Don't have an account yet? 
Forum Thread
The Chaotic Mind of Kendo
Forum-Index → Fanmades → Fanfictions → The Chaotic Mind of Kendo
Posted: Sun, 18/06/2023 12:05 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
Aleksandr sighed, as he watched the
commotion, as people crowded around a person.
He felt an arm rest on his head, as he glanced up.
"If it isn't Aleks!"
Fairly tall, with short pink hair streaked with blue, Alexandra Wright stood behind him, using his head as an armrest. Her grin was wide.
"...hello, Alex."
She poked his cheek, playfully.
"Awh, cheer up, bud! No need to be so gloomy all the time."
Aleksander stared at Alexandra in bored indifference.
The commotion seemed to be getting louder.
Aleksandr swatted her hand away, standing up.
Alexandra followed his gaze.
"Oh, yeah, there's a new guy. A new Hard Mode player."
Aleksandr shoved his hands in his pockets, making his way over.
The new guy was yelling, and making a fuss.
God, he hated people like those.
As he got closer, he could make out what the latest returnee was saying.
"This isn't Earth! That's impossible! Do you know how many players there are? Are you telling me you guys couldn't protect the city, let alone the world, from a bunch of monsters?"
Aleksandr looked back at Alexandra.
"...where's Siobahn?"
The pink-haired girl sighed.
"Out on patrol."
He raised his eyebrow skepticallly
"Still?"
"She said she had things to do."
Aleksandr let out a deep sigh.
"You sigh too much."
"Only because I'm surrounded by idiots."
Before Alexandra could protest, he pushed through the crowd.
The newbie glared at him.
"Who're you supposed to be?
"Please stop screaming. It's quite annoying."
"Haah?"
The newbie put a hand on Aleks' shoulder, shoving him.
"Answer my question, asshole. Who the hell are you supposed to be, to order me around like that?"
The crowd had quieted down, but the guy didn't seem to notice.
Aleksandr sighed, pushing his brown bangs out of his eyes.
"Aleksandr Konstantin. Easy Mode player."
The man in front of him scoffed, crossing his arms.
“Easy mode? And you think you have the right to diss me, a hard-mode player?”
The man pulled out a sword.
“I’ll just beat you up, then! You pathetic easy-mode noob.”
And then, everything went quiet, for a solid 5 seconds, before Alexandra tried to push through the crowd.
“Stop them! Stop them, right now!”
The crowd started murmuring.
The man in front of Aleks laughed.
“You see? Even they know! An easy-mode player can never beat a hard-mode player!”
And the man rushed forward, sword in hand.
Alexandra watched on in sympathy.
“Now the newbie did it.”
The man heard this, but before he could react, Aleksandr’s hand shot out and grabbed the sword.
A system message rang out.
[You have dealt 0 damage to Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov.]
Aleks easily blocked the sword with his hand.
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Perfect Block].]
“Wh-”
And before the man could say anything, Aleksandr punched him straight in the face.
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Stat Multiplication]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat has been multiplied by 8.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat is now 7000.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Stat Squaring].]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat has been squared.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat is now 49,000,000.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Straight Punch].]
The man flew back, losing grip of his sword, his armor crumbling under Aleks’ fist like putty.
[You have suffered 23,563,000 damage.]
[Skill [Non-Lethal Strike] has been applied.]
[You have [1] HP remaining.]
The man groaned.
He’d been sent flying back to the wall, which was now cracked.
Alexandra finally got through the crowd.
“Aleks! What the hell?”
Aleksandr looked back at her.
“...”
He was about to walk away, when he heard another commotion arising.
The people around him had hurried over in the direction of the gates, which weren’t too far away.
“It’s Siobhan!”
“Siobahn is back!”
“The saint!”
Aleksandr looked at the crowd in disdain, before shoving his hands in his pockets, walking away.
He trudged back to the seat in which he’d been sitting in a few minutes ago.
Or at least, he was planning on it, before Siobahn Connoly grabbed him by the shoulder, smiling.
“Hey.”
Aleksandr stared at her, neutrally.
“...What do you need?”
Siobahn Connoly.
27 years old, and probably the strongest person alive.
Beautiful, too, with long, silver hair, fair skin and a beautiful smile that complimented her shining blue eyes.
Of course, her personality was a little… meh.
First and foremost, she was an opportunist. Now, in a world as fundamentally broken as this one, that was a good thing.
But that also meant that her morals were gray, and was… untrustworthy. To say the least.
Plus, she consistently masked her true feelings and sense of self from everyone.
Aleksandr was sure that he was the only one who’d seen her cry, before.
Siobahn’s smile was grim, today.
Something was wrong.
“I need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Hrnn…”
Siobahn pulled on Aleks’ arm.
“Please? It’s important. I swear.”
“...Fine. Make it quick.”
Sibahn Connoly was the only person Aleksandr knew who could possibly go out of patrol, wipe out every monster in a 60-mile radius, and then have time to raid long-abandoned museums and collect pieces of a-
holy shit was that the Mona Lisa?
Siobahn glanced back at him. Her silver hair swayed with every step.
“A girl can have her hobbies, no?”
She laughed grimly, as she pushed the doors to her office open.
She was the leader of this fortress, after all.
“Though my hobbies won’t matter much, soon.”
Aleksandr took a seat in the chair across from her desk.
“Explain, Siobahn.”
The Angel of Destruction laughed quietly.
“The fourth wave is coming.”
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
“WHAT?”
Siobahn’s grim expression only got darker.
“We barely survived the last wave, Aleks.”
“I know! Goddamnit, Siobahn!”
Aleksandr nearly pulled his hair out of his scalp, before Siobahn stopped him.
“Don’t do that. I really like your long hair.”
He swatted her hand away.
“Not the time, Siobahn. How many?”
“Mostly B-ranks. 30 A-ranks. Two S-Ranks. One Apostle.”
Aleksandr slumped back in his chair.
“Siobahn. I know what you’re thinking.”
“Just listen, Aleks!”
He slammed his fist on the table.
“No! I’m not going to!”
Siobahn’s eyes were desperate.
Goddammit, he’d never been able to win against her.
“You’re the only one who can do this!”
“You can’t handle an Apostle on your own!”
He leaned back in his chair, Siobahn’s hand unconsciously reaching out to him.
She pulled away.
“Please. Deal with the S-ranks. You’re the only one who can do it.”
Aleksandr stared into her dim golden eyes.
Her eyes brimmed with desperate tears.
His eyes were filled with anger.
They kept eye contact for a moment, before he sighed.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine.”
And he got up from his seat.
“Wait, Aleks.”
He turned back at her call.
“Can I check your status window for a moment?”
“...Fine.”
A blue screen popped up in front of him, which he sent over to Siobahn.
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov]
[Level 82]
[HP: 3120(+421)]
[MP: 900(+999)]
[STR: 1023(101)]
[DEX: 999(+801)]
[INT: 1000(+333)]
[ATK: +875]
[DEF: +612]
Siobahn was silent for a moment.
“...Don’t die.”
Aleksandr laughed, quietly.
“Don’t worry about me.”
His smile was grim, as he turned away.
“Don’t die yourself, Siobahn. I'll go tell the others.”
When the door clicked shut, Siobahn's smile dropped, as she looked down at her fist. She sighed, as she looked out the window at her side.
"...Aleksandr. You're strong."
Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.
"If it's you, we could be lead to victory."
When she unclenched her fist, a small, purple gem sat on her palm.
"But... I'm such a coward."
The tear dripped down her face.
"I'm such a damned coward."
[The Twilight's Gemstone]
[A stone owned by Possibilities, the Twilight.]
[Upon use, you will be transported back to the beginning of the Calamity.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov]
[Level 82]
[HP: 3120(+421)]
[MP: 900(+999)]
[STR: 1023(101)]
[DEX: 999(+801)]
[INT: 1000(+333)]
[ATK: +875]
[DEF: +612]
[Siobahn Connoly]
[Level 321]
[HP: 12,235(+8,341)]
[MP: 36,982(+9,000)]
[STR: 4,999(+5,201)]
[DEX: 89,107(+8,911)]
[INT: 62,009(+3,253)]
[ATK: +812,900]
[DEF: +614,200]
He felt an arm rest on his head, as he glanced up.
"If it isn't Aleks!"
Fairly tall, with short pink hair streaked with blue, Alexandra Wright stood behind him, using his head as an armrest. Her grin was wide.
"...hello, Alex."
She poked his cheek, playfully.
"Awh, cheer up, bud! No need to be so gloomy all the time."
Aleksander stared at Alexandra in bored indifference.
The commotion seemed to be getting louder.
Aleksandr swatted her hand away, standing up.
Alexandra followed his gaze.
"Oh, yeah, there's a new guy. A new Hard Mode player."
Aleksandr shoved his hands in his pockets, making his way over.
The new guy was yelling, and making a fuss.
God, he hated people like those.
As he got closer, he could make out what the latest returnee was saying.
"This isn't Earth! That's impossible! Do you know how many players there are? Are you telling me you guys couldn't protect the city, let alone the world, from a bunch of monsters?"
Aleksandr looked back at Alexandra.
"...where's Siobahn?"
The pink-haired girl sighed.
"Out on patrol."
He raised his eyebrow skepticallly
"Still?"
"She said she had things to do."
Aleksandr let out a deep sigh.
"You sigh too much."
"Only because I'm surrounded by idiots."
Before Alexandra could protest, he pushed through the crowd.
The newbie glared at him.
"Who're you supposed to be?
"Please stop screaming. It's quite annoying."
"Haah?"
The newbie put a hand on Aleks' shoulder, shoving him.
"Answer my question, asshole. Who the hell are you supposed to be, to order me around like that?"
The crowd had quieted down, but the guy didn't seem to notice.
Aleksandr sighed, pushing his brown bangs out of his eyes.
"Aleksandr Konstantin. Easy Mode player."
The man in front of him scoffed, crossing his arms.
“Easy mode? And you think you have the right to diss me, a hard-mode player?”
The man pulled out a sword.
“I’ll just beat you up, then! You pathetic easy-mode noob.”
And then, everything went quiet, for a solid 5 seconds, before Alexandra tried to push through the crowd.
“Stop them! Stop them, right now!”
The crowd started murmuring.
The man in front of Aleks laughed.
“You see? Even they know! An easy-mode player can never beat a hard-mode player!”
And the man rushed forward, sword in hand.
Alexandra watched on in sympathy.
“Now the newbie did it.”
The man heard this, but before he could react, Aleksandr’s hand shot out and grabbed the sword.
A system message rang out.
[You have dealt 0 damage to Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov.]
Aleks easily blocked the sword with his hand.
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Perfect Block].]
“Wh-”
And before the man could say anything, Aleksandr punched him straight in the face.
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Stat Multiplication]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat has been multiplied by 8.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat is now 7000.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Stat Squaring].]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat has been squared.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov’s [ATK] stat is now 49,000,000.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov used Skill [Straight Punch].]
The man flew back, losing grip of his sword, his armor crumbling under Aleks’ fist like putty.
[You have suffered 23,563,000 damage.]
[Skill [Non-Lethal Strike] has been applied.]
[You have [1] HP remaining.]
The man groaned.
He’d been sent flying back to the wall, which was now cracked.
Alexandra finally got through the crowd.
“Aleks! What the hell?”
Aleksandr looked back at her.
“...”
He was about to walk away, when he heard another commotion arising.
The people around him had hurried over in the direction of the gates, which weren’t too far away.
“It’s Siobhan!”
“Siobahn is back!”
“The saint!”
Aleksandr looked at the crowd in disdain, before shoving his hands in his pockets, walking away.
He trudged back to the seat in which he’d been sitting in a few minutes ago.
Or at least, he was planning on it, before Siobahn Connoly grabbed him by the shoulder, smiling.
“Hey.”
Aleksandr stared at her, neutrally.
“...What do you need?”
Siobahn Connoly.
27 years old, and probably the strongest person alive.
Beautiful, too, with long, silver hair, fair skin and a beautiful smile that complimented her shining blue eyes.
Of course, her personality was a little… meh.
First and foremost, she was an opportunist. Now, in a world as fundamentally broken as this one, that was a good thing.
But that also meant that her morals were gray, and was… untrustworthy. To say the least.
Plus, she consistently masked her true feelings and sense of self from everyone.
Aleksandr was sure that he was the only one who’d seen her cry, before.
Siobahn’s smile was grim, today.
Something was wrong.
“I need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Hrnn…”
Siobahn pulled on Aleks’ arm.
“Please? It’s important. I swear.”
“...Fine. Make it quick.”
Sibahn Connoly was the only person Aleksandr knew who could possibly go out of patrol, wipe out every monster in a 60-mile radius, and then have time to raid long-abandoned museums and collect pieces of a-
holy shit was that the Mona Lisa?
Siobahn glanced back at him. Her silver hair swayed with every step.
“A girl can have her hobbies, no?”
She laughed grimly, as she pushed the doors to her office open.
She was the leader of this fortress, after all.
“Though my hobbies won’t matter much, soon.”
Aleksandr took a seat in the chair across from her desk.
“Explain, Siobahn.”
The Angel of Destruction laughed quietly.
“The fourth wave is coming.”
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
“WHAT?”
Siobahn’s grim expression only got darker.
“We barely survived the last wave, Aleks.”
“I know! Goddamnit, Siobahn!”
Aleksandr nearly pulled his hair out of his scalp, before Siobahn stopped him.
“Don’t do that. I really like your long hair.”
He swatted her hand away.
“Not the time, Siobahn. How many?”
“Mostly B-ranks. 30 A-ranks. Two S-Ranks. One Apostle.”
Aleksandr slumped back in his chair.
“Siobahn. I know what you’re thinking.”
“Just listen, Aleks!”
He slammed his fist on the table.
“No! I’m not going to!”
Siobahn’s eyes were desperate.
Goddammit, he’d never been able to win against her.
“You’re the only one who can do this!”
“You can’t handle an Apostle on your own!”
He leaned back in his chair, Siobahn’s hand unconsciously reaching out to him.
She pulled away.
“Please. Deal with the S-ranks. You’re the only one who can do it.”
Aleksandr stared into her dim golden eyes.
Her eyes brimmed with desperate tears.
His eyes were filled with anger.
They kept eye contact for a moment, before he sighed.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine.”
And he got up from his seat.
“Wait, Aleks.”
He turned back at her call.
“Can I check your status window for a moment?”
“...Fine.”
A blue screen popped up in front of him, which he sent over to Siobahn.
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov]
[Level 82]
[HP: 3120(+421)]
[MP: 900(+999)]
[STR: 1023(101)]
[DEX: 999(+801)]
[INT: 1000(+333)]
[ATK: +875]
[DEF: +612]
Siobahn was silent for a moment.
“...Don’t die.”
Aleksandr laughed, quietly.
“Don’t worry about me.”
His smile was grim, as he turned away.
“Don’t die yourself, Siobahn. I'll go tell the others.”
When the door clicked shut, Siobahn's smile dropped, as she looked down at her fist. She sighed, as she looked out the window at her side.
"...Aleksandr. You're strong."
Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.
"If it's you, we could be lead to victory."
When she unclenched her fist, a small, purple gem sat on her palm.
"But... I'm such a coward."
The tear dripped down her face.
"I'm such a damned coward."
[The Twilight's Gemstone]
[A stone owned by Possibilities, the Twilight.]
[Upon use, you will be transported back to the beginning of the Calamity.]
[Aleksandr Konstantin Volkov]
[Level 82]
[HP: 3120(+421)]
[MP: 900(+999)]
[STR: 1023(101)]
[DEX: 999(+801)]
[INT: 1000(+333)]
[ATK: +875]
[DEF: +612]
[Siobahn Connoly]
[Level 321]
[HP: 12,235(+8,341)]
[MP: 36,982(+9,000)]
[STR: 4,999(+5,201)]
[DEX: 89,107(+8,911)]
[INT: 62,009(+3,253)]
[ATK: +812,900]
[DEF: +614,200]
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Mon, 19/06/2023 02:40 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
The Four Difficulties each had its own
Top Players.
The Four Difficulties also happened to judge how powerful you were when you came out of the labyrinth.
Hard Mode consistently spewed out the most powerful players, due to the fact that Hard Mode Players were more consistently thrown into dangerous situations, which led to their abilities growing quicker than others.
More than half survived the third wave.
Medium Mode was probably the most average of them all. The players that came out of there weren’t strong, but there were a lot of them.
Not many survived past the third wave.
Easy Mode was the easiest mode. The players that came out of this mode were usually far below average, with the strongest usually only being around the level of a Medium mode player.
One Easy Mode player survived past the third wave.
And then, there was Solo Mode. Notorious for being the most insanely difficult mode out of the four.
Only one player, Siobahn Connoly, passed it.
Yet the rankings for the top players defied all logic.
The 5th place went to Gawain Carter, a Hard Mode Player.
The 4th Place went to Ezra Cohen, a Hard Mode Player.
The 3rd place went to Alexandra Wright, a Hard Mode Player.
And yet, 2nd place went to Siobahn Connoly.
The only Solo-Mode Player.
So who was first?
Well, it had to be him.
Aleksandr Konstantin.
The Easy-Mode Immortal.
Aleksandr had always contested this, stating that Siobahn was stronger than him, but everyone who'd been around him long enough knew.
Aleksandr Konstantin was not a man to be trifled with.
Even Siobahn herself agreed that Aleksandr was most definitely the strongest man alive.
That rang true in her adamance to send him out against two S-Ranked monsters.
Aleksandr walked towards the gates, hands in his pockets, axe slung across his back.
Alexandra awoke with a jolt, in her seat by the gates, as Aleksandr tapped her on the shoulder.
"Time for you to go?"
"Yep."
Alexandra sighed.
"Alright then. Say hello to my brother for me, tell him I love him."
He stared at her for a moment.
"Alright."
Alexandra pat him on the shoulder, as he walked through the gates.
"I'll join you soon, man. Save a seat up there for me, okay?"
"...alright."
God, they were ugly.
Ugly as hell.
Aleksandr pulled the axe off his back, quickly assessing the situation.
[Monster 9 glares at you.]
The one on the right noticed him first. It was large and bulky, towering over him.
It vaguely resembled a knight, holding a giant, bulky shield.
[Monster 9]
[Defensive Type]
[Hp: 199,000,000,000,000]
Godammit.
That was too much.
[Monster 8 notices you.]
And the other one noticed Aleks.
It was shorter than the other one, resembling a sort of mage.
[Monster 8]
[Long-Range Dealer type]
[HP: 50,000,000]
Now, that was reasonable.
But he didn't have an answer to either of them.
Unfortunately, he didn't have time to react, as the knight slammed its' giant shield onto the ground, forcing him to jump away.
The barrage of attacks came at him, too quick for him to block.
Well, the solution to that was simple.
He just needed to dodge.
He ducked under the first blast of magic, before rushing forward, handaxe in tow.
He leapt up, striking down towards the knight.
[You have dealt 435 Damage]
Shit.
He punched it, as hard as possible.
[You have dealt 300 damage]
Shit.
The knight slammed the shield down.
[First hit has been nullified.]
[You took zero damage]
Aleksandr rolled out of the way, before leaping up.
He knew what he had to do.
"Stat Multiplication!"
[Stat Multiplication has been activated.]
[ATK stat has been multiplied by 8.]
[ATK Stat is now 7000.]
"Stat Squaring!"
[Stat Squaring has been activated.]
[ATK stat has been squared.]
[ATK Stat is now 49,000,000.]
Not enough.
It wasn't enough.
But he had one last trick.
"Reset!"
[One skill's cooldown has been reset.]
[Activating Stat Squaring…]
[ATK stat is now [IMMEASURABLE].]
He was an Easy Mode Player.
His stats were shit, and his items even more so.
The only thing he could rely on was his skills.
"Absolute Judgement!"
[Target's Defensive skills have been ignored.]
"DOWNWARD STRIKE!"
[Activating skill Downward Strike.]
His axe slammed down on the helmet of the knight.
And the shadowy knight split in two, falling to the ground in the form of dust.
[One-Shot Kill!]
[Monster 9 has Fallen!]
The other monster growled, launching another barrage of magic blasts.
This was the hard part.
How long had it been?
Minutes?
Hours?
[You have dealt 875 Damage to Monster 8.]
[Monster 8 has fallen!]
The mage crumbled into dust, as he panted heavily.
His armor had shattered.
His axe was broken.
He raised his head, his gaze, from the floor, at the walls of the fortress.
Smoke rose from beyond the walls of the last bastion of humanity.
He slowly made his way over to the gates, limping.
The gates were blast open.
Inside, was the most brutal scene he'd seen since the third wave.
Hundreds of people lay dead on the floor.
Near the gates, Alexandra's cold, dead body had a spear stuck through the heart.
"..."
He crouched next to her, closing her eyes.
"Idiot…"
Aleksandr stood back up, limping away.
Bodies piled up everywhere, both monster and human ones.
Siobahn's home was completely destroyed.
His eyes widened, when he approached the rubble.
Siobahn was slumped against the only standing wall of her house, her silver hair stained with blood, her armor shattered and broken.
A gooey, strange creature stood in front of her, little more than a blob.
"...you-"
That creature was an Apostle.
It turned its' gooey head towards him, the white mask on it's head-like body part having a painted smile on it.
"Why…"
He felt numb.
"Those guys… went on and on about being the few hard-mode survivors…"
The gooey creature was still.
"So why am I… the Easy Mode player… The only one left?"
He walked towards the gooey creature.
Towards Siobahn's body.
"Godammit, Siobahn! Why'd I come back from my victory to see you all dead!?"
[!&^#%? Is gazing at you.]
[You will soon die.]
"SHUT UP!"
[You have successfully resisted.]
Aleksandr's golden eyes burned.
Tears dripped down his normally unflinching features.
He leapt forward, slamming his fist into the creature.
[You have activated Vital Point Precision.]
[&@^@^? Damage.]
He grit his teeth, pulling his fist back.
"Come at me! COME AT ME, YOU GOOEY, VISCOUS PIECE OF SHIT!"
The Apostle leapt at him.
And for a moment, the world was silent.
And the Apostle retracted their jelly-like limbs, the blood gushing out of the brand new hole in Aleksandr's gut.
He coughed up blood.
"Shit."
He stumbled forward, past the creature.
"So this… is how it ends?"
[HP has reached 0.]
[Fortitude has been activated.]
[You will be kept alive for two minutes.]
"Bastards… let me die in peace…"
He slumped to the ground a few feet away from Siobahn's slumped-over body.
"Siobahn…"
In her hand, a purple gem glittered.
"You fucking bastard…"
He pulled himself across the ground, before propping himself against the wall, next to Siobahn.
He gently took the gem out of her hand.
"Siobahn, you coward…"
The tears…
They didn't stop.
"I'll make good use of this, Siobahn. I promise."
And for the first time in years, he smiled genuinely.
"Take me back, Master of Twilight."
And then, the gem exploded.
The Four Difficulties also happened to judge how powerful you were when you came out of the labyrinth.
Hard Mode consistently spewed out the most powerful players, due to the fact that Hard Mode Players were more consistently thrown into dangerous situations, which led to their abilities growing quicker than others.
More than half survived the third wave.
Medium Mode was probably the most average of them all. The players that came out of there weren’t strong, but there were a lot of them.
Not many survived past the third wave.
Easy Mode was the easiest mode. The players that came out of this mode were usually far below average, with the strongest usually only being around the level of a Medium mode player.
One Easy Mode player survived past the third wave.
And then, there was Solo Mode. Notorious for being the most insanely difficult mode out of the four.
Only one player, Siobahn Connoly, passed it.
Yet the rankings for the top players defied all logic.
The 5th place went to Gawain Carter, a Hard Mode Player.
The 4th Place went to Ezra Cohen, a Hard Mode Player.
The 3rd place went to Alexandra Wright, a Hard Mode Player.
And yet, 2nd place went to Siobahn Connoly.
The only Solo-Mode Player.
So who was first?
Well, it had to be him.
Aleksandr Konstantin.
The Easy-Mode Immortal.
Aleksandr had always contested this, stating that Siobahn was stronger than him, but everyone who'd been around him long enough knew.
Aleksandr Konstantin was not a man to be trifled with.
Even Siobahn herself agreed that Aleksandr was most definitely the strongest man alive.
That rang true in her adamance to send him out against two S-Ranked monsters.
Aleksandr walked towards the gates, hands in his pockets, axe slung across his back.
Alexandra awoke with a jolt, in her seat by the gates, as Aleksandr tapped her on the shoulder.
"Time for you to go?"
"Yep."
Alexandra sighed.
"Alright then. Say hello to my brother for me, tell him I love him."
He stared at her for a moment.
"Alright."
Alexandra pat him on the shoulder, as he walked through the gates.
"I'll join you soon, man. Save a seat up there for me, okay?"
"...alright."
God, they were ugly.
Ugly as hell.
Aleksandr pulled the axe off his back, quickly assessing the situation.
[Monster 9 glares at you.]
The one on the right noticed him first. It was large and bulky, towering over him.
It vaguely resembled a knight, holding a giant, bulky shield.
[Monster 9]
[Defensive Type]
[Hp: 199,000,000,000,000]
Godammit.
That was too much.
[Monster 8 notices you.]
And the other one noticed Aleks.
It was shorter than the other one, resembling a sort of mage.
[Monster 8]
[Long-Range Dealer type]
[HP: 50,000,000]
Now, that was reasonable.
But he didn't have an answer to either of them.
Unfortunately, he didn't have time to react, as the knight slammed its' giant shield onto the ground, forcing him to jump away.
The barrage of attacks came at him, too quick for him to block.
Well, the solution to that was simple.
He just needed to dodge.
He ducked under the first blast of magic, before rushing forward, handaxe in tow.
He leapt up, striking down towards the knight.
[You have dealt 435 Damage]
Shit.
He punched it, as hard as possible.
[You have dealt 300 damage]
Shit.
The knight slammed the shield down.
[First hit has been nullified.]
[You took zero damage]
Aleksandr rolled out of the way, before leaping up.
He knew what he had to do.
"Stat Multiplication!"
[Stat Multiplication has been activated.]
[ATK stat has been multiplied by 8.]
[ATK Stat is now 7000.]
"Stat Squaring!"
[Stat Squaring has been activated.]
[ATK stat has been squared.]
[ATK Stat is now 49,000,000.]
Not enough.
It wasn't enough.
But he had one last trick.
"Reset!"
[One skill's cooldown has been reset.]
[Activating Stat Squaring…]
[ATK stat is now [IMMEASURABLE].]
He was an Easy Mode Player.
His stats were shit, and his items even more so.
The only thing he could rely on was his skills.
"Absolute Judgement!"
[Target's Defensive skills have been ignored.]
"DOWNWARD STRIKE!"
[Activating skill Downward Strike.]
His axe slammed down on the helmet of the knight.
And the shadowy knight split in two, falling to the ground in the form of dust.
[One-Shot Kill!]
[Monster 9 has Fallen!]
The other monster growled, launching another barrage of magic blasts.
This was the hard part.
How long had it been?
Minutes?
Hours?
[You have dealt 875 Damage to Monster 8.]
[Monster 8 has fallen!]
The mage crumbled into dust, as he panted heavily.
His armor had shattered.
His axe was broken.
He raised his head, his gaze, from the floor, at the walls of the fortress.
Smoke rose from beyond the walls of the last bastion of humanity.
He slowly made his way over to the gates, limping.
The gates were blast open.
Inside, was the most brutal scene he'd seen since the third wave.
Hundreds of people lay dead on the floor.
Near the gates, Alexandra's cold, dead body had a spear stuck through the heart.
"..."
He crouched next to her, closing her eyes.
"Idiot…"
Aleksandr stood back up, limping away.
Bodies piled up everywhere, both monster and human ones.
Siobahn's home was completely destroyed.
His eyes widened, when he approached the rubble.
Siobahn was slumped against the only standing wall of her house, her silver hair stained with blood, her armor shattered and broken.
A gooey, strange creature stood in front of her, little more than a blob.
"...you-"
That creature was an Apostle.
It turned its' gooey head towards him, the white mask on it's head-like body part having a painted smile on it.
"Why…"
He felt numb.
"Those guys… went on and on about being the few hard-mode survivors…"
The gooey creature was still.
"So why am I… the Easy Mode player… The only one left?"
He walked towards the gooey creature.
Towards Siobahn's body.
"Godammit, Siobahn! Why'd I come back from my victory to see you all dead!?"
[!&^#%? Is gazing at you.]
[You will soon die.]
"SHUT UP!"
[You have successfully resisted.]
Aleksandr's golden eyes burned.
Tears dripped down his normally unflinching features.
He leapt forward, slamming his fist into the creature.
[You have activated Vital Point Precision.]
[&@^@^? Damage.]
He grit his teeth, pulling his fist back.
"Come at me! COME AT ME, YOU GOOEY, VISCOUS PIECE OF SHIT!"
The Apostle leapt at him.
And for a moment, the world was silent.
And the Apostle retracted their jelly-like limbs, the blood gushing out of the brand new hole in Aleksandr's gut.
He coughed up blood.
"Shit."
He stumbled forward, past the creature.
"So this… is how it ends?"
[HP has reached 0.]
[Fortitude has been activated.]
[You will be kept alive for two minutes.]
"Bastards… let me die in peace…"
He slumped to the ground a few feet away from Siobahn's slumped-over body.
"Siobahn…"
In her hand, a purple gem glittered.
"You fucking bastard…"
He pulled himself across the ground, before propping himself against the wall, next to Siobahn.
He gently took the gem out of her hand.
"Siobahn, you coward…"
The tears…
They didn't stop.
"I'll make good use of this, Siobahn. I promise."
And for the first time in years, he smiled genuinely.
"Take me back, Master of Twilight."
And then, the gem exploded.
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Thu, 22/06/2023 08:41 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
"I'm tired."
You're better off dead.
Lounging upon a throne, a golden-haired man muttered to himself. His hands were stained, dripping with the blood of the hundreds of innocents he'd killed.
"Was this worth it?"
Nobody'll love you again.
His golden hair, reaching his waist, wild and unruly, fell off the armrest of the throne, as he shifted, into a lazy position, lying down in the chair.
The tips of his hair touched the pools of blood around the throne.
"Logic? Are you there?"
The scientist is dead.
He laughed bitterly.
His azure eyes glanced around the… room?
No, it was more like a void.
An empty expanse of nothing but a golden throne, a field of corpses, broken memories, and one very, very lonely god.
His sword rested against the right side of his chair.
"Reason? Reason, old buddy, you there?"
The professor has been sealed away.
His smile faded.
His eyes, blue as the ocean, were empty.
He felt an ache build up inside him, one he hadn't felt in a long, long time.
"...Madness, I'll even settle for you…?"
"The madman is now living his own life.
He sighed.
He threw his head back, letting the blood dye his hair.
His old, tattered hoodie was stained with the blood of dozens.
"...Compassion? Have you left me as well?"
The brother has been crushed under the weight of your sins.
His sigh was defeated, exhausted.
"Then what's left?"
His laughter was quiet, tired.
His eyes didn't sparkle, and his mouth didn't smile.
"Who am I? What has been left for me?"
Me.
"But, who are you?"
You.
The lonely god laughed.
"What is your epithet?"
Truth.
The god's smile returned.
"Truth."
Yes?
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
The lonely god sat up, on the throne, before hopping to his feet.
His smile widened, slightly.
"It is good to know that I am not alone."
Are you leaving this place?
The god stopped in front of a body, covered with a white cloth.
He stared at it for a moment, before waving his hand over it, the body under the cloth collapsing into dust.
"...yes."
What was under that cloth?
The god turned away from the cloth, towards the sphere of broken memories.
"A body. A body of someone who was very dear to me."
A goddess?
"Yes, Truth. A goddess. The first one who taught me that goodness still exists."
The god placed his hand on the sphere of memories.
Scenes flashed before his eyes, of a cottage, high above a town.
Of happy, simple times.
Of a lecture hall, filled with students.
A wave of his hands, and the memories cracked into peieces, and floated away into the endless white expanse.
Were you happy?
The god's smile was wistful.
"I was."
What is your name?
The god laughed.
"My name?"
He looked down at his hands.
Calloused, rough and harsh.
They were the hands of a soldier.
But he wasn't a soldier.
Not anymore.
"Miyazaki Satou."
He stared out into the abyss.
"But she called me Kendo."
He broke away his gaze.
With his index finger, he drew a wide arc in the air, and a door appeared in front of him.
"Let us go, Truth. The multiverse waits for no man."
His smile was bitter, his eyes fading to crimson.
"It was fun while it lasted."
He stepped through the door, halfway.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
"See you later, Mona."
You're better off dead.
Lounging upon a throne, a golden-haired man muttered to himself. His hands were stained, dripping with the blood of the hundreds of innocents he'd killed.
"Was this worth it?"
Nobody'll love you again.
His golden hair, reaching his waist, wild and unruly, fell off the armrest of the throne, as he shifted, into a lazy position, lying down in the chair.
The tips of his hair touched the pools of blood around the throne.
"Logic? Are you there?"
The scientist is dead.
He laughed bitterly.
His azure eyes glanced around the… room?
No, it was more like a void.
An empty expanse of nothing but a golden throne, a field of corpses, broken memories, and one very, very lonely god.
His sword rested against the right side of his chair.
"Reason? Reason, old buddy, you there?"
The professor has been sealed away.
His smile faded.
His eyes, blue as the ocean, were empty.
He felt an ache build up inside him, one he hadn't felt in a long, long time.
"...Madness, I'll even settle for you…?"
"The madman is now living his own life.
He sighed.
He threw his head back, letting the blood dye his hair.
His old, tattered hoodie was stained with the blood of dozens.
"...Compassion? Have you left me as well?"
The brother has been crushed under the weight of your sins.
His sigh was defeated, exhausted.
"Then what's left?"
His laughter was quiet, tired.
His eyes didn't sparkle, and his mouth didn't smile.
"Who am I? What has been left for me?"
Me.
"But, who are you?"
You.
The lonely god laughed.
"What is your epithet?"
Truth.
The god's smile returned.
"Truth."
Yes?
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
The lonely god sat up, on the throne, before hopping to his feet.
His smile widened, slightly.
"It is good to know that I am not alone."
Are you leaving this place?
The god stopped in front of a body, covered with a white cloth.
He stared at it for a moment, before waving his hand over it, the body under the cloth collapsing into dust.
"...yes."
What was under that cloth?
The god turned away from the cloth, towards the sphere of broken memories.
"A body. A body of someone who was very dear to me."
A goddess?
"Yes, Truth. A goddess. The first one who taught me that goodness still exists."
The god placed his hand on the sphere of memories.
Scenes flashed before his eyes, of a cottage, high above a town.
Of happy, simple times.
Of a lecture hall, filled with students.
A wave of his hands, and the memories cracked into peieces, and floated away into the endless white expanse.
Were you happy?
The god's smile was wistful.
"I was."
What is your name?
The god laughed.
"My name?"
He looked down at his hands.
Calloused, rough and harsh.
They were the hands of a soldier.
But he wasn't a soldier.
Not anymore.
"Miyazaki Satou."
He stared out into the abyss.
"But she called me Kendo."
He broke away his gaze.
With his index finger, he drew a wide arc in the air, and a door appeared in front of him.
"Let us go, Truth. The multiverse waits for no man."
His smile was bitter, his eyes fading to crimson.
"It was fun while it lasted."
He stepped through the door, halfway.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
"See you later, Mona."
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 05/07/2023 07:01 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
From: [email protected]
4/10/23
At first, it was just a few fights, every now and then.
She would ask me something.
I would wave her off.
She would ask again.
I would get annoyed.
She would get annoyed in turn.
I would yell.
She would yell.
But I didn't see any of that.
No, I was too absorbed in myself.
I really miss her.
The fights became more and more frequent.
We would fight over food, money, clothes, literally anything you can think of.
Day after day, month after month, we did nothing but argue and bicker and fight.
We had our good moments, sure, but far less than we used to.
…I miss her laughter.
Things kept going, and going, until finally…
It all ended.
I still wonder, to this day, what would've happened if I had just sucked up my pride, realized that I was slowly corroding our relationship.
Could we have been happy?
Could… could we have gotten married?
Had children?
Lived a peaceful, happy life?
…
Fuck.
I don't know…
I don't know anymore.
I don't fucking know, Kendo.
I'm sure you're busy, but… man, you're my best friend.
I need your help.
-Artemis Wright
From: [email protected]
4/12/23
Hey, Artemis.
Look, man, you gotta stop moping.
Emma… Emma's dead.
There's nothing you can do about it.
And, fuck, man, I know what it feels like.
I know.
But… you have to shape up.
Stop moping.
Pick yourself up.
I want you to hear this, man.
I know how much you loved her.
I know that you have a hard time expressing your emotions.
I know it all, bud.
But it's not your fault.
I miss her too, man. She was my friend as well.
But, geez, Art.
This isn't what Emma would want.
Make her proud.
If not for her, for me.
Rooting for you,
Kendo
From: [email protected]
6/23/23
Yo, Art!
I know you've been having a tough time lately, so I wanted to check up on you.
I know it's hard, but it'll get better.
Trust me, dude.
Look, Emma was everyone's friend.
She was kind, and funny, and smart.
I know that better than anyone other than you, okay?
But… look, you can't spend the rest of your life hung up over her.
I know you guys were planning your future together.
I know you guys were inseparable for the 7 years you were dating.
But it's been 4 months since she died.
You gotta move on.
Your worried friend,
Zach.
4/10/23
At first, it was just a few fights, every now and then.
She would ask me something.
I would wave her off.
She would ask again.
I would get annoyed.
She would get annoyed in turn.
I would yell.
She would yell.
But I didn't see any of that.
No, I was too absorbed in myself.
I really miss her.
The fights became more and more frequent.
We would fight over food, money, clothes, literally anything you can think of.
Day after day, month after month, we did nothing but argue and bicker and fight.
We had our good moments, sure, but far less than we used to.
…I miss her laughter.
Things kept going, and going, until finally…
It all ended.
I still wonder, to this day, what would've happened if I had just sucked up my pride, realized that I was slowly corroding our relationship.
Could we have been happy?
Could… could we have gotten married?
Had children?
Lived a peaceful, happy life?
…
Fuck.
I don't know…
I don't know anymore.
I don't fucking know, Kendo.
I'm sure you're busy, but… man, you're my best friend.
I need your help.
-Artemis Wright
From: [email protected]
4/12/23
Hey, Artemis.
Look, man, you gotta stop moping.
Emma… Emma's dead.
There's nothing you can do about it.
And, fuck, man, I know what it feels like.
I know.
But… you have to shape up.
Stop moping.
Pick yourself up.
I want you to hear this, man.
I know how much you loved her.
I know that you have a hard time expressing your emotions.
I know it all, bud.
But it's not your fault.
I miss her too, man. She was my friend as well.
But, geez, Art.
This isn't what Emma would want.
Make her proud.
If not for her, for me.
Rooting for you,
Kendo
From: [email protected]
6/23/23
Yo, Art!
I know you've been having a tough time lately, so I wanted to check up on you.
I know it's hard, but it'll get better.
Trust me, dude.
Look, Emma was everyone's friend.
She was kind, and funny, and smart.
I know that better than anyone other than you, okay?
But… look, you can't spend the rest of your life hung up over her.
I know you guys were planning your future together.
I know you guys were inseparable for the 7 years you were dating.
But it's been 4 months since she died.
You gotta move on.
Your worried friend,
Zach.
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Sat, 08/07/2023 09:26 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
“Please… please… don’t toss me
away. I have nowhere else to go.”
The pink-haired knight begged, pleaded.
She was currently on the floor of a long-abandoned temple, bound in ropes of crimson, flickering magic.
A magic circle was drawn on the floor, the lines of stained blood glowing.
The demon lord gently set her sword beside her, on the floor.
Turquoise.
The turquoise gemstone he'd embedded in the hilt of her blade was glowing crimson.
She looked up at the demon lord, tears dripping down her cheeks.
"Please… please…"
Please… run away with me. We can leave all this behind.
The demon lord was turned away from her.
Once again, she saw his back.
"...I'm going to help you fulfill your wish, Evelyn."
Her sobs were broken, as she stared up at his back.
"Please… what are you doing to me?"
He turned around, taking a seat at the edge of the magic circle he'd drawn.
His expression was calm.
"I'm… fulfilling your wish, Evelyn. I'll give you the power to do what you've always wanted."
He pulled a ceremonial dagger out.
He pricked the tip of his thumb, letting the blood drip down onto the magic circle.
"I'll give you the power to kill me."
Her tears didn't stop.
"Please… please.. this isn't…"
He smiled.
She sobbed.
This isn't what I want.
She tried to reach out to him, but as the magic circle glowed brighter and brighter, her consciousness slipped away.
"Please… I… I…"
I love you.
Her eyes fluttered shut, as her body went limp.
The demon lord turned away from her, as her tears slowly seeped into the stone floor of the temple.
"It's been a while, Knight. You came right at teatime."
His smile was wry.
She wanted to cut his lips off, right there and then.
Her heart pounded, rapidly, in her chest.
She breathed in, and out. Slowly. Calmly.
"My name is Evelyn Roshfeld."
Her head pounded.
Her sword glowed a gentle shade of red.
This place is…
She shook her head, glaring up at the demon lord.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
She gripped her sword tighter.
"37th knight of the kingdom."
She took a step up the stairs of the crumbling temple.
A table.
The Demon Lord's smiling face.
A cup of tea.
She shook her head, removing the delusions from her mind.
This was all part of the demon lord's tricks.
She gulped.
"And I am here to slay you, Demon Lord."
There was a flicker of sadness in the Demon Lord's eyes.
She gripped her sword tighter, before rushing up the stairs, jumping up, and…
Her sword went straight through the Demon Lord's chest.
His azure hair was dusted with snow, as his crimson eyes stared into her.
His hand gripped the blade of her sword, the edges cutting into his palm.
And it all came flooding back.
The months she spent at this castle.
His smile.
His laughter.
The tea.
"...my name… is… Atlas. Atlas… Williams…"
He smiled.
"Did… I help you… Evelyn?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
She let go of her sword, letting the Demon Lord's body drop to the ground.
"No- no, no, no!"
She rushed over to his lifeless body, desperately shaking him.
"Please… no… no… This isn't…"
Her crimson tinted eyes slowly faded to azure.
Her sobs were broken, her tears dripping onto his collared shirt, now stained with blood.
"I love you… please…"
She hugged his lifeless body, sobbing into his shoulder.
"I didn't want this. You fool. You idiot! You're such an idiot!"
She sobbed, her voice raising in anger.
"You idiot! I… I don't… I just wanted to… I just wanted to be yours! That's all I… That's all I wanted…"
She slowly stood up, pulling her sword out of his body.
She raised the sword, staring at his lifeless body, through her tears.
She pointed the sword at her chest.
And before her expedition-mates could do anything, she stabbed the sword straight through her chest.
And then, Emma Brown woke up.
The pink-haired knight begged, pleaded.
She was currently on the floor of a long-abandoned temple, bound in ropes of crimson, flickering magic.
A magic circle was drawn on the floor, the lines of stained blood glowing.
The demon lord gently set her sword beside her, on the floor.
Turquoise.
The turquoise gemstone he'd embedded in the hilt of her blade was glowing crimson.
She looked up at the demon lord, tears dripping down her cheeks.
"Please… please…"
Please… run away with me. We can leave all this behind.
The demon lord was turned away from her.
Once again, she saw his back.
"...I'm going to help you fulfill your wish, Evelyn."
Her sobs were broken, as she stared up at his back.
"Please… what are you doing to me?"
He turned around, taking a seat at the edge of the magic circle he'd drawn.
His expression was calm.
"I'm… fulfilling your wish, Evelyn. I'll give you the power to do what you've always wanted."
He pulled a ceremonial dagger out.
He pricked the tip of his thumb, letting the blood drip down onto the magic circle.
"I'll give you the power to kill me."
Her tears didn't stop.
"Please… please.. this isn't…"
He smiled.
She sobbed.
This isn't what I want.
She tried to reach out to him, but as the magic circle glowed brighter and brighter, her consciousness slipped away.
"Please… I… I…"
I love you.
Her eyes fluttered shut, as her body went limp.
The demon lord turned away from her, as her tears slowly seeped into the stone floor of the temple.
"It's been a while, Knight. You came right at teatime."
His smile was wry.
She wanted to cut his lips off, right there and then.
Her heart pounded, rapidly, in her chest.
She breathed in, and out. Slowly. Calmly.
"My name is Evelyn Roshfeld."
Her head pounded.
Her sword glowed a gentle shade of red.
This place is…
She shook her head, glaring up at the demon lord.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
She gripped her sword tighter.
"37th knight of the kingdom."
She took a step up the stairs of the crumbling temple.
A table.
The Demon Lord's smiling face.
A cup of tea.
She shook her head, removing the delusions from her mind.
This was all part of the demon lord's tricks.
She gulped.
"And I am here to slay you, Demon Lord."
There was a flicker of sadness in the Demon Lord's eyes.
She gripped her sword tighter, before rushing up the stairs, jumping up, and…
Her sword went straight through the Demon Lord's chest.
His azure hair was dusted with snow, as his crimson eyes stared into her.
His hand gripped the blade of her sword, the edges cutting into his palm.
And it all came flooding back.
The months she spent at this castle.
His smile.
His laughter.
The tea.
"...my name… is… Atlas. Atlas… Williams…"
He smiled.
"Did… I help you… Evelyn?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
She let go of her sword, letting the Demon Lord's body drop to the ground.
"No- no, no, no!"
She rushed over to his lifeless body, desperately shaking him.
"Please… no… no… This isn't…"
Her crimson tinted eyes slowly faded to azure.
Her sobs were broken, her tears dripping onto his collared shirt, now stained with blood.
"I love you… please…"
She hugged his lifeless body, sobbing into his shoulder.
"I didn't want this. You fool. You idiot! You're such an idiot!"
She sobbed, her voice raising in anger.
"You idiot! I… I don't… I just wanted to… I just wanted to be yours! That's all I… That's all I wanted…"
She slowly stood up, pulling her sword out of his body.
She raised the sword, staring at his lifeless body, through her tears.
She pointed the sword at her chest.
And before her expedition-mates could do anything, she stabbed the sword straight through her chest.
And then, Emma Brown woke up.
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Sat, 08/07/2023 13:10 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
"Come to think of it, I don't know
your name."
He turned, to face the pink-haired knight.
"Everyone just calls you 'the demon lord.'"
The knight crossed her arms.
"So… What is your name, Demon Lord?"
The demon lord looked up at the trees, at the greenery around him.
The birds chirped quietly, the sun shining through the canopy of leaves above him.
And then, he looked back at the knight.
His crimson eyes, the only sign that he was even a demon at all, glinted in the sunlight.
He smiled.
"I am the demon lord."
"Nothing more."
"Nothing less."
The female knight huffed in annoyance.
"You're no fun!"
The Demon Lord laughed quietly.
He patted her on the head, smiling.
"It's time for tea, Evelyn. Let us get going."
She made a small, affirmative noise, leaning into his touch.
"Mkay!"
He laughed, ruffling her pink-tinted hair.
"What will you make for supper, Evelyn? I'll be looking forward to it."
She looked up at him.
And her smile was the brightest thing in the world.
He let her walk slightly ahead of him, watching her talk enthusiastically, rambling on and on about dinner.
She looked back at him.
"Is something wrong?"
He quietly shook his head.
"Just admiring the view."
Her face flushed red, as she walked back towards him, poking him on the nose.
"...hmph. What do you mean by that, huh?"
"Nothing, nothing."
The sound of soft laughter filled the forest.
But it wouldn't last for long.
He was standing in front of the broken, worn-down statue of the goddess.
Snow gently fell from the sky, dusting his shoulders with little flakes of ic3.
He quietly stared up at the goddess' statue.
A chill went up his spine.
He turned around, to face a group of humans.
At the lead, was her.
The pink-haired knight. His mouth opened, but the words he wanted to speak didn't come out.
What could he say at this point?
Instead, he looked away, raising his hand slightly, letting the snow fall onto his palm.
The pink-haired knight gritted her teeth.
She held out a hand.
"All forces, stand down."
Her eyes gleamed crimson.
The demon lord laughed to himself, quietly.
Her beautiful azure eyes weren't there anymore.
What a shame.
She drew her sword.
A well-sharpened sword.
An area of at least 10 metres.
A magic circle, drawn with the user's own blood.
And a gem.
A gem of a thousand years of age.
"...knight. Did you know, that turquoises symbolize victory and luck…?"
The demon king's hand dropped to his side.
"It's been a while, knight. You came right at tea time."
His smile was thin.
The knight stared up at him.
Her crimson eyes studied him, carefully.
For a moment, for a measly moment, his traitorous heart jumped.
The heart that yearned for her cooking, the heart that yearned for her laughter, her smile.
And then, she uttered those words, those terrible, terrible words.
"My name is Evelyn Roshfeld."
Is this what he really wanted?
No, this is not what he wanted.
"37th Knight of the kingdom."
But it was what she wanted.
you don't know that.
"And I am here to slay you, the demon king."
He forced himself to smile, folding his hands behind his back.
"...Good luck, Hero."
The knight rushed at him.
She raised her blade.
And it went straight down, into his chest.
A spurt of blood.
He looked down, at his torso.
A sword was stuck between his ribs.
He looked up at her, her eyes fading to azure.
He smiled, bitterly.
"...my name… is… Atlas. Atlas… Williams…"
He smiled.
"Did… I help you… Evelyn?"
His smile faded, slowly as life drained from his body.
He could hear her screaming at him, pleading with him to get up.
But it was better this way.
This way, she'd be able to go back to her own life.
The one which he had no place in.
It was better this way.
And at exactly the 12th hour of the 12th day of the 12th month, Atlas Williams died.
And Artemis Wright woke up.
(Editing Kendo here, fun fact, I wrote this part of the story before the other one.)
He turned, to face the pink-haired knight.
"Everyone just calls you 'the demon lord.'"
The knight crossed her arms.
"So… What is your name, Demon Lord?"
The demon lord looked up at the trees, at the greenery around him.
The birds chirped quietly, the sun shining through the canopy of leaves above him.
And then, he looked back at the knight.
His crimson eyes, the only sign that he was even a demon at all, glinted in the sunlight.
He smiled.
"I am the demon lord."
"Nothing more."
"Nothing less."
The female knight huffed in annoyance.
"You're no fun!"
The Demon Lord laughed quietly.
He patted her on the head, smiling.
"It's time for tea, Evelyn. Let us get going."
She made a small, affirmative noise, leaning into his touch.
"Mkay!"
He laughed, ruffling her pink-tinted hair.
"What will you make for supper, Evelyn? I'll be looking forward to it."
She looked up at him.
And her smile was the brightest thing in the world.
He let her walk slightly ahead of him, watching her talk enthusiastically, rambling on and on about dinner.
She looked back at him.
"Is something wrong?"
He quietly shook his head.
"Just admiring the view."
Her face flushed red, as she walked back towards him, poking him on the nose.
"...hmph. What do you mean by that, huh?"
"Nothing, nothing."
The sound of soft laughter filled the forest.
But it wouldn't last for long.
He was standing in front of the broken, worn-down statue of the goddess.
Snow gently fell from the sky, dusting his shoulders with little flakes of ic3.
He quietly stared up at the goddess' statue.
A chill went up his spine.
He turned around, to face a group of humans.
At the lead, was her.
The pink-haired knight. His mouth opened, but the words he wanted to speak didn't come out.
What could he say at this point?
Instead, he looked away, raising his hand slightly, letting the snow fall onto his palm.
The pink-haired knight gritted her teeth.
She held out a hand.
"All forces, stand down."
Her eyes gleamed crimson.
The demon lord laughed to himself, quietly.
Her beautiful azure eyes weren't there anymore.
What a shame.
She drew her sword.
A well-sharpened sword.
An area of at least 10 metres.
A magic circle, drawn with the user's own blood.
And a gem.
A gem of a thousand years of age.
"...knight. Did you know, that turquoises symbolize victory and luck…?"
The demon king's hand dropped to his side.
"It's been a while, knight. You came right at tea time."
His smile was thin.
The knight stared up at him.
Her crimson eyes studied him, carefully.
For a moment, for a measly moment, his traitorous heart jumped.
The heart that yearned for her cooking, the heart that yearned for her laughter, her smile.
And then, she uttered those words, those terrible, terrible words.
"My name is Evelyn Roshfeld."
Is this what he really wanted?
No, this is not what he wanted.
"37th Knight of the kingdom."
But it was what she wanted.
you don't know that.
"And I am here to slay you, the demon king."
He forced himself to smile, folding his hands behind his back.
"...Good luck, Hero."
The knight rushed at him.
She raised her blade.
And it went straight down, into his chest.
A spurt of blood.
He looked down, at his torso.
A sword was stuck between his ribs.
He looked up at her, her eyes fading to azure.
He smiled, bitterly.
"...my name… is… Atlas. Atlas… Williams…"
He smiled.
"Did… I help you… Evelyn?"
His smile faded, slowly as life drained from his body.
He could hear her screaming at him, pleading with him to get up.
But it was better this way.
This way, she'd be able to go back to her own life.
The one which he had no place in.
It was better this way.
And at exactly the 12th hour of the 12th day of the 12th month, Atlas Williams died.
And Artemis Wright woke up.
(Editing Kendo here, fun fact, I wrote this part of the story before the other one.)
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Sat, 22/07/2023 07:31 (1 Year ago)
[TW-Swearing]
[Not connected to any of my previous stories.]
Show
hidden content
“...Atlas…”
The blue-haired god glanced behind him, an enigmatic smile gracing his features.
The sea swirled around him, as he watched the goddess of war.
“Evelyn. Good afternoon.”
The goddess really was beautiful.
Short, wavy pink hair, falling just above the base of her neck, bright blue eyes, wearing a set of armor befitting a god of her caliber.
He laughed quietly.
“Why are you here? I told you already. I don’t need you anymore. You are of no use to me.”
He saw her flinch.
Oh, dear Evelyn. You’re too easy to read.
He watched her swallow thickly, his smile not wavering.
She closed her eyes, her grip tightening on her spear.
“...Atlas, God of the Sea and the Glaciers… I am here to arrest you and bring you to justice in front of the Lord of Gods, Arthur.”
Atlas laughed.
“...Are you that annoyed, Evelyn? So much so that you’d turn back to your damned father?”
He watched her little movements, the way her lips were set in a frown, the way her hands trembled, making her spear shake slightly.
“Evelyn, Evelyn, Evelyn…”
He took a deep breath.
I'm sorry.
“...who would ever like you?"
He watched the petite goddess' shock, her look of betrayal.
He watched the tears well up in her eyes.
It’s for your own good
"Look at you. Are you so upset that I rejected you? So upset that I didn't love a little girl who knows nothing but war and death?"
Tears slowly made their way down Evelyn's cheeks, her silence speaking volumes.
Atlas took a deep breath.
You’re better off without me.
"Don't be such a moron. For a goddess of wisdom, you sure are an idiot."
He let out a bout of laughter.
His gaze sharpened, as he snapped, a trident appearing in his hands.
"Well then, Evelyn. Are you not here to arrest me? Try your wors-"
He was cut off in the middle of his sentence with a hard blow to the gut.
He looked up to see Evelyn, her tears streaming down, her beautiful, sky-blue eyes narrowed in betrayal and rage.
Beautiful, even when she's crying.
Atlas swallowed his emotions, grinning.
"That's more like it, Evelyn."
kill me.
“Do your worst, kid.”
Atlas laughed quietly, his wrists bound by glowing chains.
Above him, 12 seats loomed, but only 11 people sat.
At the head, was Arthur.
His rose-gold colored hair was long, tied into a ponytail behind him. His eyes were a bright shade of blue, his mouth set in an amused smirk.
God, Atlas hated that arrogant fucking bastard.
To his right, sat Evelyn, wearing her blood-stained armor, her spear resting against her throne.
Her mouth was set in a thin line, clearly struggling to hold back the tears.
...why didn’t you kill me?
Atlas bowed his head, staring down at the ground.
“Atlas… you are a fool. I brought you in as my brother, and you just had to ruin things with your moronic little… rebellion.”
Arrogant bastard.
Arthur spat out a bout of laughter.
“You poor, poor fool.
Atlas scoffed.
“What would you know, Arthur? You don’t understand what it feels like to always be in second place.”
Arthur smirked.
“Of course, I wouldn’t, brother. Because I’m not weak, like you.”
The lord of gods turned away, to his right.
“Prophet, if you will.”
Caelus stepped up, his eyes covered by his messy brown bangs.
His voice was quiet, as he seemed to look down at Atlas’ bound form.
“I’m sorry, Atlas.”
Atlas stared up at the god, before laughing, bowing his head.
“Even you, Caelus.”
When he looked back up, Atlas saw... Her.
Evelyn was staring down at him, tears dripping down her cheeks.
Atlas stared at her for a moment, as the magic circle beneath his feet started to glow.
He smiled.
…This is all for your own good.
The light grew brighter and brighter… before…
It disappeared.
He felt a stabbing pain through his chest, an excruciating pain.
He heard the sobs of Evelyn, he saw the sword through his chest.
He heard her cries.
"Atlas!"
As he fell to the ground, he heard Aleksandr’s outraged cry.
“Exile! How dare you interrupt the matters of the true gods?”
He heard laughter.
No.
It… couldn’t be…
He struggled to lift his head, life slowly draining out of him.
A tall, thin man crouched over him, smiling. His long, golden-brown hair was tied into a ponytail, his eyes twinkling in mischief and mirth. He wore a simple robe, a laurel wreath lopsidedly placed upon his head.
“...y…ou…”
The Exile laughed.
“Aren’t I a dear, Atlas? Instead of being condemned to years of punishment in my realm, I gave you a much better fate.”
Out of the corner of Atlas’ slowly blurring vision, he could see Evelyn rushing down from her throne, towards him.
Why are you crying for me, Evelyn?
The Exile forced Atlas to focus back on him, the Twilight Breaker’s smile sadistic.
“Stop looking at your lovely goddess of war and focus on me, old friend.”
The exiled god’s smile faded.
“I’m bored, old friend. So here’s the deal. You live a singular mortal life, and if you rack up enough achievements… well…”
The Exile laughed.
“I’ll bring you back.”
He heard Evelyn getting closer, the throne room in pandemonium.
Exile laughed.
“...good luck, Atlas~!”
Evelyn broke through the barrier created by Exile.
“!%##@! How dare you!”
Atlas’s vision faded slowly, his smile thin.
He heard Exile step to the side, Evelyn rushing over.
“No! Goddamnit! You fucking idiot! You’re not supposed to die yet!”
His vision was blurry, but she could see Evelyn’s tears drip down onto his robes, her hands clutching him tightly.
“You were just… you were just supposed to get a punishment, not fucking die…!”
But even her voice was slowly fading.
Atlas let out a broken laugh.
“...s…orr…y… Evelyn…”
He closed his eyes.
The final thing he heard was The Exile’s voice.
“See you in two thousand years, old friend~!”
And everything went dark.
They called him the Human Catastrophe.
His terrible luck spread to everyone and everything around him, which made his introverted, shy personality no surprise.
He was gloomy, dark, and ostracized from society.
His life was miserable.
But he had one true friend, one person who brightened up his life.
"Hey~! Artemis~!"
He looked back, to see a peppy, energetic, pink-haired girl, bounding up to him.
That was… Emma.
His best(and only) friend.
She was a transfer student who'd moved here just a few days ago. She'd been supremely popular, due to her good looks, but had decided to stay around him… for some reason.
Through some… wacky misadventures, Artemis found out that Emma was actually his new neighbor.
She was incredible. She was peppy, kind, cheerful… all the things he wasn't.
But she said the oddest things sometimes.
Whenever she got worked up or annoyed with him, she kept saying something about…
2000 years.
But… he didn't really know what that meant.
…and…
…god his head hurt.
Don’t…
…what was…
Artemis looked up at the sky, blinking a few times.
“...who…”
He reached out to touch something in the sky, but jumped back, startled by Emma’s sudden call out to him.
“Hey, Artemis~! Are you coming or not?”
Artemis shook his head quietly, his messy azure hair flying with the sudden movement.
He looked back at Emma, walking up to her, his hands in his pockets.
“Y-yeah! I-I’m coming!”
And the attention of the Exile disappeared.
The blue-haired god glanced behind him, an enigmatic smile gracing his features.
The sea swirled around him, as he watched the goddess of war.
“Evelyn. Good afternoon.”
The goddess really was beautiful.
Short, wavy pink hair, falling just above the base of her neck, bright blue eyes, wearing a set of armor befitting a god of her caliber.
He laughed quietly.
“Why are you here? I told you already. I don’t need you anymore. You are of no use to me.”
He saw her flinch.
Oh, dear Evelyn. You’re too easy to read.
He watched her swallow thickly, his smile not wavering.
She closed her eyes, her grip tightening on her spear.
“...Atlas, God of the Sea and the Glaciers… I am here to arrest you and bring you to justice in front of the Lord of Gods, Arthur.”
Atlas laughed.
“...Are you that annoyed, Evelyn? So much so that you’d turn back to your damned father?”
He watched her little movements, the way her lips were set in a frown, the way her hands trembled, making her spear shake slightly.
“Evelyn, Evelyn, Evelyn…”
He took a deep breath.
I'm sorry.
“...who would ever like you?"
He watched the petite goddess' shock, her look of betrayal.
He watched the tears well up in her eyes.
It’s for your own good
"Look at you. Are you so upset that I rejected you? So upset that I didn't love a little girl who knows nothing but war and death?"
Tears slowly made their way down Evelyn's cheeks, her silence speaking volumes.
Atlas took a deep breath.
You’re better off without me.
"Don't be such a moron. For a goddess of wisdom, you sure are an idiot."
He let out a bout of laughter.
His gaze sharpened, as he snapped, a trident appearing in his hands.
"Well then, Evelyn. Are you not here to arrest me? Try your wors-"
He was cut off in the middle of his sentence with a hard blow to the gut.
He looked up to see Evelyn, her tears streaming down, her beautiful, sky-blue eyes narrowed in betrayal and rage.
Beautiful, even when she's crying.
Atlas swallowed his emotions, grinning.
"That's more like it, Evelyn."
kill me.
“Do your worst, kid.”
Atlas laughed quietly, his wrists bound by glowing chains.
Above him, 12 seats loomed, but only 11 people sat.
At the head, was Arthur.
His rose-gold colored hair was long, tied into a ponytail behind him. His eyes were a bright shade of blue, his mouth set in an amused smirk.
God, Atlas hated that arrogant fucking bastard.
To his right, sat Evelyn, wearing her blood-stained armor, her spear resting against her throne.
Her mouth was set in a thin line, clearly struggling to hold back the tears.
...why didn’t you kill me?
Atlas bowed his head, staring down at the ground.
“Atlas… you are a fool. I brought you in as my brother, and you just had to ruin things with your moronic little… rebellion.”
Arrogant bastard.
Arthur spat out a bout of laughter.
“You poor, poor fool.
Atlas scoffed.
“What would you know, Arthur? You don’t understand what it feels like to always be in second place.”
Arthur smirked.
“Of course, I wouldn’t, brother. Because I’m not weak, like you.”
The lord of gods turned away, to his right.
“Prophet, if you will.”
Caelus stepped up, his eyes covered by his messy brown bangs.
His voice was quiet, as he seemed to look down at Atlas’ bound form.
“I’m sorry, Atlas.”
Atlas stared up at the god, before laughing, bowing his head.
“Even you, Caelus.”
When he looked back up, Atlas saw... Her.
Evelyn was staring down at him, tears dripping down her cheeks.
Atlas stared at her for a moment, as the magic circle beneath his feet started to glow.
He smiled.
…This is all for your own good.
The light grew brighter and brighter… before…
It disappeared.
He felt a stabbing pain through his chest, an excruciating pain.
He heard the sobs of Evelyn, he saw the sword through his chest.
He heard her cries.
"Atlas!"
As he fell to the ground, he heard Aleksandr’s outraged cry.
“Exile! How dare you interrupt the matters of the true gods?”
He heard laughter.
No.
It… couldn’t be…
He struggled to lift his head, life slowly draining out of him.
A tall, thin man crouched over him, smiling. His long, golden-brown hair was tied into a ponytail, his eyes twinkling in mischief and mirth. He wore a simple robe, a laurel wreath lopsidedly placed upon his head.
“...y…ou…”
The Exile laughed.
“Aren’t I a dear, Atlas? Instead of being condemned to years of punishment in my realm, I gave you a much better fate.”
Out of the corner of Atlas’ slowly blurring vision, he could see Evelyn rushing down from her throne, towards him.
Why are you crying for me, Evelyn?
The Exile forced Atlas to focus back on him, the Twilight Breaker’s smile sadistic.
“Stop looking at your lovely goddess of war and focus on me, old friend.”
The exiled god’s smile faded.
“I’m bored, old friend. So here’s the deal. You live a singular mortal life, and if you rack up enough achievements… well…”
The Exile laughed.
“I’ll bring you back.”
He heard Evelyn getting closer, the throne room in pandemonium.
Exile laughed.
“...good luck, Atlas~!”
Evelyn broke through the barrier created by Exile.
“!%##@! How dare you!”
Atlas’s vision faded slowly, his smile thin.
He heard Exile step to the side, Evelyn rushing over.
“No! Goddamnit! You fucking idiot! You’re not supposed to die yet!”
His vision was blurry, but she could see Evelyn’s tears drip down onto his robes, her hands clutching him tightly.
“You were just… you were just supposed to get a punishment, not fucking die…!”
But even her voice was slowly fading.
Atlas let out a broken laugh.
“...s…orr…y… Evelyn…”
He closed his eyes.
The final thing he heard was The Exile’s voice.
“See you in two thousand years, old friend~!”
And everything went dark.
They called him the Human Catastrophe.
His terrible luck spread to everyone and everything around him, which made his introverted, shy personality no surprise.
He was gloomy, dark, and ostracized from society.
His life was miserable.
But he had one true friend, one person who brightened up his life.
"Hey~! Artemis~!"
He looked back, to see a peppy, energetic, pink-haired girl, bounding up to him.
That was… Emma.
His best(and only) friend.
She was a transfer student who'd moved here just a few days ago. She'd been supremely popular, due to her good looks, but had decided to stay around him… for some reason.
Through some… wacky misadventures, Artemis found out that Emma was actually his new neighbor.
She was incredible. She was peppy, kind, cheerful… all the things he wasn't.
But she said the oddest things sometimes.
Whenever she got worked up or annoyed with him, she kept saying something about…
2000 years.
But… he didn't really know what that meant.
…and…
…god his head hurt.
Don’t…
…what was…
Artemis looked up at the sky, blinking a few times.
“...who…”
He reached out to touch something in the sky, but jumped back, startled by Emma’s sudden call out to him.
“Hey, Artemis~! Are you coming or not?”
Artemis shook his head quietly, his messy azure hair flying with the sudden movement.
He looked back at Emma, walking up to her, his hands in his pockets.
“Y-yeah! I-I’m coming!”
And the attention of the Exile disappeared.
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 23/08/2023 12:53 (1 Year ago)
Show
hidden content
Brook stood up next to him.
“Okay, no, wait. Stop. You’re the only one that can help. No one gets all this moronic math-y shit like you. You’re actually smart, or something-”
Her expression soured, as she caught herself.
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
Leo’s cocky grin widened.
“Smart.”
Brook didn’t answer, crossing her arms.
He took her silence as approval to continue.
“You called me smart!”
Leo let out a laugh.
“After 6 years, you finally admit it!”
“Ajax, if you don’t shut the fuck up, I swear to Odin I will never help you with magic theory again.”
Leo rolled his eyes, a cheery grin across his face, leaning over the table.
Brook’s breath hitched, at the sudden closeness.
Her mind wandered for a split second, her multi-colored eyes dropping to his lips, when his voice knocked her out of her stupor.
“Fine. Let’s finish this, Hollis.”
His gleeful chuckle was incredible.
“Oh, I’m gonna tell the group all about this~!”
“Okay, no, wait. Stop. You’re the only one that can help. No one gets all this moronic math-y shit like you. You’re actually smart, or something-”
Her expression soured, as she caught herself.
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
Leo’s cocky grin widened.
“Smart.”
Brook didn’t answer, crossing her arms.
He took her silence as approval to continue.
“You called me smart!”
Leo let out a laugh.
“After 6 years, you finally admit it!”
“Ajax, if you don’t shut the fuck up, I swear to Odin I will never help you with magic theory again.”
Leo rolled his eyes, a cheery grin across his face, leaning over the table.
Brook’s breath hitched, at the sudden closeness.
Her mind wandered for a split second, her multi-colored eyes dropping to his lips, when his voice knocked her out of her stupor.
“Fine. Let’s finish this, Hollis.”
His gleeful chuckle was incredible.
“Oh, I’m gonna tell the group all about this~!”
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:17 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
The blonde man's back slammed against
the bookshelf, the green haired woman's cold fury radiating with
each fist slamming into his face(The left hand hurt more. The ring
on her finger hurt like hell.)
“I only ever wanted-” Caitlin Day’s venomous words were accentuated with another punch to the face. “-ONE goddamn thing!”
She tightened his grip on the collar of his shirt, as blood trickled from his broken nose.
“And you had to rip it away from me. It’s ALWAYS like this! But this is the last time, Alexei.”
The blonde man let out a choked laugh.
“Did you get to say goodbye, Caitlin?”
She snapped.
She unsheathed her dagger, letting him go, watching as the billionaire slid to the ground, grinning devilishly.
There was not the wide smile signature of the Hound of Volkov. No, no, nothing like that.
Just pure, and utter malice in her scowl.
She tapped the tip of her knife, pricking her finger. The tiniest bead of blood fell, which seemed to satisfy her.
She stabbed it into the old, blonde man’s shoulder, hearing him cry out in pain.
“You disgust me.”
He chuckled darkly.
“You should disgust yourself. You didn’t have to kill her, Caitlin! It;s your faul-”
He choked on his own blood when she cleanly cut his vocal cords, a simple flick of her wrist doing his sputtering, blubbering, PATHETIC words in.
“Shut up.”
Her voice was deathly calm.
Until it wasn’t.
“SHUT UP!”
She slammed the knife into his chest, stabbing it into him.
Over.
And over.
And over.
And when the haze cleared from her mind, she stood up, the front of her clothes sprayed with blood, her hands dripping with it.
She pulled the knife out of his chest, scowling.
“...Disgusting.”
She spat on the man’s cold, dead body, before turning away.
She stopped beside the window, gazing out into the bright rising sun.
“...Oh, gods.”
She buried her face in her hands, her elbows resting on the windowsill, as Caitlin Day finally allowed herself to cry.
She finally let herself cry. For the first time in a literal decade, she cried.
Her body wracked with sobs, as she pulled back, gazing at the silver ring on her finger.
“...Avery…”
She whispered the name, bitter on her tongue.
“I’m… so sorry.”
–
Caitlin Day stared up at the purple haired police officer standing above her, whose face was weary with as much grief as her own.
A broken golden ring was on her left hand, not too dissimilar from Caitlins, which made her chuckle slightly. That was the face of someone with nothing to lose- or one that had already lost it all.
The woman raised her gun, and Caitlin just closed her eyes.
“...officer Seraphina Weiss, I take it?”
She chuckled wearily.
“Avery talked about you constantl-”
Bang.
Caitlin hissed in pain as the bullet ripped through her shoulder.
The purple haired woman’s hands shook in rage, but there was a glint of pure hatred in her eyes.
Caitlin laughed breathlessly.
“I suppose I- fuck- deserved that.”
She closed her eyes once more.
Seraphina took in a shaky breath.
“You have no right to say her name.”
“Perhaps I don't. But what will you do about it?”
Caitlin smiled.
“Avery Blanchett.”
Bang.
Another bullet found itself lodged in the assassin, this time in her other shoulder.
“Avery Blanchett.”
Bang.
The name felt heavy and bitter on her tongue, leaving a bad taste, the taste of regret and sorrow.
“Avery Blanchett.”
Bang.
Bang.
The officer shot both her legs. Caitlin kept her eyes closed tightly.
“My, officer. You’re shooting everything but my vitals. How amusing.”
She chuckled, a sorrowful sound.
“Shall I say her name once more? The name of my beloved, the name of your best friend?”
She threw her head back, laughing.
“Such a beautiful name. Fit for such a beautiful lady. Such a pretty flower, crushed underfoot.”
Caitlin opened her eyes just a tad, to look at Seraphina.
“You know it.”
“Avery Blanch-”
And a bullet found itself lodged in her skull, and that was that.
Caitlin Day died.
And a part of Seraphina Weiss did as well.
The final part that mattered.
“I only ever wanted-” Caitlin Day’s venomous words were accentuated with another punch to the face. “-ONE goddamn thing!”
She tightened his grip on the collar of his shirt, as blood trickled from his broken nose.
“And you had to rip it away from me. It’s ALWAYS like this! But this is the last time, Alexei.”
The blonde man let out a choked laugh.
“Did you get to say goodbye, Caitlin?”
She snapped.
She unsheathed her dagger, letting him go, watching as the billionaire slid to the ground, grinning devilishly.
There was not the wide smile signature of the Hound of Volkov. No, no, nothing like that.
Just pure, and utter malice in her scowl.
She tapped the tip of her knife, pricking her finger. The tiniest bead of blood fell, which seemed to satisfy her.
She stabbed it into the old, blonde man’s shoulder, hearing him cry out in pain.
“You disgust me.”
He chuckled darkly.
“You should disgust yourself. You didn’t have to kill her, Caitlin! It;s your faul-”
He choked on his own blood when she cleanly cut his vocal cords, a simple flick of her wrist doing his sputtering, blubbering, PATHETIC words in.
“Shut up.”
Her voice was deathly calm.
Until it wasn’t.
“SHUT UP!”
She slammed the knife into his chest, stabbing it into him.
Over.
And over.
And over.
And when the haze cleared from her mind, she stood up, the front of her clothes sprayed with blood, her hands dripping with it.
She pulled the knife out of his chest, scowling.
“...Disgusting.”
She spat on the man’s cold, dead body, before turning away.
She stopped beside the window, gazing out into the bright rising sun.
“...Oh, gods.”
She buried her face in her hands, her elbows resting on the windowsill, as Caitlin Day finally allowed herself to cry.
She finally let herself cry. For the first time in a literal decade, she cried.
Her body wracked with sobs, as she pulled back, gazing at the silver ring on her finger.
“...Avery…”
She whispered the name, bitter on her tongue.
“I’m… so sorry.”
–
Caitlin Day stared up at the purple haired police officer standing above her, whose face was weary with as much grief as her own.
A broken golden ring was on her left hand, not too dissimilar from Caitlins, which made her chuckle slightly. That was the face of someone with nothing to lose- or one that had already lost it all.
The woman raised her gun, and Caitlin just closed her eyes.
“...officer Seraphina Weiss, I take it?”
She chuckled wearily.
“Avery talked about you constantl-”
Bang.
Caitlin hissed in pain as the bullet ripped through her shoulder.
The purple haired woman’s hands shook in rage, but there was a glint of pure hatred in her eyes.
Caitlin laughed breathlessly.
“I suppose I- fuck- deserved that.”
She closed her eyes once more.
Seraphina took in a shaky breath.
“You have no right to say her name.”
“Perhaps I don't. But what will you do about it?”
Caitlin smiled.
“Avery Blanchett.”
Bang.
Another bullet found itself lodged in the assassin, this time in her other shoulder.
“Avery Blanchett.”
Bang.
The name felt heavy and bitter on her tongue, leaving a bad taste, the taste of regret and sorrow.
“Avery Blanchett.”
Bang.
Bang.
The officer shot both her legs. Caitlin kept her eyes closed tightly.
“My, officer. You’re shooting everything but my vitals. How amusing.”
She chuckled, a sorrowful sound.
“Shall I say her name once more? The name of my beloved, the name of your best friend?”
She threw her head back, laughing.
“Such a beautiful name. Fit for such a beautiful lady. Such a pretty flower, crushed underfoot.”
Caitlin opened her eyes just a tad, to look at Seraphina.
“You know it.”
“Avery Blanch-”
And a bullet found itself lodged in her skull, and that was that.
Caitlin Day died.
And a part of Seraphina Weiss did as well.
The final part that mattered.
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:19 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
“Anatevka, scalpel.”
“Yes, doctor.”
He took the scalpel from his assistant, taking a deep breath inwards.
He pressed the blade to the human’s head.
Methodically, he worked.
Not for the faint of heart, it was. Every so often, he would call out to his assistant, for tools or just to watch the procedure properly.
Anatevka was a talented girl. A shame.
No matter. These were valuable goods.
Every cut, every incision on the human’s body was meticulously planned beforehand. Dismembering the body was the easy part, though.
“Anatevka, Extractor.”
“Yes, doctor.”
No time for words. He took the device, placing the bloodied heart of the human within the machine, turning up the dials.
Slowly, into a vial attached to the machine, an orange, viscous liquid dripped into it. When full, he nodded quietly.
“Good. Bravery.”
He set the extractor aside. He would have to clean that later. Human parts were ever so disgusting.
He glanced back at Anatevka. The blonde-haired girl was an interesting case. A genius in her own right, he supposed- though nowhere near his own level, seeing as the girl spent all her time with that damned fool of a sister he had.
He sighed.
He turned away, the vial of human soul in his hand.
“Clean this up, Anatevka.”
He muttered. He didn’t wait for a response, briskly walking out the dark room.
He scrubbed his hands, for a full minute or two.
Then, he turned off the water, walking quietly down the hallways of the laboratory.
It was quiet, deathly so.
He was alone, and he relished in the peace.
He didn’t want to be bothered.
He entered his office quietly, placing the vial carefully on his little stand, where four other vials sat of various colors.
He stared at the vials, taking a seat on the chair, tossing his bloodied lab coat to the side.
He grabbed a cup from the shelf behind him, placing it on the desk.
He took a vial from the table, the orange one, and poured it in. Then the purple one. Then the light blue one. He left the green one and the dark blue one alone, a note on them.
For Lydia.
He gripped tha handle of the mug, downing its contents in one gulp.
His eyes flashed red, before returning to their normal blue.
A message on his phone.
He grumbled softly.
Annoyance - bro where r u
He didn’t bother to answer.
He glanced up at the knocking fo the door.
Anatevka stood there, hands by her sides, like the rather introverted girl she seemed to be.
How someone like his sister fell for this girl astounded him.
“Doctor?”
“Yes, Anatevka?”
He grumbled, turning to her, wiping the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand.
“...Are you going home today, Doctor?
There was an indiscernible negative emotion behind those blue eyes of hers.
The doctor shrugged.
“I suppose I will. Why? Did my sister send you to check in?”
Anatevka lowered her head slightly, though he noted the way her hands curled into fists.
“...yes… sir.”
She spat out that word with a bit of venom.
He supposed he could let that one slide.
He set his mug down, mouth kept in its’ thin line.
“Well, tell her to have dinner ready. I’ll be there soon.”
He calmly smiled, watching the slight shaking of her hand, as she reached for the door. When she was just a step out of the door, the doctor just smiled, calling out for her.
She flinched.
“Oh, and, Anatevka. Don’t even think about telling her what we do here. Per usual, okay?”
The doctor smiled.
She kept her gaze on the ground, hands shaking slightly.
“I’m not above killing family, Ana…. ah, that’s not what she calls you, is it? What was it? Moon?”
She flinched once more.
He chuckled.
“Scurry along now. Go back home to your… girlfriend.”
Not his sister. He didn’t claim a runt such as her.
He chuckled, watching Anatevka scurry away, out the door.
Kendo Satou reclined in his chair, plucking the green vial off his desk.
“Lydia… That… runt. How annoying.”
He chuckled.
“Kindness. What a joke.”
“Yes, doctor.”
He took the scalpel from his assistant, taking a deep breath inwards.
He pressed the blade to the human’s head.
Methodically, he worked.
Not for the faint of heart, it was. Every so often, he would call out to his assistant, for tools or just to watch the procedure properly.
Anatevka was a talented girl. A shame.
No matter. These were valuable goods.
Every cut, every incision on the human’s body was meticulously planned beforehand. Dismembering the body was the easy part, though.
“Anatevka, Extractor.”
“Yes, doctor.”
No time for words. He took the device, placing the bloodied heart of the human within the machine, turning up the dials.
Slowly, into a vial attached to the machine, an orange, viscous liquid dripped into it. When full, he nodded quietly.
“Good. Bravery.”
He set the extractor aside. He would have to clean that later. Human parts were ever so disgusting.
He glanced back at Anatevka. The blonde-haired girl was an interesting case. A genius in her own right, he supposed- though nowhere near his own level, seeing as the girl spent all her time with that damned fool of a sister he had.
He sighed.
He turned away, the vial of human soul in his hand.
“Clean this up, Anatevka.”
He muttered. He didn’t wait for a response, briskly walking out the dark room.
He scrubbed his hands, for a full minute or two.
Then, he turned off the water, walking quietly down the hallways of the laboratory.
It was quiet, deathly so.
He was alone, and he relished in the peace.
He didn’t want to be bothered.
He entered his office quietly, placing the vial carefully on his little stand, where four other vials sat of various colors.
He stared at the vials, taking a seat on the chair, tossing his bloodied lab coat to the side.
He grabbed a cup from the shelf behind him, placing it on the desk.
He took a vial from the table, the orange one, and poured it in. Then the purple one. Then the light blue one. He left the green one and the dark blue one alone, a note on them.
For Lydia.
He gripped tha handle of the mug, downing its contents in one gulp.
His eyes flashed red, before returning to their normal blue.
A message on his phone.
He grumbled softly.
Annoyance - bro where r u
He didn’t bother to answer.
He glanced up at the knocking fo the door.
Anatevka stood there, hands by her sides, like the rather introverted girl she seemed to be.
How someone like his sister fell for this girl astounded him.
“Doctor?”
“Yes, Anatevka?”
He grumbled, turning to her, wiping the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand.
“...Are you going home today, Doctor?
There was an indiscernible negative emotion behind those blue eyes of hers.
The doctor shrugged.
“I suppose I will. Why? Did my sister send you to check in?”
Anatevka lowered her head slightly, though he noted the way her hands curled into fists.
“...yes… sir.”
She spat out that word with a bit of venom.
He supposed he could let that one slide.
He set his mug down, mouth kept in its’ thin line.
“Well, tell her to have dinner ready. I’ll be there soon.”
He calmly smiled, watching the slight shaking of her hand, as she reached for the door. When she was just a step out of the door, the doctor just smiled, calling out for her.
She flinched.
“Oh, and, Anatevka. Don’t even think about telling her what we do here. Per usual, okay?”
The doctor smiled.
She kept her gaze on the ground, hands shaking slightly.
“I’m not above killing family, Ana…. ah, that’s not what she calls you, is it? What was it? Moon?”
She flinched once more.
He chuckled.
“Scurry along now. Go back home to your… girlfriend.”
Not his sister. He didn’t claim a runt such as her.
He chuckled, watching Anatevka scurry away, out the door.
Kendo Satou reclined in his chair, plucking the green vial off his desk.
“Lydia… That… runt. How annoying.”
He chuckled.
“Kindness. What a joke.”
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:21 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
Echoes of gunshots rattled through the
alleyway.
A masked man stood above a corpse, a pistol in hand, breathing heavily.
Specks of blood coated his hands and his hoodie.
His bright blue eyes stared down at the body, a wide, unhinged smile across his face. It was a panicked, manic smile.
And so was the laughter that came after.
A hand over one eye, he tilted his head back and laughed, a pained, choked sound.
And then he fell back into place, like an automaton.
He threw his gun onto the cold, hard pavement, kicking the body angrily.
“Fuck! Fucking- Fuck it!”
He swayed in place for a moment, before turning around, and bolting away.
–
He quietly stepped into the apartment, hands shaking.
He’d long since wiped off the blood, wiped off the evidence of his crime.
Just the way his father told him.
But he couldn’t hide the shaking. He couldn’t hide the fear.
If his father had been there, he probably would’ve critiqued his fear.
He took a shaky step into the house, slipping his shoes off.
A quiet voice sounded out.
“...Aleksandr?”
He froze.
“...Aleks, is that you?”
He took a deep breath in, then a deep breath out.
Bounding back into his persona, Aleksandr did a little twirl as he reached the end of the hallway, smiling brightly.
“Siobahn! Hey, what’re you doing up so late, huh?”
He chuckled, grinning widely, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She stared up at him from her little seat on the couch, knees to her chest, silver hair flowing freely to her neck.
Green eyes stared into blue, hers unblinking, his blinking far too much.
“...Aleksandr…”
She murmured.
He titled his head, keeping his smile wide and tight.
No room for mistakes.
“What's up, Siobahn?”
“Where were you?”
He froze for a split second, before he laughed cheerfully, moving his hand from her shoulder to her head ruffling her hair.
“Ah, I went for a late night walk. Why’re you up? Did I wake you up? Didn’t you go to bed a while back?”
She silently stared up at him, before looking away, out the window.
“...”
He stared at her for a moment, the awkward smile on his face slowly disappearing as the silence grew heavier.
“...Siobahn-”
“...Aleksandr, do you care about me?”
The question came out of nowhere, the silver-haired girl staring pensively out the window.
He stared at her, before chuckling quietly.
“...care about you? Of course I do! O-of course! You’re…”
He paused.
“...You’re my best friend.”
They fell into silence once more.
He slowly lifted his hand from her shoulder.
His smile fell.
“Wha-”
“Your hand is shaking, Aleksandr.”
He stared down at his hand.
“...ah. So it is.”
“...Do you want to tell me why?”
Her beautiful green eyes kept staring out the window.
And he felt his nerves worsen.
He swallowed his fear, smiling once more.
“Oh, I just… heard some gunshots around the neighborhood as I was walk-”
“There’s blood on your hoodie.”
She finally looked back at him, an unfamiliar expression over her features.
Fear.
The slight furrowing of her eyebrows, the narrowing of her eyes.
He knew all her expressions.
Not this one.
He chuckled.
“...What are you implying, Siobahn-”
“You’re a murderer.”
She didn’t ask.
She said it. Stated it.
She knew.
And his heart sank.
“...You kill people…”
She stared up at him, waiting, BEGGING for a rebuttal.
He opened his mouth.
And the words that came out were pathetic.
“Siobahn, please. Please. You don’t… just… forget this happened! Please!”
Begging.
How disgusting.
Volkovs didn’t beg.
But he dropped to his knees, hand on her shoulder.
She flinched.
“...don’t… don’t touch me…”
He looked up at her, a manic smile across his handsome features.
“Come on, Siobahn Please. Just… trust me. This once. Don’t say anything… please. Please. He might-”
“...Aleks, I’m moving out.”
He stopped.
The room went silent, and she looked down at him expressionlessly.
“...Tomorrow morning. A friend is getting me-”
“SIOBAHN!”
He raised his voice.
And she looked shocked.
It hurt.
He took a deep breath in, then out.
“...I-i’m sorry for raising my voice- But- Please. You need to understand- There’s a reaso-”
“...Aleksandr Volkov. Please. Just… cut the bullshit.”
He stared back at her, a pained smile on his face.
“...Okay.”
“...Where?”
“...”
He just stared back at her.
She sighed quietly.
“...Aleksandr. Where?”
“...corner of Charleston and Rosenberg.”
She slowly got up, brushing past him.
“...I’m calling the police in the morning. Do you understand?”
“...”
“Do you understand?”
She repeated once more.
He just stared at the spot where she had been a moment prior.
“Yes.”
He laughed quietly.
“...Yes, I do.”
–
A masked man stood above a corpse, a pistol in hand, breathing heavily.
Specks of blood coated his hands and his hoodie.
His bright blue eyes stared down at the body, a wide, unhinged smile across his face. It was a panicked, manic smile.
And so was the laughter that came after.
A hand over one eye, he tilted his head back and laughed, a pained, choked sound.
And then he fell back into place, like an automaton.
He threw his gun onto the cold, hard pavement, kicking the body angrily.
“Fuck! Fucking- Fuck it!”
He swayed in place for a moment, before turning around, and bolting away.
–
He quietly stepped into the apartment, hands shaking.
He’d long since wiped off the blood, wiped off the evidence of his crime.
Just the way his father told him.
But he couldn’t hide the shaking. He couldn’t hide the fear.
If his father had been there, he probably would’ve critiqued his fear.
He took a shaky step into the house, slipping his shoes off.
A quiet voice sounded out.
“...Aleksandr?”
He froze.
“...Aleks, is that you?”
He took a deep breath in, then a deep breath out.
Bounding back into his persona, Aleksandr did a little twirl as he reached the end of the hallway, smiling brightly.
“Siobahn! Hey, what’re you doing up so late, huh?”
He chuckled, grinning widely, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She stared up at him from her little seat on the couch, knees to her chest, silver hair flowing freely to her neck.
Green eyes stared into blue, hers unblinking, his blinking far too much.
“...Aleksandr…”
She murmured.
He titled his head, keeping his smile wide and tight.
No room for mistakes.
“What's up, Siobahn?”
“Where were you?”
He froze for a split second, before he laughed cheerfully, moving his hand from her shoulder to her head ruffling her hair.
“Ah, I went for a late night walk. Why’re you up? Did I wake you up? Didn’t you go to bed a while back?”
She silently stared up at him, before looking away, out the window.
“...”
He stared at her for a moment, the awkward smile on his face slowly disappearing as the silence grew heavier.
“...Siobahn-”
“...Aleksandr, do you care about me?”
The question came out of nowhere, the silver-haired girl staring pensively out the window.
He stared at her, before chuckling quietly.
“...care about you? Of course I do! O-of course! You’re…”
He paused.
“...You’re my best friend.”
They fell into silence once more.
He slowly lifted his hand from her shoulder.
His smile fell.
“Wha-”
“Your hand is shaking, Aleksandr.”
He stared down at his hand.
“...ah. So it is.”
“...Do you want to tell me why?”
Her beautiful green eyes kept staring out the window.
And he felt his nerves worsen.
He swallowed his fear, smiling once more.
“Oh, I just… heard some gunshots around the neighborhood as I was walk-”
“There’s blood on your hoodie.”
She finally looked back at him, an unfamiliar expression over her features.
Fear.
The slight furrowing of her eyebrows, the narrowing of her eyes.
He knew all her expressions.
Not this one.
He chuckled.
“...What are you implying, Siobahn-”
“You’re a murderer.”
She didn’t ask.
She said it. Stated it.
She knew.
And his heart sank.
“...You kill people…”
She stared up at him, waiting, BEGGING for a rebuttal.
He opened his mouth.
And the words that came out were pathetic.
“Siobahn, please. Please. You don’t… just… forget this happened! Please!”
Begging.
How disgusting.
Volkovs didn’t beg.
But he dropped to his knees, hand on her shoulder.
She flinched.
“...don’t… don’t touch me…”
He looked up at her, a manic smile across his handsome features.
“Come on, Siobahn Please. Just… trust me. This once. Don’t say anything… please. Please. He might-”
“...Aleks, I’m moving out.”
He stopped.
The room went silent, and she looked down at him expressionlessly.
“...Tomorrow morning. A friend is getting me-”
“SIOBAHN!”
He raised his voice.
And she looked shocked.
It hurt.
He took a deep breath in, then out.
“...I-i’m sorry for raising my voice- But- Please. You need to understand- There’s a reaso-”
“...Aleksandr Volkov. Please. Just… cut the bullshit.”
He stared back at her, a pained smile on his face.
“...Okay.”
“...Where?”
“...”
He just stared back at her.
She sighed quietly.
“...Aleksandr. Where?”
“...corner of Charleston and Rosenberg.”
She slowly got up, brushing past him.
“...I’m calling the police in the morning. Do you understand?”
“...”
“Do you understand?”
She repeated once more.
He just stared at the spot where she had been a moment prior.
“Yes.”
He laughed quietly.
“...Yes, I do.”
–
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:25 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
Her boots sank an inch or so into the
snow, the crisp crunching sound sounding out with every step.
The falling flakes of white gold slowly fell from the sky, intensifying ever so slightly with every step.
Lydia adjusted the scarf resting over her hand-made armor, a spear in hand.
The human would be passing through here, Lydia knew.
This was the only way into Waterfall, into the territory of Artemis.
Lydia loved him like a brother, but she could not let the human meet him.
The human would die.
Lydia stopped, at the narrowest point of the land bridge into Waterfall, staring at the ice cubes floating down the river.
She heard footsteps.
She turned on her heel, a bright smile on her face.
“Human! You’re here!”
She exclaimed, gesturing at the human with her spear.
“I’m really sorry, but I can’t let you through here. Why not just stay in Snowdin?”
She smiled brightly.
The human stared at her through their green locks.
“...stay in Snowdin?”
“Indeed! You can stay with me and my brother!”
Lydia smiled brightly, sunnily.
The human just scoffed.
Lydia only just noticed the knife, dripping with silvery… dust?
“Stay with you? Why would I do that? No one is alive here anyways.”
“...what?”
“You heard me.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“Everyone is dead.”
Lydia took a sharp breath in, eyes widening slightly.
“... you’re lying.”
“I don’t lie, sweetheart.”
“Wh- what about-”
“Your brother? He’s a slippery one, but trust me, the moment I’m done with you, he’s next.”
The human smiled.
Lydia gripped her spear tightly.
“...Ah, so I was wrong.”
“Wrong? Wrong about what, Miss Satou?”
“You don’t deserve a chance at life.”
His eyes flickered blue, as the world was slowly drained of color, turned to black and white.
[Lydia Approaches]
[Fight] [Act] [Item] [Mercy]
“Finally. A boss battle. I was getting tired of killing the same, easy, boring monsters.”
The human laughed.
Lydia gripped her spear tightly, raising it above her head.
She took a step forward, and launched it at the human, a bright white missile through the air.
The human took a lazy step forward, before swinging their knife upwards, in a lazy arc, blocking the spear.
“Is that it?”
Lydia snapped, and the spear flew back into her hand.
“I wanted to give you a chance at redemption, human.”
She stuck the spear into the ground, pulling her red gloves off.
A wave of her hand, and jagged rows of cracked bones burst from the ground, nearly skewering the human through, but the human took a backstep, dodging the bones, before rushing towards her.
She took a step back, sending a bone bursting out of the ground, straight into the Human’s side.
The human crumpled against the impact, flying a good few feet to the side from the blow.
She pulled the spear out of the snow, swinging it downwards, straight at the human’s neck, a steely glare in her gaze.
The human rolled out of the way, gripping the revolver at their belt.
The human took a step back, and before Lydia could react, a bullet caught her in the shoulder, sending her reeling, dropping her spear..
The next shot missed, hitting the tree behind Lydia.
Lydia grit her teeth, clenching her fist.
Another bullet flew at her, blocked by a bone that jutted out the ground.
She grabbed a bone sticking out of the ground, snapping it in half over her knee, her left arm swinging limply at her side, blood trickling down her cracked armor.
“Human. We don’t need to fight.”
“But I want to.”
Bang.
The third shot ricocheted off her broken bone-spear.
The human clicked their tongue, pushing the revolver back into its holster.
“Annoying.”
The human pulled their dagger out once more, just barely blocking the cracked bone aiming for his head.
They saw a chance.
They gripped the gun at his belt, as he struggled to block the immense weight of the bone.
And Lydia slowly let go of the bone, dropping it.
She watched the human gasp for breath.
“Human. Do you wish for mercy?”
She said, coldly.
“...Mercy?”
“Yes, human.”
“...mercy.”
“How about…”
They pulled the gun out of the holster, training it on Lydia.
“No.”
Bang.
A shot straight through the heart.
Lydia staggered back, eyes wide.
The human sighed, running a hand through their forest-green hair.
“”Not dead yet?”
They dropped the gun, taking their knife out once more.
As Lydia dropped to her knees, the human simply smiled, grabbing the girl by the hair, before bringing the knife to her neck, and…
-9999999999999999999999999
You won!
+99 Gold
LV up!
The falling flakes of white gold slowly fell from the sky, intensifying ever so slightly with every step.
Lydia adjusted the scarf resting over her hand-made armor, a spear in hand.
The human would be passing through here, Lydia knew.
This was the only way into Waterfall, into the territory of Artemis.
Lydia loved him like a brother, but she could not let the human meet him.
The human would die.
Lydia stopped, at the narrowest point of the land bridge into Waterfall, staring at the ice cubes floating down the river.
She heard footsteps.
She turned on her heel, a bright smile on her face.
“Human! You’re here!”
She exclaimed, gesturing at the human with her spear.
“I’m really sorry, but I can’t let you through here. Why not just stay in Snowdin?”
She smiled brightly.
The human stared at her through their green locks.
“...stay in Snowdin?”
“Indeed! You can stay with me and my brother!”
Lydia smiled brightly, sunnily.
The human just scoffed.
Lydia only just noticed the knife, dripping with silvery… dust?
“Stay with you? Why would I do that? No one is alive here anyways.”
“...what?”
“You heard me.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“Everyone is dead.”
Lydia took a sharp breath in, eyes widening slightly.
“... you’re lying.”
“I don’t lie, sweetheart.”
“Wh- what about-”
“Your brother? He’s a slippery one, but trust me, the moment I’m done with you, he’s next.”
The human smiled.
Lydia gripped her spear tightly.
“...Ah, so I was wrong.”
“Wrong? Wrong about what, Miss Satou?”
“You don’t deserve a chance at life.”
His eyes flickered blue, as the world was slowly drained of color, turned to black and white.
[Lydia Approaches]
[Fight] [Act] [Item] [Mercy]
“Finally. A boss battle. I was getting tired of killing the same, easy, boring monsters.”
The human laughed.
Lydia gripped her spear tightly, raising it above her head.
She took a step forward, and launched it at the human, a bright white missile through the air.
The human took a lazy step forward, before swinging their knife upwards, in a lazy arc, blocking the spear.
“Is that it?”
Lydia snapped, and the spear flew back into her hand.
“I wanted to give you a chance at redemption, human.”
She stuck the spear into the ground, pulling her red gloves off.
A wave of her hand, and jagged rows of cracked bones burst from the ground, nearly skewering the human through, but the human took a backstep, dodging the bones, before rushing towards her.
She took a step back, sending a bone bursting out of the ground, straight into the Human’s side.
The human crumpled against the impact, flying a good few feet to the side from the blow.
She pulled the spear out of the snow, swinging it downwards, straight at the human’s neck, a steely glare in her gaze.
The human rolled out of the way, gripping the revolver at their belt.
The human took a step back, and before Lydia could react, a bullet caught her in the shoulder, sending her reeling, dropping her spear..
The next shot missed, hitting the tree behind Lydia.
Lydia grit her teeth, clenching her fist.
Another bullet flew at her, blocked by a bone that jutted out the ground.
She grabbed a bone sticking out of the ground, snapping it in half over her knee, her left arm swinging limply at her side, blood trickling down her cracked armor.
“Human. We don’t need to fight.”
“But I want to.”
Bang.
The third shot ricocheted off her broken bone-spear.
The human clicked their tongue, pushing the revolver back into its holster.
“Annoying.”
The human pulled their dagger out once more, just barely blocking the cracked bone aiming for his head.
They saw a chance.
They gripped the gun at his belt, as he struggled to block the immense weight of the bone.
And Lydia slowly let go of the bone, dropping it.
She watched the human gasp for breath.
“Human. Do you wish for mercy?”
She said, coldly.
“...Mercy?”
“Yes, human.”
“...mercy.”
“How about…”
They pulled the gun out of the holster, training it on Lydia.
“No.”
Bang.
A shot straight through the heart.
Lydia staggered back, eyes wide.
The human sighed, running a hand through their forest-green hair.
“”Not dead yet?”
They dropped the gun, taking their knife out once more.
As Lydia dropped to her knees, the human simply smiled, grabbing the girl by the hair, before bringing the knife to her neck, and…
-9999999999999999999999999
You won!
+99 Gold
LV up!
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:26 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
His father had never loved him.
Aleksandr Volkov found himself trying to chase after his father’s love, only to fall flat on his face, trip over his shoelaces, every single time.
Not once was he shown approval, love from his father.
Was it that much of a surprise he was a mommy’s boy?
But she died.
The doctors said cancer.
Aleksandr called bullshit.
He never saw his father shed a single tear.
But Aleksandr’s mom died, and went away, crumbling to dust like leaves in the wind, blown away by the harsh tides of time.
–
His father remarried.
Aleksandr quite liked his stepmother.
She was a kind lady, perhaps a bit too kind for the world she had been roped into, nothing like his biological mother, who had been a strong, tough lady, though the soft spot for children was the same.
and when she birthed children, he loved his stepsiblings just as much.
–
His little brother was his favorite goddamned person in the world.
He remembered the way his little brother would laugh and smile and grin. He remembered the way he would hug his little brother. He had every picture his stepmother took of them.
He had every photo, yet not in a single one did Alexei smile.
–
He remembered when that little shit Anastasia was born.
How did a single child inherit all the physical traits of the mother yet all the awful parts of the father? It baffled him.
Bratty, loud, disrespectful, annoying, nothing like her elder brother. Anastasia pissed him off to no end.
She was 6 years younger than him, so he supposed it was to be expected for there to be the slightest animosity.
But even as she reached her late teens, she didn’t improve. She never improved.
And that made him incredibly sad.
Because, no matter how awful she was, she was family.
He didn’t abandon family.
–
He quite liked Iliya’s boyfriend.
A cheery fellow, with a delightful accent that tickled Aleksandr’s fancy, Emory was a fantastic addition to the family.
Aleksandr saw the younger man as just another little brother(he collected them like pokemon cards), another kid to be protected.
Of course, Emory had no idea behind the real business of the Volkov family, most likely because soft-hearted Iliya had never been made for the world Aleksandr haad been entrenched in for over a decade.
He hoped the two of them would never have to be involved in Aleksandr’s world.
–
Sometimes, Aleksandr missed the simpler times, playing piano with his stepmother, practicing with his tutors, because studying and struggling to gain his father’s approval was far easier to handle than the blood of hundreds on his hands.
Sometimes, Aleksandr missed the pressure.
Aleksandr Volkov found himself trying to chase after his father’s love, only to fall flat on his face, trip over his shoelaces, every single time.
Not once was he shown approval, love from his father.
Was it that much of a surprise he was a mommy’s boy?
But she died.
The doctors said cancer.
Aleksandr called bullshit.
He never saw his father shed a single tear.
But Aleksandr’s mom died, and went away, crumbling to dust like leaves in the wind, blown away by the harsh tides of time.
–
His father remarried.
Aleksandr quite liked his stepmother.
She was a kind lady, perhaps a bit too kind for the world she had been roped into, nothing like his biological mother, who had been a strong, tough lady, though the soft spot for children was the same.
and when she birthed children, he loved his stepsiblings just as much.
–
His little brother was his favorite goddamned person in the world.
He remembered the way his little brother would laugh and smile and grin. He remembered the way he would hug his little brother. He had every picture his stepmother took of them.
He had every photo, yet not in a single one did Alexei smile.
–
He remembered when that little shit Anastasia was born.
How did a single child inherit all the physical traits of the mother yet all the awful parts of the father? It baffled him.
Bratty, loud, disrespectful, annoying, nothing like her elder brother. Anastasia pissed him off to no end.
She was 6 years younger than him, so he supposed it was to be expected for there to be the slightest animosity.
But even as she reached her late teens, she didn’t improve. She never improved.
And that made him incredibly sad.
Because, no matter how awful she was, she was family.
He didn’t abandon family.
–
He quite liked Iliya’s boyfriend.
A cheery fellow, with a delightful accent that tickled Aleksandr’s fancy, Emory was a fantastic addition to the family.
Aleksandr saw the younger man as just another little brother(he collected them like pokemon cards), another kid to be protected.
Of course, Emory had no idea behind the real business of the Volkov family, most likely because soft-hearted Iliya had never been made for the world Aleksandr haad been entrenched in for over a decade.
He hoped the two of them would never have to be involved in Aleksandr’s world.
–
Sometimes, Aleksandr missed the simpler times, playing piano with his stepmother, practicing with his tutors, because studying and struggling to gain his father’s approval was far easier to handle than the blood of hundreds on his hands.
Sometimes, Aleksandr missed the pressure.
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:28 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
“Get away from me, Avery.”
Caitlin had the brown haired girl cornered, one hand resting on the wall right above her right shoulder, their faces just a few inches apart.
Avery made the first move to lean in and press a kiss to Caitlin’s lips.
And Caitlin made the second move, pulling away.
“I mean it.”
Avery’s disappointment was clear.
“Why?”
Caitlin sighed.
“It’s just-”
The third move was Avery’s.
“Lift up your arm.”
Caitlin’s eyes widened slightly.
“Turn your torso, then swing your elbow on their arm.”
Caitlin was suddenly swapped places with Avery.
“Lock your arm on their chest, grab the head, and bam!”
“Slam them against the wall.”
Avery’s left hand applied pressure to Caitlin’s right shoulder, as she leaned in, whispering.
“Where have you been, Caiitlin?”
Caitlin laughed quietly, her blue eyes gazing into Avery’s royal purples.
“Away.”
Avery sighed, before leaning in once more, their lips locking.
And Caitlin didn’t pull away this time.
“You can’t just leave without any notice, Catie.”
Caitlin’s body trembled like a leaf in the wind, under Avery’s gaze.
“I’m sorry, Avery.”
“And what’s this nonsense about having to stay away, huh?”
Caitlin pressed her palms to Avery’s chest.
Avery tilted her head slightly.
“Are you gonna push me away?”
Caitlin sighed, her hands trembling ever so slightly.
“I’m sorry, Avery. Please. Just… trust me.”
She pushed Avery off of her, gently, slipping to the side.
Avery stood still, gazing at Caitlin longingly.
“...they're gonna send you after me, Catie.”
Caitlin turned back, taking in a shaky breath.
“Alexei promised not to.”
“Alexei is a liar, a thief and a pig.”
“Avery, he made us who we are.”
“And I will forever despise him for that.”
Avery’s gaze was sharp and calm, Caitlin’s shaky and unsure.
“He saved us.”
“Catie. He’s using you.”
“DON’T TALK ABOUT HIM L-”
Caitlin paused, before she said something she couldn’t take back.
She lowered her head.
“I don’t… I’m sorry, Avery. He’s not…”
Avery took a step towards Caitlin.
Caitlin took a step back.
“He’s not what? Not using you?”
“YES! He’s not- He wouldn’t!”
“Caitlin, what did you promise to him?”
“I promised-”
She choked on the words.
“I promised Alexei that I’d-”
And her voice wouldn’t come out. It refused.
She tried to say it, she really did.
Avery stood there, calmly.
And then she sighed.
“...Do you not want to tell me?”
“No, that's not it- Avery, please. I want to-”
“...Did he tell you to stop seeing me, Caitlin? Is that why you broke up with me?”
Caitlin’s face paled.
“...what?”
“You heard me, Caitlin.”
Caitlin took a step back.
“...What are you talking about, Avery? I don’t- What? I would never-”
Avery sighed.
“...Caitlin. You broke up with me. Do you not remember?”
She put a gentle hand on Caitlin’s shoulder.
Caitlin flinched away.
“...No. Avery. I didn’t- I don’t know what-”
Caitlin put a hand over her chest.
“...Avery, I’m telling you to stay away because I promised Alexei I wouldn’t see you again!”
“Why did you do that, then, Caitlin?”
Avery said, quietly.
“Why did you promise him?”
Caitlin ran a hand through her green hair, laughing with sorrow.
“Because He’d- because He’d kill you! Avery, please. Please, just go! Go, already!”
“...Caitlin. Will you look at me?”
“NO! I need to go!”
Avery’s hand rested on Caitlin’s wrist, tugging gently at her wrist.
Caitlin tugged her hand away.
“Avery, please, stop!”
“Caitlin.”
“What?!”
Caitlin whirled back to look at Avery, and her breath caught in her throat.
Avery’s expression was sorrowful, longing.
“...I love you.”
Caitlin’s body froze, locked up, before pulling her hand out of Avery’s grip, trying to ignore the soft touch of Avery’s fingers on her hand.
She ran.
She ran,and ran, and ran, until she found herself back outside Alexei Volkov’s private booth, on the top floor of the opera house.
She rested against the doorframe, closing her eyes, quietly.
She took a few deep breaths, a few quiet breaths.
And his hideous voice rang out, the mixed emotions rising. Hatred and anger and adoration and idolization.
“Dear Caitlin. We have finished.”
The middle-aged, blonde man stood there, smiling pleasantly.
And Caitlin opened her eyes.
“...Sir Volkov.”
“Indeed, have you been well?”
He chuckled lowly.
“...I caught sight of that little friend of yours, dear.”
And Caitlin froze.
“What was her name? Avery Blanchett?”
And Caitlin snapped.
“Alexei.”
She spoke lowly.
“I cut off all ties with her. She- Don’t. Don’t you dare-”
Alexei chuckled, walking past Caitlin, patting her on the shoulder.
“Of course I won’t, Caitlin. Calm yourself. Just as long as you don’t betray me, you needn’t worry.”
.
.
.
.
“...you needn’t worry.”
Caitlin had the brown haired girl cornered, one hand resting on the wall right above her right shoulder, their faces just a few inches apart.
Avery made the first move to lean in and press a kiss to Caitlin’s lips.
And Caitlin made the second move, pulling away.
“I mean it.”
Avery’s disappointment was clear.
“Why?”
Caitlin sighed.
“It’s just-”
The third move was Avery’s.
“Lift up your arm.”
Caitlin’s eyes widened slightly.
“Turn your torso, then swing your elbow on their arm.”
Caitlin was suddenly swapped places with Avery.
“Lock your arm on their chest, grab the head, and bam!”
“Slam them against the wall.”
Avery’s left hand applied pressure to Caitlin’s right shoulder, as she leaned in, whispering.
“Where have you been, Caiitlin?”
Caitlin laughed quietly, her blue eyes gazing into Avery’s royal purples.
“Away.”
Avery sighed, before leaning in once more, their lips locking.
And Caitlin didn’t pull away this time.
“You can’t just leave without any notice, Catie.”
Caitlin’s body trembled like a leaf in the wind, under Avery’s gaze.
“I’m sorry, Avery.”
“And what’s this nonsense about having to stay away, huh?”
Caitlin pressed her palms to Avery’s chest.
Avery tilted her head slightly.
“Are you gonna push me away?”
Caitlin sighed, her hands trembling ever so slightly.
“I’m sorry, Avery. Please. Just… trust me.”
She pushed Avery off of her, gently, slipping to the side.
Avery stood still, gazing at Caitlin longingly.
“...they're gonna send you after me, Catie.”
Caitlin turned back, taking in a shaky breath.
“Alexei promised not to.”
“Alexei is a liar, a thief and a pig.”
“Avery, he made us who we are.”
“And I will forever despise him for that.”
Avery’s gaze was sharp and calm, Caitlin’s shaky and unsure.
“He saved us.”
“Catie. He’s using you.”
“DON’T TALK ABOUT HIM L-”
Caitlin paused, before she said something she couldn’t take back.
She lowered her head.
“I don’t… I’m sorry, Avery. He’s not…”
Avery took a step towards Caitlin.
Caitlin took a step back.
“He’s not what? Not using you?”
“YES! He’s not- He wouldn’t!”
“Caitlin, what did you promise to him?”
“I promised-”
She choked on the words.
“I promised Alexei that I’d-”
And her voice wouldn’t come out. It refused.
She tried to say it, she really did.
Avery stood there, calmly.
And then she sighed.
“...Do you not want to tell me?”
“No, that's not it- Avery, please. I want to-”
“...Did he tell you to stop seeing me, Caitlin? Is that why you broke up with me?”
Caitlin’s face paled.
“...what?”
“You heard me, Caitlin.”
Caitlin took a step back.
“...What are you talking about, Avery? I don’t- What? I would never-”
Avery sighed.
“...Caitlin. You broke up with me. Do you not remember?”
She put a gentle hand on Caitlin’s shoulder.
Caitlin flinched away.
“...No. Avery. I didn’t- I don’t know what-”
Caitlin put a hand over her chest.
“...Avery, I’m telling you to stay away because I promised Alexei I wouldn’t see you again!”
“Why did you do that, then, Caitlin?”
Avery said, quietly.
“Why did you promise him?”
Caitlin ran a hand through her green hair, laughing with sorrow.
“Because He’d- because He’d kill you! Avery, please. Please, just go! Go, already!”
“...Caitlin. Will you look at me?”
“NO! I need to go!”
Avery’s hand rested on Caitlin’s wrist, tugging gently at her wrist.
Caitlin tugged her hand away.
“Avery, please, stop!”
“Caitlin.”
“What?!”
Caitlin whirled back to look at Avery, and her breath caught in her throat.
Avery’s expression was sorrowful, longing.
“...I love you.”
Caitlin’s body froze, locked up, before pulling her hand out of Avery’s grip, trying to ignore the soft touch of Avery’s fingers on her hand.
She ran.
She ran,and ran, and ran, until she found herself back outside Alexei Volkov’s private booth, on the top floor of the opera house.
She rested against the doorframe, closing her eyes, quietly.
She took a few deep breaths, a few quiet breaths.
And his hideous voice rang out, the mixed emotions rising. Hatred and anger and adoration and idolization.
“Dear Caitlin. We have finished.”
The middle-aged, blonde man stood there, smiling pleasantly.
And Caitlin opened her eyes.
“...Sir Volkov.”
“Indeed, have you been well?”
He chuckled lowly.
“...I caught sight of that little friend of yours, dear.”
And Caitlin froze.
“What was her name? Avery Blanchett?”
And Caitlin snapped.
“Alexei.”
She spoke lowly.
“I cut off all ties with her. She- Don’t. Don’t you dare-”
Alexei chuckled, walking past Caitlin, patting her on the shoulder.
“Of course I won’t, Caitlin. Calm yourself. Just as long as you don’t betray me, you needn’t worry.”
.
.
.
.
“...you needn’t worry.”
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Wed, 14/02/2024 13:29 (9 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
Her steps were light, making no sound,
as she rushed through the back alleys, the clicking of heels
sounding out behind her, from the one chasing her.
Avery Blanchett wanted to see her, so, SO badly.
But she was trying to kill her.
Avery couldn’t take that chance.
She clutched the files to her chest, which was heaving with heavy gasps for breath.
And suddenly, she felt a hard blow to the back of the head, and she was knocked to her knees.
Avery scrambled to her feet, facing the person behind her.
A taller woman, exactly 5’10, with short green hair framing her beautiful features.
Avery sucked a sharp breath inwards through her teeth, jaw clenched tight.
She relaxed her jaw, letting out a shaky breath, when she noticed the woman drop the metal bat, unsheathing a knife.
“...Caitlin.”
The woman standing above her tilted her head slightly, her signature smile painted across her pale features.
“Avery Blanchett~! Hullo, dear.”
Avery’s hands shook, clutching the files to her chest.
“...Why are you…”
“Why? Oh, Avery, it’s so simple.”
“No- Please. Caitlin. You don’t need to- I can take them do-”
Caitlin cut Avery off with a finger pressed to the brown haired girl’s lips.
“Oh, Ave.”
The nickname sent shivers down her spine. Not the good kind, like she remembered. The terrified oh-my-god-this-woman’s-gonna-kill-me type.
“You can’t defeat them.”
The knife plunged into Avery’s gut, as Caitlin pressed a kiss to Avery’s lips, her thumb stroking the double agent’s cheek.
She twisted the knife further, as she watched the life drain out of Avery Blanchett.
“I’m sorry, Avery.”
–
“Oh my god.”
Orchids were resting in a pool of blood, as a purple-haired police officer stared at the scene before her.
A golden-haired man stood beside her hands, shaking slightly, a look of pure shock in hsi eyes.
The young woman stepped forward, picking up the files clutched to the woman’s chest.
A note, stained with blood, was stuck to the files.
I’M SORRY GOD I’M SO SORRY
Avery Blanchett wanted to see her, so, SO badly.
But she was trying to kill her.
Avery couldn’t take that chance.
She clutched the files to her chest, which was heaving with heavy gasps for breath.
And suddenly, she felt a hard blow to the back of the head, and she was knocked to her knees.
Avery scrambled to her feet, facing the person behind her.
A taller woman, exactly 5’10, with short green hair framing her beautiful features.
Avery sucked a sharp breath inwards through her teeth, jaw clenched tight.
She relaxed her jaw, letting out a shaky breath, when she noticed the woman drop the metal bat, unsheathing a knife.
“...Caitlin.”
The woman standing above her tilted her head slightly, her signature smile painted across her pale features.
“Avery Blanchett~! Hullo, dear.”
Avery’s hands shook, clutching the files to her chest.
“...Why are you…”
“Why? Oh, Avery, it’s so simple.”
“No- Please. Caitlin. You don’t need to- I can take them do-”
Caitlin cut Avery off with a finger pressed to the brown haired girl’s lips.
“Oh, Ave.”
The nickname sent shivers down her spine. Not the good kind, like she remembered. The terrified oh-my-god-this-woman’s-gonna-kill-me type.
“You can’t defeat them.”
The knife plunged into Avery’s gut, as Caitlin pressed a kiss to Avery’s lips, her thumb stroking the double agent’s cheek.
She twisted the knife further, as she watched the life drain out of Avery Blanchett.
“I’m sorry, Avery.”
–
“Oh my god.”
Orchids were resting in a pool of blood, as a purple-haired police officer stared at the scene before her.
A golden-haired man stood beside her hands, shaking slightly, a look of pure shock in hsi eyes.
The young woman stepped forward, picking up the files clutched to the woman’s chest.
A note, stained with blood, was stuck to the files.
I’M SORRY GOD I’M SO SORRY
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.
Posted: Sun, 12/05/2024 13:03 (6 Months ago)
Show
hidden content
He stepped out into the parking lot,
hands swinging idly by his sides. In his hand he held a
cell-phone(7 years outdated), and a notebook.
A blue haired man sat in a black pickup truck, a pink-haired lady beside him in the shotgun seat.
The driver looked up, sunglasses reflecting the sun.
“Evening.”
The driver said, quietly.
He smiled.
“Hey guys. It's been a long time, huh?”
Emma looked up, smiling brightly.
“If it isn't Satou. Get in, we're getting you home.”
Artemis nodded solemnly.
“Come on. You can sit in the back if you want.”
He said, rather quietly.
Kendo Satou, 32 years old, grinned.
“Okay.”
He ran a hand through his hair- shorter than he'd like it to be.
“Nice to see you guys.”
–
“Of the 21 charges put against the defendant, he is found guilty of 3.
the judge slammed his gavel.
“As we have witnessed, from the countless testimonies that speak to his character, to his nature, and the extensive information proving that he was, in fact, forced into his actions by situations he had no control over. In case of the murders he has committed, it is unsavory to call them murders at all, as he acted simply in self-defense, and nothing less. In the criminal actions he has been implicated in, it has been proven that most, if not all were committed under duress, as such, the defendant is sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, with a chance of parole after 7 years served.”
“Dismissed.”
–
He sat in the back of a black pick-up truck, staring out the window.
Emma turned to look at him, smiling warmly.
“How've you been, giraffe?”
She asked, reaching out to tilt his head up. Artemis's gaze was obscured by his sunglasses, but it was clear his gaze was on Kendo.
“I dunno. How've you been, pinkie?”
He asked, smirking.
She huffed, turning her hand. Her ring glinted in the light.
“I got married. How do you think I'm feeling, prick?”
Artemis smiled faintly.
“She's been rather giddy recently.”
He said, lowering his sunglasses.
Kendo smiled.
And then, he didn't.
“...and…”
Emma’s smile faded.
“She got married, Kendo.”
Kendo took a sharp breath in.
“You didn't know?
Artemis asked, his eyes following him.
Kendo closed his eyes.
“...No. She stopped visiting 6 years ago. Stopped writing 5 years ago.”
He said, softly.
“...Do you want to see her?”
Artemis asked.
“...Later.”
A blue haired man sat in a black pickup truck, a pink-haired lady beside him in the shotgun seat.
The driver looked up, sunglasses reflecting the sun.
“Evening.”
The driver said, quietly.
He smiled.
“Hey guys. It's been a long time, huh?”
Emma looked up, smiling brightly.
“If it isn't Satou. Get in, we're getting you home.”
Artemis nodded solemnly.
“Come on. You can sit in the back if you want.”
He said, rather quietly.
Kendo Satou, 32 years old, grinned.
“Okay.”
He ran a hand through his hair- shorter than he'd like it to be.
“Nice to see you guys.”
–
“Of the 21 charges put against the defendant, he is found guilty of 3.
the judge slammed his gavel.
“As we have witnessed, from the countless testimonies that speak to his character, to his nature, and the extensive information proving that he was, in fact, forced into his actions by situations he had no control over. In case of the murders he has committed, it is unsavory to call them murders at all, as he acted simply in self-defense, and nothing less. In the criminal actions he has been implicated in, it has been proven that most, if not all were committed under duress, as such, the defendant is sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, with a chance of parole after 7 years served.”
“Dismissed.”
–
He sat in the back of a black pick-up truck, staring out the window.
Emma turned to look at him, smiling warmly.
“How've you been, giraffe?”
She asked, reaching out to tilt his head up. Artemis's gaze was obscured by his sunglasses, but it was clear his gaze was on Kendo.
“I dunno. How've you been, pinkie?”
He asked, smirking.
She huffed, turning her hand. Her ring glinted in the light.
“I got married. How do you think I'm feeling, prick?”
Artemis smiled faintly.
“She's been rather giddy recently.”
He said, lowering his sunglasses.
Kendo smiled.
And then, he didn't.
“...and…”
Emma’s smile faded.
“She got married, Kendo.”
Kendo took a sharp breath in.
“You didn't know?
Artemis asked, his eyes following him.
Kendo closed his eyes.
“...No. She stopped visiting 6 years ago. Stopped writing 5 years ago.”
He said, softly.
“...Do you want to see her?”
Artemis asked.
“...Later.”
wickedness?
Or is it
weakness?
You decide.