheathing the blade back into its case.
"I'm here," he replied.
A silhouette quickly approached their location as a woman, with long dark blue hair and eyes. Her outfit looked rather in a Victorian era, but monochromed. Though on the side of her waist, she carried a long silver coded rapier.
"Ah— Atsuji!"
"My apologies, I sensed something was wrong here."
The woman slowly turned to Zale, acknowledging her existence as she replied with a rather warm smile to the confused Zale.
"Excuse me, who are you—?" Zale asked, rubbing the back of her head.
"I'm Amore Kaiser, and this is Atsuji Kuroda! We work here but since the ROSS department is getting invaded…"
"We were tasked to help out with survivors." Atsuji continued, crossing his arms.
"... Zale." she replied, slightly giving a side-eye. "I've never seen you two around here honestly. I usually visit this department daily."
"Ah… uhm." Amore stuttered.
"Enough talk, we'll take you to the exit."
"I'll take it…" Zale replied, sighing softly.
Atsuji nodded, his body turning as he spent no time heading towards the exit while Zale and Amore followed. Though as the trio were approaching the exit, Zale felt a small ringing in her ears. But this ringing sent small chills down her spine. She glanced behind, yet nothing was there.
What is this feeling—? She thought.
As the trio took a turn, Atsuji suddenly paused. Causing Amore and Zale to gently be knocked from his back. Though they were knocked back, Atsuji's posture never once flinched.
"Ouch—!" Amore yelped.
Atsuji quickly unsheathed his sword, immediately getting into stance. Zale looked up in curiosity, wondering why he stopped. But as she did so, her eyes met a taller figure. Though it was shadowed just like the other beasts she was approached by, something about this shadowed beast just felt different. Awful even. The shadow still wore a suit and a mask that covered its face. Marking a chilling smile.
"Get behind m—"
Without even a second, the shadow phased right across Atsuji. With such harmless movement, it sent Atsuji staggering back. He groaned, closing his eyes tightly as he suddenly fell forward. Purple flares formed and trailed across his left arm.
"Atsuji!" Amore shouted, reaching her hand out as she summoned a silver colored rapier.
Zale's eyes widened as she spotted the shadow zooming towards her and Amore. But wanting to aid Atsuji, she quickly dashed forward, sliding quickly to the fallen man. As she pulled him up to sit him up, Atsuji's body reacted rather limp. Looking at the purple flares trailing off his arm, she quickly shifted her hand through the flares. Yet, her hand flinched, feeling a sharp pain as the purple flares seemed to sting her fingers like flames.
Shit!—
"UWAAAGH—!" Amore yelped.
Zale's body flinched as her head quickly tilted up. A thud was heard as she saw Amore's body hit the wall before falling onto the ground. Her stomach was hit with the same purple flares as Amore's expression cried out silently in pain.
"Amore…" Zale mumbled.
Zale laid Atsuji down, getting up as the shadow slowly turned towards her. Staring at her with that smiling mask. It clearly mimicked its victory towards her and understanding its message, this only pissed Zale off.
"You bastard…" she glared.
The shadow slid a hand in its pocket, slowly approaching Zale as it was taking its time to snipe her out.
Acting all confident huh… Zale thought, her vision slowly shifting towards the ground as she stared. Her fist clenched tightly, her legs bent over a bit as her black hair swayed softly in the wind.
I've already lost enough. No more! I refuse to let someone so stupidly egotistic like you kill me!
Zale's fist slowly glowed a white colored aura, slowly bursting into flames as they lit up just as bright as her desperation to escape out of here alive. Not just by herself, but with them.