I had laid myself down on the couch, given about three minutes of waiting while the others were conversing about what happened on the news. My ears had flattened against my head, and I was already half-asleep. I honestly wish I was at school, all of this is nothing but a major waste of my time. Ketsueki and Kaguro are back on the couch, chatting inaudibly from where I was (On a couch from one end of the motel room). Oddly enough, Kageki walked up to me; his skin was almost as pale as mine, and his hair was fluffy and pitch black. His turquoise eyes stare into mine as he strikes up a conversation.
"Hey." His voice was a bit deep and hoarse, his tone was neutral and welcoming which had contrasted that look he gave me.
I moved away a bit, granting him some room to sit down as I responded, "Hi." I spoke a bit more kindly, he seemed nice. Not the first thought I had when I saw him initially; that initial glare he gave off when I first entered the room gave off the look that he's the silent, brooding kind-of guy. I would be lying if I said I wasn't surprised.
"Heard the commotion outside from your spar with Ketsueki. I can tell you're very new to using personal Enogu." He comments, keeping his initial tone a bit, adding a tint of jokefulness. Kageki even shot a smile towards me, something I thought I'd never see from this boy.
"Yeah, I—" I paused for a bit, half-lidding my eyes. "-I'm not interested in all of this magic stuff. I got wrapped into it from-"
"A Kechī attack." He finished for me.
"Yes?. . . How'd y-"
"Karu told me, she was talking about a possible new guy all of last week. I'm good friends with her and it piqued my interest. So, I know why you're here, added on what you said to Motatsū earlier 'bout your motivation to even work for us." He spills, laying back against the couch. He was wearing pretty grunge clothes; a stylized black tee with a white flower pattern across its leftmost side, his arms covered with armbands of the same color. His jeans were torn as he dons two belts around his waist.
"Huh. . . Honestly, I just want to get revenge for my brother." I restated. It was repetitive, but I wanted this point to get across. After this task is accomplished; I'm done with all of this Enogu stuff, forever.
"Don't you think that's selfish?" He protested.
"Huh?"
"Your brother is gone, Kurose. And, our maxim across us Executioners is to always keep the people safe, we don't fight for our own selfish desires. Sure, some of us are in this group after we lost our own families- heck, I'm in this because my brother was also killed by a Kechī, so, cut from the same cloth. But that's not why I fight them." He paused, looking towards the window.
"I fight because I want to see this world thrive, Kurose." He continues, his voice had some more hope in it. I didn't expect to see this at all, but he doesn't feel any anger? Anger at those who took away an important person from his life?
"The world needs salvation from whatever the Kechī are." He proclaims, sitting back up right as his hair sways gently. "My brother was important to me too, yes, but that's not a justified reason to get 'revenge'. Even if I still resent them to this day, I yearn for an age where others don't have to live in fear of them. No mothers and fathers no longer need to worry about a Kechī killing their kids, well. . . Not like they'd know." His eyes partially lid. His voice got a bit more solemn.
"What do you mean?" I stare at him, a bit curious. My tail slightly sways as he looks back at me. Keeping his eyes open, but his face was soft, unlike how it was earlier.
"You see, when a Kechī kills someone; they don't just erase their physical remnants but also the memory of them too. Granted, those who witness the death of the victim won't forget them." He disclosed. "Not many would know since how could they?"
"I guess." I nod my head, my ears perked up slightly.
"Change of topic; you go to Mizuumi High, right?" He asked, mentioning the school I go to.
"Yeah? Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering if anyone else in this group went there. I'm in my second year." He revealed. He didn't even look a few months above my age. I was surprised that I had a possible classmate in this group too, I felt excited oddly; something I never thought anyone from this group would ever make me feel. Granted, not to the point where I made a smile.
"Huh, me too." I responded.
"Yeah, you're in Ms. Tsurugi's 6th block, aren't you?" He asked, curiosity filled his eyes. He relaxed his body. I had drawn all focus to Kageki, I could actually relate to him.
"Correct." I quickly respond, I turn my body a bit to fully face him. I rested my right leg on my left thigh as we conversed further.
"Me too. She's an amazing teacher." He commented.
Our conversation was abruptly interrupted by Motatsū walking next to me, sliding on a leather coat with beige fur. His slender build towering over me and Kageki as he gestures with his head; lifting it up for a quick moment.
"Yo, Kurose." He hollered, fully sliding on the coat. His voice was filled with that same charisma and joy from when I first entered this room. Like he didn't just have a gun aimed at my head.
"Hey, Mr. Kurozuchi." I responded formally, I was anxious. I mean, why wouldn't I? I had a damn gun pointed at my head by him not too long ago, simply seeing him was enough to make my tail go stagnant. Added on with the icy air in the motel room, the sight of Motatsū alone gave me goosebumps.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run!. . .
Forget this. This gang. This life. And live normally.
"Are you able to conjure your Hyōmei, now?" He asked, laying against one of the walls near the motel room's door. His voice was much more calm, keeping a bit of that jovial tone.
I held my hand out, concentrating my Enogu through my arm and slowly began to materialize The Canvas. Quickly, it had fully manifested in my hand. I grabbed the hilt right after it had fully materialized. The sleek, blank white design of the entire sword with its black lines spreading across the hilt and flat body of its blade. I let go of the hilt as it dispersed into a small ocean of Enogu, white and black stripes floating into the air before fully dissipating.
"Yeah, I assume we're going now?" As I asked, I brought myself up from the couch. My tail sways to my hip when I turn to face Motatsū. He still wore a jovial smile, nodding at my question.
"Yep!" He cheerfully says as he turns his head towards the other Executioners, his eyes filled with that excitement and confidence that this won't go wrong. I, myself, am not too confident that anything will come of this. As long as I meet the Kechī who had killed Rui, then something good will come out of this.
"Who's coming?" Motatsū joyfully hollers, his back jumping off from the wall as his coat swayed with him. His brown hair swayed gently, contrasting with his pale, fair skin. I also turn to face the other Executioners, of which four of them raise their hands.
"Me." Kaguro, Ketsueki, Shimi, Kageki said in unison.
Although I didn't show it, well, I didn't try to. I was excited. Kageki was coming with us and with the likelihood of this Kechī being the one that had killed Rui, I was more than confident that I can finally behead this damned monster, and finally be able to get rid of Magic from my life altogether.
❖ ❖ ❖
The six of us (Which, Motatsū came to overview everything, and step in if things went south) set out from the motel room. Since Ōgenkawa isn't far at all, we didn't perform Micare (More accurately "they", I still haven't learned how to perform it. But after what Hikaru told me, I can grasp the general basis behind it). We ran down the crowded street that led to my school, soon running past campus. A few students recognized me, some even pointed. I didn't mind, but much as other students there tend to strike my every nerve; I'd want to be in my current class of the hour more than have to deal with this. This reminded me. . . I'll probably have a lot of missing work by the time I get back into school. I was already out for a week thanks to my injuries from the Kechī attack, and now I was taken out of school today to work for The Executioners.
". . ." I sighed lightly, half-lidding my eyes. People have always said I looked tired, but right now that is the case. I saw Kageki get a bit closer to me, nodding his head as a gesture.
"Something wrong?" He asked, slowing himself down to match my pace, which was noticeably slower than the others.
"-Nothing, honestly." I half-lied. The only thing wrong was this whole thing. Sure, I'm excited, but why should I do this when I can just turn back and go to school?
"We're getting close to Ōgenkawa, I'd say a fifteen minute trip at most." He estimated.
"We've been running for a while, why can't we just use that weird Micare thing?"
"It'd be a waste of the Enogu around us. I'm not sure if Hikaru neglected to tell you, but once someone performs Micare on an external Enogu source, it ruptures from the impact. Thus, weakening or potentially even destroying that source." He divulged, continuing. "But, the Enogu will soon simply reform itself from other external sources, such as the air. Any Enogu ruptured in the air will eventually reconstruct from surrounding sources."
"Huh." I whispered. My interest was kind of piqued. Nonetheless, we kept on running.
I was honestly happy I'm an Anima. If I was a normal Human, I probably would've passed out on the quarter-way mark. But, after the long run - we were here. Motatsū stayed behind Kaguro and Shimi.
"Alright, same as always. Split up, and search for—"
Right as Motatsu was talking. . . Large eruptions of white and red Enogu shot up behind multiple different buildings. Lampposts, debris, and even people being shot up into the air.
"Well, shit." Ketsueki comments snarkfully, smirking a bit wide as he was first to materialize his Hyōmei. "I think we know where the Kechī of the mission is. . ." He sang with that tone, turning to the rest of us.
"Indeed." Motatsū nodded with a loose smile. "Have fun, kids." He said, making a tone mocking that of a father's. We sprinted off, Motatsū leaping into the air and landing onto a building to oversee us.
I ran into another street from the rest alone. I knew that if I was gonna improve more to finally kill this Kechī, I'd need to test how I can fare against other, smaller ones on my own. I quickly materialized The Canvas in my right hand, clenching onto its hilt firmly. I also activated my Fragment, focusing the corrupted Enogu in that area to make it manifest. A large black and red glow emitted from the Fragmented eye, illuminating a small bit of the area. I quickly scanned over the area as I spotted several different sources of Enogu, all were corrupted but small.
"Hm. . ." I try to stabilize my breathing. I closed my Fragmented eye, deactivating it; I guess focusing my view too much is what can cause it to activate. The sensation of the lingering Enogu in my socket almost has a will of its own, it's disgusting. The fact I have Kechī remnants at all is something I don't want to live with, I hope I can get rid of this Fragment soon even with all of the benefits.
I got swarmed by multiple different Kechī, some winding up their blade-like appendages into the air, others had opened up their jaws wide. I placed The Canvas inside a Kechī's jaw, keeping it pried open. My body sluggishly leapt upwards as I concentrated stripes of black Enogu around my hand. I swung my hand down to orchestrate a series of black slashes to rend most of the Kechī's bodies apart, landing down on the floor as I wrapped my hand around The Canvas's hilt and swung forth, bisecting the Kechī's upper head from the jaw. The remaining few lunged at me as I began sprinting forward, cleaving through one from front down to their backside. The dust the Kechī dissolved into brushed past my body while I continued to sprint over to the last one standing, plunging my blade through its chest. I swung the monochrome blade around my body, spinning around as I raised the blade upwards to slam the dissolving Kechī into the cracked pavement once I swung down.
As I lift up my Hyōmei, letting the dust slowly brush off from the blade. I prepared to continue sprinting off to where the eruptions of Enogu went off at, until—
'O wielder, pay us heed.'
"-?!" My head felt like it was thrown into a whirlpool. I dropped my Hyōmei and fell down onto my knees.
"Gch!!" I screamed my heart out, an unbearable aching rapidly ran loops through my head. I wanted my screams to be heard, but not even Motatsū in the distance seemed to take notice. I blacked out completely.
❖ ❖ ❖
"Guh. . ." I murmured. I woke up not to an area in Ōgenkawa, but a white space that was devoid of anything, but it was heavily dense with Enogu. I felt the infinite swirls of the white, completely blank Enogu around my body repeatedly pulsate and brush by, as if I was deeply submerged in an ocean.
"What is—" I try to ask myself where I even was to begin with. Until a soft, gentle voice called out.
"Greetings." A female voice said behind me. I turn towards the individual. It was a young woman with white hair just like mine, however it flowed all the way down to the floor with braids going around to the back of her hair, forming a small ponytail. She had a soft complexion with pink cheeks and a pair of glowing red eyes. Her attire consisted of ruffles around her neck and the upper and lower ends of her forearms, her chest mostly covered by a garb with a dress adorned in diamond-shaped crystals.
"O' Master." She finished, her voice grew softer as those words flew from her mouth. The entire void distorted, as if her very voice could command this place.
"Master?" I questioned. My ears perked down as I stood idly, the oddly cold breeze of this void making me shiver slightly. I don't know how long I could even stay in this place if there even is an exit.
"Indeed. I am your Hyōmei, ___________." She kept the soft, solemn face as her voice was like that of a cloud, soft and cushiony. But, the "name" was voided out entirely. Was I to believe this was The Canvas?
"Uh. . . So, you're The Canvas? I thought you were-"
"No. No Hyōmei is a mere tool for violence. That is something I truly yearn not for." She murmured, holding her hands up to her chest. Her blank hair softly flowing upwards, as if gravity didn't exist solely for her white locks.
I always ignored the "Hyōmei is a Practitioner's Best Friend" talk, I had figured it was all a way to make me further pursue my goal. But, maybe this could be The Canvas. . . They even distaste violence, but isn't that the purpose of a blade?
"I'm sorry, ma'am. . . But, isn't the purpose of a sword to bring harm and swift conclusions to a battle?" I asked politely. I proceeded closer as she looked at me with an odd stare.
"I don't believe so. A sword is a tool to protect those who need it, not a weapon. Furthermore, I don't see myself as a sword." She perceived, continuing with her self-comment. "I manifest as one primarily from my belief and desire."
"And that is?-"
"I believe that a sword represents a tool to protect those who can't fend for themselves. Yet, I desire that all violence'll come to an end. It's unnecessary, and all it ever does is ruin lives." She wept, her face grew weaker. Her fists clench tighter at her upper torso, as if clinging onto something dear.
"You're still a weapon, though." I told, but even these words hurt to say. She looked even weaker as she approached me.
"A weapon who decided to choose its wielder. I manifested through your desperation, through your will to live for this someone you love. This 'someone' who's gone."
I stood silent. I've been told constantly that Rui is gone, which is true. But, that drive to finally bring his killer to a cold, painful death. Only your death will bring me solace and peace.
Her eyes trailed down, she lowered her hand down as she looked back into my eyes. Her white hair stopped flowing and simply cascaded down her exposed back.
"You also called me The Canvas. That isn't my name, Master." She complained. She moved away and as she did, swirls of Enogu circled and danced around her wrist.
"I don't know your name, whatever it is. . . You've tried telling me, but I couldn't even hear it."
"Perhaps I'll have to simply teach it to you. How to truly use me." She lifts her hand, materializing a Hyōmei as the once white void had a series of black circles with unintelligible scribbles and abstract symbols rising through our bodies. Her Hyōmei was exactly mine, well, herself. However, it differed from The Canvas. The design felt more complete, with added textures such as swirls coming out from the blade's gemstone near the tip, and the lower end of the blade no longer being rounded, now a part of the complete blade.
I was silent. She despises violence, yet draws a sword right in-front of me. I immediately materialized The Canvas in my right hand, but it felt different as my palm grazed the hilt gently before fully wrapping my fingers around it; it was dull, like it lost its sharpness and potency.
She gracefully walked forward, swinging the blade gently. Her posture wasn't that of a warrior, but more like a princess. Her sword was like a brush and as she stroked forth, a series of white slashes projected forward. I ran forth and did my best to evade the onslaught. This mostly succeeded, having got a small cut at my shoulder. But my shoulder didn't bleed from the wound, I was too focused on her to check the damage. Once I got close to her, I swung The Canvas down as I forced Enogu, fashioned in black, out from the upper end of the blade. She effortlessly parried my attack, pushing me back as she performed a gentle thrust forward. I listlessly blocked, grunting from the sheer output the blade generated against mine's flatside. I skid back across the vast nothingness beneath us as The Canvas began to unstabilize once more.
"You lack the ability to synchronize and align our Phasma together." She claimed. But, she brought up "Phasma", something I didn't even know nor was told about from any of the Executioners.
"Phasma? Mind explaining?" I asked, lowering The Canvas which had begun to fracture further at a slow pace.
"You were never taught about Enogu and its components?" She asked, keeping her blade high.
"I was told about Hyōmei partially." I divulged. My gaze softened as the solemn woman took time to explain.
"Ah. Well then, as you should know. Enogu is the fuel and source of power for everything on Terra, entirely spiritual in nature. This Enogu for beings with souls fuels Lumena, the potential output of our souls and our personal way of fending off against other Enogu sources." Her blade lowers. Her gentle voice echoed throughout the void, continuing. "Manus is the offense output of Enogu, and is typically used to manipulate one's personal Enogu and construct Artse, personalized skills that take advantage of our own personal nature rather than the Hyōmei's."
I listened carefully, my ears perked forward as my posture straightened. The question is how will I be able to fully control all of this?
"Last is Phasma, which I had mentioned earlier. It is the connection and magical link between the Practitioner and Hyōmei and the stronger this link is, the more synchronized the two are. It is vital that you know how to use me, failure will result in me never reaching my- No, our full potential." She divulged.
"I see." I noted all of this down in my head. My ears perked back, tightening the grip around The Canvas, letting all of my Enogu slowly ooze into the hilt. As much as I hate magic. . . As much as I hate this current job I have to fulfill. I'll embrace it.
"We shall continue, my master. I hope that, through action and sparring, you'll learn." She declared, raising her voice as her eyes emit a brighter light.
"Right. I'll stop pushing you away, if it means that I can fu-"
"No." She cutted me out.
"-?"
"I won't allow you to use our gift for revenge." She muttered. Her voice grew colder than an ice storm. Her eyes grew dimmer. "I can understand the want to bring someone you despise to justice, but I won't play servant to a king who'll only use me for a selfish purpose."
"Selfish? I'm doing this for him."
"No. The only one who'll benefit from it is yourself, not those around you and especially not this important individual you cherished."
Again, another person telling me the same thing as others. But, it stung even more. She was a reflection of my very soul, the confines of my own spirit. This wasn't just someone else, but someone who's been with me from the start and only recently did I manifest it.
I had an epiphany.
Only I'd benefit from it. This didn't quell the hatred and thirst for revenge instantly, but I considered it.
"I guess it was just that pain. An immeasurable amount of hurt once he died, and when I found out who took him, all I wanted to do was use this blade- No, you to behead that damned beast." I whispered, thinking about everything people like Motatsū, Kageki, and the others have said regarding this dilemma of mine. If I were to do this, I can't just keep looking back.
If i'm gonna bring personal solace through this monster's demise. Then; through these hands will I do so. But I'll ensure that this monster will never harm another soul again through your blade.
After all, I had said that she was the canvas for monsters like that Kechī to paint their sins on.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me, Master." She said gently. She looked as if she wanted to smile, but kept the solemn face.
"If I am your master, then just call me 'Shirō'. How can I play master to a servant who's been the last push for me to finally press onward not for I and Rui's sake, but for everyone else." I announced. Lowering The Canvas as I felt like I and the hilt were slowly becoming one, if not the whole sword.
"Right, Shirō." She noted. Her head nodded gently as she got into a defensive posture.
[ Phasma L.I.N.C = 25.3% ! ]
I'll welcome the blade. I'll embrace her. I'll be the sheath to her sword. I sprint forth, concentrating the Enogu around my feet and performing an imperfect Micare. She lifts her sword up as our blades meet, creating small sparks around the area. She lifted her other hand to the side, shaping a blade from the colorless Enogu around us. I pushed off of her blade with my own, dashing away as instead of swinging, she launched the sword from her hand.
"-!" My eyes widened as I activated my Fragment, a spark of golden, red, and black Enogu shot from my left eye upon activation. tilting my body away from the flying blade with another cut right below my shoulder. Again, the wound didn't bleed, let alone hurt and yet, the cut ran deeper than any blade should be able. But, my Fragment felt different—I felt a greater surge emit from it, and I could see even better with it.
I kept all my attention on her, surfing across as I performed another Micare that had lacked skill and execution, zipping forward with slightly increased speed and velocity.
"Your Micare is lacking. You must kick off the Enogu with all your might and use some of your own to propel forward." She informed me while she held her sword low. I braked right in front of her and dashed off to the side, swinging The Canvas from downunder. Through my Fragment, I knew she was going to defend against it. I quickly tossed The Canvas up, grabbing it with my open hand and thrusted it overhead. She did move her hand where it was initially going, but. . .
"Hmh." She murmured, moving her open hand upwards, conjuring a blade from White Enogu in her palm to guard against mine. Applying more pressure on the Enogu-composed blade, I knocked myself upwards, swerving away from her in the air.
"Stay on the offensive, Shirō." She ordered with a voice that's gentle, yet can command the seven seas. She performs a perfect Micare to meet me in the air.
"Like this." She whispered. Her blade instantly cut down my chest, slicing open my shirt. I spiraled back down to the floor, gritting my teeth as I eased my right hand. I let all of The Canvas' Enogu swirl around my palm and harmonize with mine.
[ Phasma L.I.N.C = 35% ! ]
I silently fell onto the nonexistent floor beneath us, using The Canvas to support my body back up. The solemn woman graciously landed down, pointing her blade at me.
"You're a Wolf Anima, and you don't use any of that innate strength and speed?" She questioned. She lowered her sword, closing her eyes. "Until I see the real you, dormant in your soul, then this spar is forfeit."
"Right." I breathed out with a hoarse voice. I never had any reason to use that extra bit of strength, I partially forgot I even had it. I've been so focused with my studies and school that I couldn't care less about working out. I grip The Canvas' hilt firmly and stood up fully, my unwounded body slouched over my blade. I straightened myself to a proper posture, lifting The Canvas up from the floor and held it at my side. My Fragment's been active for longer than usually able, I'm not sure if this is her doing or if it's something else but that shouldn't be my focus right now. Using the Enogu in the area, but can even Enogu do that? I didn't try to think much of it.
"I'll show you what I can do—what we can do." I promised. I felt the synchronization between my blade skyrocket, as if it was now a part of my hand—hell, even the entire forearm. Not just that, but I felt great—really great. Almost like a superhero, I felt my body heat up in the moment—letting the Enogu between me and The Canvas flow.
"I pray you keep to that promise." She commented. Our blades point at each other, ready to conclude this.
I dashed forward at greater speeds than the last, letting the Enogu fly past me. I swing The Canvas around, rotating my body to create a whirlwind of Black Enogu; each stroke of my Enogu was compressed into a small slice to create a veil of carves between me and her. Sparks flew past us as she guarded.
There!
I glared at her abdomen, which was completely left open. I shoved my foot deep into her sternum, pushing her back. I kept on the pursuit, running forward as I swung my sword at her side—her sword swinging against mine to deflect it. Upon her defense meeting my still-developing offense, I pushed her back considerably once again. She kept her posture straightened—blade held forward as she began to conjure an array of blades composed from White Enogu around us, forming a dome in the shape of a sphere.
'If she can do this, can't I as well?. . .' I thought to myself. She was my Hyōmei afterall, her powers are mine—and mine are hers. We advanced towards each other as my Fragment began to surge higher along with my Hyōmei. I foresaw it all, blades falling onto me—not killing me, but from every direction, my body would've been stabbed. I performed a Micare again, this time amazing her. I avoided a series of blades that rained from the blank sky, left and right, and from my ephemeral view. I braked to flip into the air, using The Canvas to reflect the blades away from me. At least up until she had lunged at me and used the pommel of her sword to knock me back to the "floor". This I did not foresee, and took the hit head-on.
None of it hurt, but what happened when my Fragment eventually wore off? Even though I couldn't use it to know when it would happen and what'd happen by then. I lifted The Canvas upward, wrapping the blade in both White and Black Enogu, blasting forth. I felt my body vibrate slightly but once we clashed blades, 'shatter!', her Hyōmei fractured, unstabilizing. I kept on my assault, fracture after fracture, her Hyōmei grew more unstable—her grip not faltering as she parried my next swing, forcefully dispersing the Enogu wrapped around The Canvas' blade.
"Kch—" I stumbled back, grunting. But, the Phasma between me and The Canvas didn't falter once. It only grew.
[ Phasma L.I.N.C = 50% ! ]
The blades of Enogu the woman had made began rapidly homing in on me. I swung The Canvas around my central vicinity, creating a vortex of Enogu around myself to knock several of them upwards. The monochrome lady immediately thrust forward with her sword, but I leapt onto one's flatside—kicking off to land back down as I quickly reeled my hand back, as well as she. At a moment's notice. . .
'Squelch!'
My blade pierced through her abdomen, while hers had only gone through my coat—turning and arching my chest away from her sword. My Fragment, only then, deactivated.
". . ." I breathe hoarsely, sweat pouring down my face. My white hair more unkempt from the duel, my hand didn't let go of the sword, let alone did my grasp soften—staying firm and tight.
"Ah. . . You've succeeded." She whispered. Her Hyōmei slowly dematerializes into an ocean black and white particles, creating a monochrome aurora. She approached forward, letting The Canvas slowly pierce through her more and more—until she suddenly embraced me.
"Remember my name, Shirō." Her last words before completely dispersing into another field of particles. "Schwarzweiβ."
That was her true name all along? Fitting, Black and White. Suddenly, my vision suffered a flash, followed by another migraine. My body fell limp, I cried out in pain once again. Unable to mend, unable to do anything. I blacked out again.
❖ ❖ ❖
"G-Gah. . ." I grunted. As my vision eased up once I had opened my eyes back up, in an evacuated mall. It seems someone dragged me inside to keep me safe, or at least I assume so. It was probably one of the Executioners, which seemed the most plausible. I picked myself back up, noticing how it had started pouring rain outside, my ears drooped—I didn't like getting wet, especially now that I had new clothes. Which, I realized. . . My clothes were back to normal, my shirt and coat weren't torn or had large slashes across them anymore. I sighed, holding my hand out to materialize The Canvas, or rather Schwarzweiβ, as she pronounced herself. As the particles of Enogu began to shape and form the blade, it exactly resembled hers. It was completed, was this her truly manifesting as my Hyōmei? It had to, also feeling just like it did earlier. It didn't feel like an object I held in my hand, but rather a part of myself. Not just my body, but my soul.
'Ah, you've manifested ourselves. Shirō' Her voice softly whispered through my mind, communicating telepathically.
"So, that sword you used was—"
'Myself, indeed.' She confirmed. As I slightly turned Schwarzweiβ around, I could see her image reflecting off of the Enogu-imitated steel of the blade, smiling gently with her hands placed on her chest—as if she was praying.
". . .Thank you, Schwarzweiβ." I felt like I had to say this. She gave me a slap of reality; Rui was dead, I was chasing a ghost this entire time. I believed that killing his killer would bring me contentment, a sense of peace, and using this solemn woman to do so. I wanted to apologize, tell her that she's not a tool, and she never will be.
'Of course, Shirō. You're my Practitioner, afterall.' She divulged.
"My burdens aren't yours to bear, nor mend."
'While that may be true—I just want to do what I can. Not be a weapon, but be someone who can save others. And, if I need to be a blade that rends even the foundation of this world apart, so be it.' She said with a more solemn look. She hated this, despised her form. Being a sword, something associated with war and death—the very weapon used to behead a man. But, she'd tolerate it as long as that meant protecting literal strangers; people she knows she can't even interact with. I respected that.
"If you're the sword, then let me be your sheath." I begged. I kept my usual quiet, almost emotionless tone. But, deep down—I felt this urge to help her out. This wasn't particularly out of the ordinary for me. I've always protected close ones: Rui, Mom, and even Dad—at least when he was still around. My ears perked to the side, expressing my deep sorrow.
'Pardon?' She asked, looking at me from the reflection of the blade. An ironic sight in itself. A woman, young and gentle, with a voice that can soothe the wages of evil into a calm, breeze of cheerfulness that was a blade—one used to bisect, carve, and crush through so many foes.
"A sheath's purpose is to protect the sword, right? You want to protect others, so you at least deserve someone to do their best to protect you, Schwarzweiβ." I responded full-heartedly. My grip on the hilt tightened, a burning sensation filled my palm. One that resonated Enogu, vibrating the confines of our souls.
'Thank you, Shirō.' She responded with a small smile. I felt our Phasma skyrocket, a full link was established at that moment.
'You're the sheath, and I'll be your sword. Enable me to protect those you cherish, and enable yourself to mend, cease, and disrupt harm done to me.'
I nodded. I felt a wild surge run through me, like being dumped in a pool.
[ Phasma L.I.N.C = 100% ! ]
[ Phasma RESONANCE - Activated!! ]
I'd accept the blade.
"Hmh." I hummed. Her voice was absent, ceasing her talk. I didn't dematerialize her, keeping her hilt in my palm. I opened the vintage doors to the mall, exiting out as I could see Motatsū and Kageki in the distance. I quickly tried to dash forward, but I was interrupted by several fearsome, larger Kechī. I didn't feel fear—after that duel, I felt more than ready to take on anything. The surge pumped up my soul, bringing me a newfound sense of confidence. My body was enveloped in a black and white glow, illuminating the dim street as even the rain had been pushed away from my vicinity.
"Time for a test run." I spoke coldly, almost humorously. This rush of power was something else, an immutable force pulsating through my soul and body with a new ferocity unlike before. I swung forward, creating a large slash that bisected a chunk of the street. I was surprised at the sheer force I had generated, even pushing back the large Kechī, which all of them were completely beastlike in proportion—with jaws capable of crushing buildings, and there was about four in total.
'CRASH!!'
Something had fallen behind me—the upper half of the mall, which had been completely divided. I was amazed, but even saying this felt like an understatement. I turned around to face the Kechī again, performing a Micare to vanish from their views entirely. Quickly, I re-appeared behind one's blindside, slicing its upper-half clean off—making both halves slowly crumble into dust. Another began rushing towards me, picking up its heavy claw and slamming it down onto my body. Yet, it met Schwarzweiβ—using her to push the blade upwards and perform a series of carves, using my Enogu to increase their range. Each slash had perfectly bisected off a segment of the target, letting the Kechī crumble down and dissolve. Two attempted to crush me between their hands, which shook me up a bit. I leapt into the air, using Schwarzweiβ's flatside to my advantage. I placed my feet onto the flatside, hopping on similarly to a skateboard—rotating myself to create a whirlpool of Enogu, knocking their hands, and me upwards. I spun around numerous times as I hopped off and kicked Schwarzweiβ through one Kechī's head.
'One more to go.' I thought to myself. I took note of the last one, which was behind me. Swinging Schwarzweiβ through the head of the third, backflipping onto the fourth's head and stabbing my Hyōmei deep into its head, running it through its backside before forcefully bisecting both sides apart with a large slash of black Enogu.
The area was filled with dust—their dust. I felt an odd rush of energy, this single scuffle alone had got my blood pumping. I nodded to myself and performed a Micare in the direction of the Executioners, bursting with great speed.
"I'll be there soon, guys."