I sit slumped in the office chair, my elbow against the window sill. I'm doing nothing remotely productive, yet my leg shakes so. The built-up anticipation is too much to bear, a mixture of restlessness and excitement. Restless days of honing and preparation — unwarranted. All that was required of me was to discard the Threade that held me back and slip on a new face.
"Are you ready, Threade?" Calden walks into the office, ducking as to not bump his head. "We've been preparing for this for about two days, huh? Since we found out REGALIA was planning to attack our allies."
I nod fervently. "I'm sure that Mr. Colorful is gonna show his face there. It'll give me a chance to get my rematch and imprint my fist into his face."
Calden chuckles, leaning against the wall.
"Yeah, well..."
The door bursts open, an intern almost falling to his knees in exhaustion.
"T-Threade! Calden. I'm so glad you're here, since everyone else left. Listen!! They're here!"
I quickly spin around in my chair, my body facing his. Before I can say a word, dark blood blasts forward, splashing onto my desk. I spring to my feet, vaulting over and standing beside Calden. With a much better view, I now see what's happened. A black chain is planted through the intern's chest, his expression unresponsive. He died the moment he was impaled, as would anyone.
His body is suddenly dragged backwards, the chain retracting.
"This shouldn't be happening. No enemies should be here!" Calden shouts. He takes the defensive, shielding me from any incoming threats.
"They waited till most of our strongest forces left in order to raid our company building. Smart move, I'd say."
"Aren't you going to compliment me?" A voice ripples through the air, silencing everything external.
Our attention is taken from the unknown voice, instincts on high alert. Through the hallway is a woman clothed in a long dress with dark deathly sharp blades hanging from it. Her black hair wraps around the dead intern as she pins him against the wall.
"Well?! I'm waiting. Tell me how beautiful I am!"
I can't even begin to comprehend the situation in front of me. Whoever this woman is, she's forcing a... dead man to compliment her looks? All evidence points to her being from REGALIA.
Calden pounds his fists against one another, securely planting his feet into the ground.
"Who are you? I'd advise you to turn around and leave as you are, ma'am!"
"Hm?" Dropping the deceased intern, she struts toward the opening of the office. Triggering his vigilance, the skin of Calden's wrist begins to fall off steadily, instantaneously being replaced with layers of metal. The woman whistles in intrigue.
"Calden Korran, isn't it? Rejoice over the fact that I, Fiere Conti, know the name of an insignificant insect such as you. Besides, I'd recognize that savage ability from one hundred miles away."
"I'll take care of this, Threade. You save your strength. I'm sure she's not the only REGALIA associate present." Pulling his fist back, Calden slams his metal-covered knuckles into Fiere's fist, sending her body crashing against the floor.
The carpet that was covering the floor is now disheveled and torn as the woman lies unresponsive. I think nothing of it, though Calden gasps.
"Wha... but it can't be. After that attack, how the hell is she unscathed?!"
Fiere rises, clicking her tongue rapidly and wiping the dust off of her face. It was a direct hit — I'm sure of it. But even so, she bears not even the slightest hint of injury.
"How dare you... you despicable peon. Before you struck me, did you think of the consequences that would come after? Did you consider just who exactly you were placing your filthy, grubby hands on!"
She takes hold of one of the many chains draped across her dress, whipping it across the room fluidly.
I just barely duck, the swish of the metal slicing through the air sharp enough to deafen me.
The windows encasing the office shatter, letting loose a gust of wind.
Calden grabs the chain with his metal-made hands, concluding the attack before it can make its way back 'round.
Grinning maniacally, two of her chains bolt toward Calden, wrapping around his arms and tearing the sleeves of his suit. To assist, I rush toward Fiere, striking her in the hip with a fierce kick.
Recovering almost instantly, she belts me across the face, her keen chain expelling my blood.
I snarl and tug her chain toward me, which pulls her in. Her elbow punctures my chest
and jolts my jaw in quick succession.
Dodges, blows, blades — our rapid exchange is made up of the three.
Disrupting our battle, Calden pulls me back, delivering a violent blow to Fiere's gut.
The force of the attack sweeps her off of her feet, although she gracefully makes landfall.
"Damn it!" Calden sneers. "How the hell is she recovering from every attack!?"
She howls in laughter. "Usually, I'd make you lick my shoes for ruining my hair, but your ignorance is much too amusing!"
"Hush up already, bitch!!" My fingers move with the wind, clawing strings toward her frame.
Possessing the properties of steel, her chest is gashed, the very power of the ability itself breaking the walls and knocking her into the office neighboring mine.
"I hit, slash, bash, and slam ya'.... But, still, you refuse to die. What's your issue? Do I have to cut your head off to mail you off to hell?"
Once the debris clears, I receive a clear view of everything. Her back is resting upon a wooden desk, strange for someone who has been recovering immediately every single time.
She raises her head, blood leaking down her face. My eyes widen, and I can practically feel Calden's astonishment at the sight.
"Don't get cocky, you good-for-nothings! Just because you damaged me for once..."
She shakily rises to her feet, leaning against the wall for support.
Reaching into her pocket, Fiere pulls out a small audio player, holding it like gold.
Abruptly, multiple voices of unknown origin blare from the speaker.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."
"You're a goddess."
"I'd kill for you!"
All are comments worshipping her beauty in some way. It's clear that she's reaching a state of ecstasy in result, a twisted leer written on her face.
I can't help but smile as well... I've finally figured it out!
The audio must've been playing for a couple of seconds, and my cackles matched the volume. Calden simply stands there confused, unknowing of what to do in such a predicament.
"Calden..."
His eyes wander, listening intently.
"She's got the power to absorb compliments she receives and use them as a shield that absorbs damage, I'm sure of it. If we play our cards right, then there's absolutely no way we can lose."
"Got it."
Not wasting a single second, Calden propels his body in the direction of Fiere, powered by a desire to kill. His gigantic hands run through the chain thrown toward him, gripping it with all of his might.
Releasing a sky-shattering grunt, Calden squats and lifts his arms, elevating both the chain and Fiere, who still desperately holds on.
Following up, I sprint in the direction of Calden, jumping off of his shoulders to boost myself. My legs arcs through the air, slamming into her throat.
Before the impact takes her down, Calden catches her by the arm, beginning to swing her around as easily as a plaything. Once let go, she soars through the hallways, the air pressure audible.
Strings connected to my fingers, I draw her in.
An uppercut follows a slam — then another, faster.
Our hands flicker, the concept known as a "limit" long lost.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Until brutality overshadows will.
Left on the ground, half-dead, my footsteps seem to be the only thing she can hear.
"427 times... drop dead."
Before my blade can drive into her, a dark entity seeming like a phantom moves faster than I, Fiere's body disappearing.
Sword now trapped into the ground, I recall it: the strings returning to my body.
"Now, now. I can't have you killing off a member of REGALIA, even if she is weak."
Calden and I reposition ourselves, getting a look of the man who'd dare to face us. The core rooted within our eyes burns with fury.
The individual owning a body so slender, that his ribcage is critically visible. The bandages wrapped around his chest are moving in a way that suggests they're alive.
"How lucky of me. Lucky, lucky! I caught the two of you at the perfect time, didn't I? You're all exhausted and I can claim the credit of finishing you off. Solia will be so proud of me."
The unidentified man stalks forward, his presence feeling like the coming of death.
In a flash, the ceiling above us splits, something obscure crashing into the ground. Dusting himself off and adjusting his hat, he then clears his throat.
"You have my gratitude for holding down the fort, Threade, Calden. You don't have to worry about fighting anymore. From now on, I'll shoulder your burdens."
It's the arrival of a calamity. The Greatest Weapon...
"ALEXANDER ZILLMAN!! DAMN IT!! You weren't meant to show!"
He scoffs. "Sorry. But, I won't allow REGALIA to once again lay its claws on my first-class weapons. These two are mine."