"Marina, is there something wrong?" Olivia asked, the wheelchair bound girl holding her hands…
Holding her hands in the same way Samarie had earlier this morning.
A blush crept up the cultist's cheeks.
The contact, the warmth. The heartfelt confession.
She could even see Leno- Samarie's face over Olivia's.
The imperfections which made her all the more appealing, the black lipstick that made her…
Marina felt guilty.
How could she?
Barely a few hours after a girl confessed to her, she was already thinking about another woman in the same way…
It made anyone feel wrong.
"N-No, Olivia," She lied, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I've just been…"
"Been what, Marina?" Olivia pressed closer, Marina's blush practically burning her cheeks! "I'm here to listen to whatever's on your mind. I don't want anything burdening your heart."
The reassurance, and those deadly looks!
Marina clenched her fists, steadying herself as the train bucked. "It's about Sa- Lenora, the girl we were with yesterday… I'm worried about her…"
It wasn't that she had felt something on her cheek that reminded her of the girl.
No, Marina wasn't an easy woman.
Certainly not…
Even if she was feeling guilty for having these thoughts in the first place…
"I'm pretty sure she's doing fine, Marina!" Olivia beamed, even if it was hard for Marina to believe it. "She said she would be alright. And I always believed that people don't tend to make promises lightly, especially those who risk life and limb to save you!"
Though Olivia wasn't quite aware of the situation.
Marina still felt her words carried their own merit.
Afterall, who would promise another meeting if they were planning to throw their life away…
Even if Marina didn't want to think about it, she hoped Samarie wouldn't break her promise.
Or else… Or else…
She would be really mad.
"Survive, no matter the cost." She demanded to the air. A smile blossoming on Olivia's face, as she held Marina in a tight hug.
"That's the spirit!" Olivia cheered, pressing Marina close to her.
Although, the only thing going on in Marina's head was how good the fragrance the handicapped girl used.
{---}
Spoiler: it helps to listen along while reading
Samarie's blood sang in her veins.
Her vow pulsed through her soul, the contract aiding her in her time of need.
Danger like no other.
In an environment that meant harm for Marina if any one of these entities made it out alive.
She needed to eliminate them. Failing such, then severely harming them would do.
And the vow agreed with her.
Power flooded her muscle, her back ending to an unnatural angle, as she kicked the spears aimed for her.
The weapons went off course, as Samarie rebounded using her Bikaku, ripping through the ground as her Rinkaku tore into the Sergal.
Only for her plans to fail, as the beast brought down its spears with twice as much force!
Her bikaku tore into the monster, pushing off its entrails to dodge out of the way.
Only for D'arce to assault Samarie once she'd retreated. The aberrent entity sweeping her legs just as she was able to balance herself, its sword stabbing at Samarie's face.
Her Rinkaku spun her off the ground, Bikaku striking out like a whip as she spun out of the way.
A red welt appeared on D'arce cheek, inky ichor streaking from its nose.
"Blood…" It muttered, as if it was such a foreign idea to be struck.
Even as D'arce parried away the Sergal strike like they were little more than child's play, she appeared more hurt by the attack on her pride, than the wound itself.
"Get hit you stupid bitch!" Mataneko screeched, its attacks becoming more sporadic. "Stay still!"
Samarie pounced on the opportunity, launching herself like a spring into the beast's open side, tearing into flesh like a sawblade!
Each slice carved more and more of the beast.
However, something was wrong.
Samarie backed off, with D'arce doing much the same.
They both realized the same thing at the same time.
Whatever effect their arms should have had on the beast was diminished.
Like there was a veil in reality that partially denied their attacks.
"See this!" It preened, having caught its breath. "This is the body of a Sergal. The strength of a Divine Bloodline!"
Mataneko cackled, his words hitting deep to both Samarie and D'arce, sweat beading down both their brow as their opponent savored their frozen states.
Functionally, the three of them were in a deadlock.
Samarie had adaptability in spades. However, she was also running on fumes, her stomach holding her back from fighting to her true potential.
D'arce was domineering. The aberration's skill in combat entering the realm of the eastern sword saints. An impenetrable shield, and an unstoppable spear.
However, none of that mattered when the Sergal could shrug each and every one of their attacks.
And with how large its spears were…
Samarie doubted either of them would cleanly survive a hit from one of those things.
She looked down to her kagune, where the tips had cut into.
On them, were bits of flesh, blood dripping alongside them.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Like a piece of popcorn, she eat a piece.
Vitality surging through her being as the meal was immediately converted into fuel.
Samarie's eyes gained an edge to them.
"You see it too!" Matoneko cheered, the beast's spear cleaving towards her! "You see the power of the Sergal! You taste it!"
Samarie's bikaku parried the strike, using the opening to stab into the Sergal with her Rinkaku.
However, only one of the appendages was able to strike, as the other clashed with the other spear.
The vibration of which, shook throughout Samarie's body.
"Rah!" Samarie roared, her movements becoming more frantic. More desperate. More animalistic.
She needed an opening. A strike. A fatal flaw!
But she couldn't find one.
Not when the Aberration was attacking her as well.
Her mind went into overdrive, deflecting each of their attack. Samarie's mind losing the battle, as a pair of slashes grazed her chest and back.
"She's mine!" A pair of voices simultaneously yelled, sparks appearing right before Samarie's eyes as the other two battled it out.
Giving the girl just a moment to breath.
'What the fuck did I get myself into?'
No, she shouldn't be thinking like that.
If they got out, Marina could get hurt.
Whether it was the ghoul in human skin, or the beast from beyond the sea.
She needed to make sure both would remember the battle.
Her wounds knit themselves together, but her clothes were starting to become a lost cause.
For now, she wouldn't worry about such things, they would only drag her down.
Samarie gulped, as she tore the fabric of her clothes, her body exposed to the elements.
It was disgusting, but she would at least be more comfortable like this.
"Are you lot ignoring me!?" She shouted, bringing attention to her form.
Instead of using words, they clashed with steel!
Samarie attacked, blocked, parried.
A spear came at her side? Samarie diverted the blow to D'arce.
A sword strike came from behind? She took the blow to launch a counter offense.
They were trading blows. Blows which they were barely returning with their own.
D'arce created distance, leaping to the top of a topped car, as she formed a seal on her hand.
Both Samarie and Mataneko stared at the aberration, their eyes furrowed, as the sword in its hands grew even brighter.
"Let me handle this, once and for all, my Lord…" From the blade, a droplet of blood coalesced.
Blood that flowed onto D'arce like water, showering the entity in its crimson sheen!
Clothing formed over its own body, forming a crown made from laurels, and an ethereal cape which draped over its body.
"Bear witness!" Its eyes turned the same shade as its sword. The aura around D'arce no longer feeling dead…
But somehow, it was like she was alive!?
"Deus, Sanctitas, Renascentia"
"Lavacrum Sanguinis, Bath of the First Lord" D'arce intoned, the spell taking shape in its entirety. "This, is my resolve to never lose again!"
All manner of blood, whether it be her own, or from the battle, was lifted into the air.
Moving towards a growing sphere in front of D'arce.
It pulsated like it had a heart beat, thumping for something.
But neither Samarie, nor Mataneko were going to let D'arce prepare right in front of them.
"New clothes won't help with a spear up you as-" Mataneko suddenly retreated. For the first time in the entire battle, it had been threatened by something. "Fuck off!"
The hairs all over Samarie's body rose in alarm, goosebumps popping up along her skin, as she pushed the attack any way-
A needle shot from the air, cleaving through her left arm, as she was forced back .
Blood, Samarie was losing blood, and a lot of it.
She forced to the stump to close. But with her regeneration as it was, it would take a while to recover.
As for the limb itself…
It looked disheveled, like it had been out in the sun for days.
Perhaps escape would be the best option.
A tactical retreat, so that she could come back fully recovered.
But, those needles,
How was she supposed to approach?
And where did they come from in the first-
Oh…
Looking up, the answer made itself clear.
Javelins.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of needle thin projectiles.
Projectiles that D'arce could control.
The best defense was a good offense.
When Samarie was quite overwhelmed, she could give it that-
The first volley came screeching towards the pair, both using their own methods of evasion.
Samarie slid into the confines of the many cars around her. Each metal roof buying her enough time to slide into the next one before any of the volley hit her.
Meanwhile…
Mataneko entered a martial stance similar to those eastern monks.
w
"Falling Dogwood," The sergal breathed out, its spears stilling despite the wild nature of the beast. "Deflecting Stance…"
With reaction speeds no human would have possible replicated, Mataneko deflected each needle that even dared entered his radius.
And the Sergal found it just so amusing. "More! Give me more!" It demanded, "I'm not yet full, you pint-sized fuck!"
Step by Step, Mataneko closed the distance, the clangs getting closer and closer.
D'arce couldn't believe it.
Her blood rain was being deflected like it was nothing!
It wouldn't be long before she would run out of blood.
She needed to pace herself.
The onslaught slowed, but D'arce had taken enough time.
Glancing towards the rapidly approaching Sergal, she sheathed her blade, her stance lowering as Mataneko entered a full sprint.
And once they were each in each other's ranges…
"Jetstream Slash!"
"Spear of Heaven!"
A jet of blood flew from D'arce's scabbard, shooting her sword at speeds far faster than any bullet could.
While Mataneko's spear was thrusted with a strange otherworldly energy.
One which tore through any magic it met.
The attacks met in the middle of their extensions.
Magic versus its antithesis.
The vampire who lived on the lives of others, against a nonhuman…
Neither was destined to win the exchange.
"You forgot about me!"
A tail suddenly appeared from out of nowhere!
But, instead of tearing through D'arce, like both the general in question, and the Sergal thought…
It pierced Mataneko instead, cleaving through a major portion of his side!
"Tche, Inverted Spear" The beast from another continent coughed up a mouthful of blood, using its other spear way earlier than it should have.
It pierced the ground, drilling through with the force of an explosion!
The floor they stood on shook, and both D'arce and Samarie were both forced to back off.
For how mad the Sergal seemed to be, the attack might have lodged it back into lucidity. "You're going to FUCKING pay!" Or perhaps not….
On the other hand, Samarie stared at the meal she earned herself.
But not before she had to contest with a slashing D'arce.
A slash aimed for her throat! Samarie leaning out of the way, as D'arce changed grips and stabbed down!
Samrie used the same deflection move she used on Mataneko, but there was no changing this attack's course…
The attack punched through her foot, tearing through the limb, as D'arce slid her sword the rest of the way up Samarie's shin!
D'arce then reached into her robes, producing a pistol, which found itself in her grip.
'Bullets! Her sole weakness!' Samarie feigned, teeth grin in pain, as she used her awkward balance, to fall out of the way of the shot.
Alongside the follow up that came after!
"You forget about me too!"
The Sergal returned with a vengeance, having applied some sort of ointment onto its wounds.
It was now ready for round two.
However, clarity now filled its eyes.
There was still violence, but it wasn't as berserk as it was earlier.
"Thank you, for your gift!" Mataneko thanked the air. As the Sergal suddenly changed its grip, holding it much closer to the center, as it came out with a lightning quick slash. "Let us continue!"
While they were distracted, Samarie was able to take some time to recover.
Her wound meant she would be out of commission for a while.
But what was important was she was able to get some meat out of the exchange.
It glistened with succulent flesh.
The meat of a Sergal!
So hungry!
She tore into the large morsel.
It was like honey to her taste buds.
And suddenly, the world literally changed.
Her sight… She no longer saw the world in color, nor was she limited to the boundaries of her two hundred degree vision!
She saw it!
The flow of otherworldly energy!
But it wasn't just her eyes, she felt the change settle deeper.
More than just her flesh or bones.
But her very soul!
The flow, she understood it now.
Looking at the Sergal, she understood why it was allowed to be so arrogant.
If it had this kind of power…
Perhaps she would have been just as arrogant, if not more!
In an instant, her flesh rapidly regenerated, as the meat fueled every aspect of her recovery.
A massive windfall!
The tides of battle had once more shifted.
This was exactly what Samarie needed.
In the clash of titans, she would be the cockroach that tore itself free from their struggles.
It wasn't survival of the strongest, after all!
She would be the fittest, and come out on top!
"Sorry, I'm not even angry anymore," Samarie stated, like water was wet, and grass was green. It was then that both of her opponents noticed her again.
Both simultaneously agreeing to overwhelm Samarie to have their own fight.
However, attack after attack, it was like they were striking water!
Samarie's very body flowing out of the way of each of their attacks!
"I bear no grudge against anyone right now.." Samarie's eyes were starry, her body drifting with a calm serene grace. "It's just that the world feels so wonderful right now."
"Stay still you RAT BASTARD!"
"Hmn."
Mataneko and D'arce both went on a two pronged attack, the undead woman sweeping at Samarie's legs, as Mataneko went for the head!
But, even with their efforts, Samarie still managed to weave through their combo!
"Throughout the heavens and earth, I alone am the Honored One."
A martial enlightenment!
Samarie saw it.
Every flaw, weakness, strength.
Every muscle that she used, how they pushed, contracted.
Her kagune,
They were just like spears, weren't they?
Well, her Rinkaku to be more specific.
Samarie usually just stuck the point end at people and called it a day.
But what if…
In her near 360 degree vision, she could use them like they own spear.
While simultaneously, her Bikaku could be used to lash out like a whip, punish her opponents for misjudging the distance.
Maybe…
She was half bad at this combat thing after all!
Parry after parry brought her closer, closer to killing them.
Death by a thousand cuts!
Their wounds accumulated, movements becoming slower and slower.
All the while, she stayed on top thanks to her recovery methods.
It was then that the Sergal and the Vampire realized their predicaments.
"Make some damn sense you hungry ass bitch!" Maraneko shouted, backing off, as he seethed. "First you eat me, then you spout some bullshit!"
"Agreed," D'arce gnashed her teeth, retreating. When her counter found only air. "Awakening, she has undergone. Enough to force not only a blessing, but also enlightenment."
The Kaiser's dog seemed livelier with each word, disbelief coloring her face. "The Gods are gone. And yet, you stand as living proof of the opposite."
"No! She stole the blessing of the Sergal bloodline!" Sakaneko spat, tearing the mask off its face to reveal a shark-like visage underneath. One with many milk-white eyes, which blankly stared back at the two.
"Either prove yourself, or die!"
The demand was clear. Although, the very air around the beast had changed… Like a switch had been flipped, and after so long, he'd finally taken them seriously.
The fierce siege engine that was the Sergal physiology roared in defiance. It thumped, beating like war drums!
D'arce looked in shock, a hand moving over her own dress, as Samarie put one over her heart.
This…
"The Drums of War," D'arce whispered in a hushed breath "The expeditions… they underestimated its true strength.
This was what it meant to be a Sergal. A biological killing machine serving to push beyond the boundaries of the flesh, and into the realm of impossibilities.
"Gear SHIFT!" Mataneko announced, its skin turning red, as whisps of steam radiated off its animalistic body.
But something that wasn't missed by Samarie's enhanced sight was the fact that the tiny wounds all across its body were widening…
"By forcing the body to work at one hundred percent, a Sergal can extract every drop of potential their body has!" Mataneko flexed its massive muscles. "Prepare yourself! I will test you, EVEN IF IT TAKES EVERY LAST DROP OF BLOOD!"
Samarie saw it like a train heading straight for her.
The Sergal forced itself blood through specialized pores. And from them, steam would burst forth.
It was propelling itself through the air like a steam engine!
And while she could see it happening, she couldn't even move to save herself!
Her heightened perception didn't matter when it felt like she was moving through molasses.
Gritting her teeth, Samarie found D'arce to be preparing some sort of attack.
An attack that only came if she accepted the Sergal's spear!
No, Samarie was one blessed by the Divine.
Whether it was for her own benefit or not, she would accept everything in front of her!
Her heart thumped in her heart.
After fighting to her last… Was this really where she'd falter?
A spectator down to the very end?
Samarie denied that very reality.
She refused to die like this after fighting for so fucking long.
She met the spear head on!
Samarie' tucked her shoulders, and stabbed out with her Bikaku, meeting the spear at its own g-
A green arrow streaked through the air, diverting the spear's path.
Now!
It grazed Samarie's shoulder, continuing its path to carve through the ground behind the girl.
And in the split second the mistake afforded, Samarie dashed forward.
Earlier in the battle, she'd been crippled by D'arce's attack, her arm removed torn at the socket.
This time, she'd repay the favor.
To both of them.
The girl turned, forcing all her momentum on spinning as fast as possible.
Her bikaku struck the Sergal, flinging Mataneko across the battlefield, and into a series of cars!
However, she wouldn't be allowed to appreciate her handiwork.
Not when the undead lady still had something up her sleeve.
"Convergence," In her hand, beads were coaxed into existence, each the size of marbles. "Piercing Blood: Buckshot."
Samarie only had enough time to bring her rinkaku up, before the assault of pressured blood came hurtling towards her.
Four stream shot out.
But Samarie would only be able to block one!
One struck her stomach, tearing through to the other end. While the other two struck at the Sergal behind her, both piercing through its ribcage.
"Thank you, for the inspiration," As through to say she wasn't out of tricks herself, a star suddenly appeared over D'arce left eye. "I have never felt this alive!"
"Flowing Red Scale!" Just like Mataneko, D'arce was like a whirlwind of violence, pushing against the girl as they clashed. "The Sergal was right. Let's push ourselves. Down to the last drop!"
Samarie grunted in effort, throwing the vampire off, as D'arce went back to putting on pressure.
Her opponents were getting stronger and stronger…
And Samarie's visual advantage was slowly losing its novelty.
They were adapting to her just as much as she was adapting to them.
And with Mataneko slowly getting up as well, her chances were starting to look quite bleak.
Whipping the ground, Samarie created distance between the two of them, standing in the middle of their paths.
"Blood Pools!" The words thrumbed through reality, all the while D'arce cackled from mental deterioration.
Getting to its feet, Mataneko stood on shaky legs.
Although, if the eager grin on the beast's face was anything to go by, it wasn't for any good reasons.
"Event Horizon." Tightly gripping both spears, the Sergal held one overhead, while the other was held near its waist. Mataneko's stance lowering as it poised to strike. "Down to the last drop!"
Otherworldly energy coated their respective weapons.
All the while Samarie was left clutching her fists, a cold chill running through her body.
Till every last drop…
The word felt like a mantra for her soul.
And she couldn't help but agree with the statement.
Focusing inward, Samarie limited her visual range down to the three of them.
No outside interference.
There was only her, and those who intended to end her.
Which meant she had to survive their attacks.
Even as blood stained her feet, and covered the ground, and the very air itself.
Even as the very air threatened to burst at even the slightest movement.
She needed to be able to react at a moment's notice!
Boom!
Boom!
The wind parted around D'arce's and Mataneko's figures, the air resisting their charge!
At that speed…
Even the slightest deviation, would cause them to miss their target, right?
Preemptively, Samarie had jumped off the ground!
The pair clashed in the middle!
Though, no matter how much D'arce pushed, her efforts would be for naught.
As the Sergal's spear was destined to pierce its target.
Samarie needed to make sure they backed off.
They couldn't start fighting now.
Not when Marina was so close!
Her Kagune wrapped around her arms, her body providing torque as she made a dizzying return to the earth.
Like a drill, she came hurtling back down to the ground!
Her charge carved grooves into their bodies, tearing at flesh like a hot knife through butter!
Even Mataneko's body was being torn through.
No matter how durable the monster from another continent was, all were equal in the face of the dril!
"Just this once!"
Blood misted throughout the battlefield, the junction now having more in common with a war zone.
The Sergal backed off, clutching at the large gash across its chest, its spear falling into a pool of blood in the process.
Meanwhile, D'arce seemed to be having her own fair share of troubles, blood leaking at the corner of her lips, as she tried her best to keep herself together. "Blood Golem!"
From the pool where Mataneko dropped his spear, a construct appeared, holding the Sergal's weapon in its arms.
Only there was something wrong with it…
Where it was once a pristine white, the spear now looked tainted.
Now, it was a wine red, its tip having slimmed down to an even finer point.
It was a distraction so she could heal…
One that appeared just behind her too…
At this distance, it was a guaranteed hit if she wasn't careful.
Her kagune attacked, rinkaku holding it up by its armpits, as her bikaku aimed for the head.
Splat!
It only lasted a second.
And yet, as Samarie grabbed the spear in the golem's hands, it felt much longer than that-"
"Supernova!"
A glob of blood the size of her hand.
Samarie didn't need to know what it did to consider it dangerous.
She just needed to know how much longer the vampire had before departing from the mortal coil.
However, before Samarie could run, it exploded with immense force!
The force pushed her back, forcing the girl to tumble as the energy bled off.
By the end, the spell had done its job, creating distance, as D'arce huffed and puffed.
Samarie had to say, she was quite impressed with her handiwork.
A pair of clean gashes, both from shoulder to hip.
Wounds grievous enough that they would be weary before ever attacking again.
Both opposite parties used their respective recovery methods, eyeing the others, with weary gazes.
"That's enough out of you," A smooth voice announced, the last member of the free for all.
Each of their respective gazes locked onto a man perched on top of a toppled car. And in his hands, was an ethereal green bow, an arrow of the same color already notched on it.
"Not unless you want an arrow sticking out of your head, I suggest giving it a rest."
The Sergal seemed to sneer at the idea, but the blood spurting from its chest told it to do otherwise.
On D'arce's end, she also seemed conflicted about the ultimatum. Having already healed, she was rearing to fight once more.
However, her mental capacity had taken a clear hit during the fight.
She wouldn't lose her cool like she had before.
She needed a resolve to win, not die so her lord could clean up after her.
In the end, neither of them liked it. But seeing as continuing meant suicide…
They would need to lick their wounds, analyze what they did wrong.
And perhaps next time, they would crush their opponents.
The next time they'd meet, only one person would come out alive.
But, as of now, the fresh competitor put a stop to any aces they still have left up their sleeves.
"Back off."
The words held a finality, as the Sergal glared at Samarie holding its spear, and D'arce retreated off to her lord's side.
"I'm still hungry, little girl," Mataneko turned its back, looking over its shoulder. "You will make a fine meal, next time."
The beast leapt off the ground, a crater forming from where it pushed off.
Mataneko disappeared into the outline of the city, soon after.
Leaving only the stranger, Samarie, and the Kaiser's entourage.
"I'll have you know, I can fire these arrows off faster than your men can shoot," The man stated, his muscles straining as he drew his bow. "Don't test me."
The Kaiser seemed to huff, flourishing his cape, as he beckoned his troupe to follow along.
However, D'arce turned back at the last moment.
Her eyes saying much the same as the Sergal.
"You," The gentleman pointed out. "Need any help? You look like a strong breeze away from falling over."
Looking at herself, Samarie was about to reply, when her body suddenly felt like a million bricks.
The girl fell on her face, as her consciousness drifted away.