"DUUUUUKE!!!!!!"
Duke falls to his knees, grabbing his stomach. Don takes a step to help his teammate, as Ryan screams. "Don, snap out of it!"
The sound of blades pierces the air. Don turns to see several of the blade-like objects that pierced Duke heading right for him. The sound of a katana unsheathing snaps. Mai jumping in front of Don, blade raised and eyes glowing bright pink resembling a cherry blossom. "Cresent Wave." All Don could see were the sparks flying off of the blades as Mai effortlessly blocks all of them. The black blade-like attacks fly off smashing into the surrounding buildings, causing rubble to fall toward the streets.
Ryan smiles as he looks up at the destruction. "Perfect sword girl. Way to set me up!" Ryan's arm glows as he turns the falling rubble into giant spikes. Ryan swings his arm similar to a pitcher on the mound, and sends the newly created spikes flying toward the mysterious figure. The spikes cut through dust, clearing it in the process to reveal the tiny figure. The blade-like attacks that have been harassing the group were the tiny figure's fingers.
2207 looks at the incoming attack and recalls their blade-like fingers. In their place, their hands become a giant black shield. "Commencing defence form."
Another tiny figure rushes past the group, laughing. Nina's legs bulged ever so slightly. "Give weight to my strength! Hercules!!!" Nina instantly picks up speed. She ran so fast that the only thing anyone could see was the red streak left behind from her glowing eyes. Nina smashes into the shield, sending 2207 flying back. "Boom! I'm gonna smash you into bits!"
2207's shield transforms into a giant sword. "Dangerous variable added. Set to priority target."
Don, still in a daze, hears the intrusive voice of Ryan. "Loser, snap out of it right now!!!"
Don comes to life as he looks at Ryan. "But Duke."
Ryan yells again in an almost desperate voice. "Don't worry about him, you idiot! I saw him during the first exam. He'll be fine. But we are going to die if everyone isn't at their best."
Don grips his sword tightly as he thinks. 'Ryan, wouldn't say something like that if our opponent wasn't strong. Everyone is fighting their hardest and if I don't snap out of it we will all die!' Don's eyes glow bright blue as he yells. "Give rise to speed and cunning! RAT KING!!!"
Just as Don transforms, something instantly smacked him. He looks down to see it was Nina. Don didn't see what happened, but the mysterious figure sent Nina flying. 2207 jumps up intending to kill two birds with one stone. Before the strike could hit its mark, a bullet shot rang through the town, hitting 2207 right in the leg blowing it off. Ryan laughs. "See loser, I told you he wasn't down for the count just yet."
Don turns around to see Duke. Duke's eyes are bright orange and have changed shape to resemble cat eyes. Duke rips off his army uniform jacket to reveal his tan t-shirt that almost couldn't contain his muscular body and the wound he received disappearing in smoke. Duke speaks in a loud and assertive tone. "Nina, get up and lead the assault."
Nina jumps to her feet with an aggressive smile on her face. "Roger that, captain."
Duke looks over at Don and Mai. "You two will support her and take care of defense so Nina can focus on attacking. If you see an opening to launch an attack of your own, then take it. It'll add additional pressure on the enemy." Duke looks over at Ryan. "Mister first place, we will handle mid range support to give Nina more opportunities of attack."
Ryan smiles as he thinks. 'This guy, I felt it since I've met him but now I can without a doubt confirm it. He is definitely a natural born leader.' Ryan's arm glows red. "Let's end this monster and call it a day!"
"WE WILL NOT GIVE THAT DAEMON A MOMENT TO BREATHE!!!!" Duke screams to motivate his team to great effect as the entire group's eyes glow, staring at their prey.
2207 looks at the group who planned to attack before growing back their leg. "Reassessing situation. New Priority target, the one they called Duke. Disposal of the group's leader will increase the chance of winning by 60%."
Duke yells. "GO!!!!"
Nina laughs as she takes off toward 2207, Don and Mai following close behind. 2207 transforms her fingers into blades and sends them at Nina. Don, instantaneously cuts them off. Mai rushes ahead of Nina and swings her sword, intending to cut off 2207's head. 2207 dodges by leaning her head back. Mai uses the momentum from her first swing to spin and attempt another strike. 2207 jumps to avoid Mai's blade. Then a shadow that blocks out the sun catches their attention. 2207 looks up to see Nina above them, smiling, ready to attack. 2207 points her hands toward Nina ready to eliminate their target until spikes pierce their stomach and rips off one of their arms. Before 2207 could assess the situation, their left leg and remaining arm were blown off, accompanied by the sound of two gunshots. 2207 is defenseless as Nina, with one swift strike, smashes 2207 into the streets below.
At the Union's lab
Grahm scoffs, watching the progress of the fight. "2207 didn't amount too much. Young Lord Black is with the group so it's not a surprise that it lost. However, the rest of the group are all green with experience, so overall the results are disappointing."
Dr. Yang laughs softly. "Grahm, do you know the difference between humans and daemons?"
Grahm looks at Dr. Yang. "It's humanity. Humans are empathetic and ever caring, while daemons are heartless creatures. What does that have to do with anything Dr?"
Dr. Yang pulls on a loose stitch the hung on his face. "That's right, but there's one more difference. Growth, it's what drives humans. We are ever changing, constantly developing. Daemons don't have that same drive, but in all aspects, daemons are the superior race. We humans can't even defend ourselves against their pure strength without miracles. What if the same drive was placed into a daemon? How much stronger would they be?" Dr. Yang laughs with a sickening cackle. "That is why our artificial daemons will be the next step in evolution!"
Back in the small town.
Duke takes a deep breath of relief as he thinks. 'Nina has impressive strength. A daemon, even at a cambion level, won't be able to survive a direct blow from one of her punches.'
In the newly formed crater, created from the impact of 2207 smashing the ground.
2207 tries to regenerate their limbs to no avail. "Crit...ical dam...age de...detected. Re...generation eff...orts fa...failing." 2207's vision fades as they think. 'Why am I here again?' The image of a young girl walking off to school appears in their head. 'Oh, that's right, my little sister. I remember, I had just graduated from college. I was so excited about becoming a doctor and save lives. That all changed when I received a fateful phone call. My parents died in a horrible car accident. I put off working in the medical field to care for my younger sister. It was tough at first, but I found a job and could pay the bills. We were happy, but life has a way of laughing in our face. My little sister developed a cancerous tumor in her stomach. It was tiny and in the very early stages, a simple procedure. However, the cost of that "Simple procedure" was way out of the realm for someone like me to pay for. Ironic right. I was learning to be a doctor my whole life to save kids with cancer. It was so ironic I could laugh. Then a saving light came into our lives, Dr. William Yang. He did the surgery on the condition that I volunteer to work with him on his experiment. Of course, I accepted without hesitation. Because I would work long hours, the organization that Dr. Yang worked for, would send my sister to a boarding school for girls and all my paychecks would go toward her future. When Dr. Yang told me I would be the experiment, I still agreed. As long as my sister could lead a happy life, I didn't care what would happen to me. So I'm fine if my life ends here.' Then, without warning, a thought ran through Rachel's head. 'Wait, if I die, who will be there for her? We don't have any family left. Who will be there when she graduates, or for her wedding? Who will be there for her the first time her heart gets broken? If not me, then WHO!?'
Rachel's eyes glow an even brighter green than before that same green energy exploded into the air. The group all get goosebumps at the familiar feeling that they have all experienced. Sweat rolls down Duke's face. "N..no way."
The group can't move because of what they were witnessing. Ryan laughs nervously. "Damn Loid, turns out you were right. It is an enormous world."
Don grabs his chest and smiles as he thinks. 'This feeling, I haven't felt it since my fight with Rolo. THIS IS GETTING FUN!.'
Mai tightens her grip on her katana. "I knew I sensed something off. That daemon is human."
Nina laughs, responding to Mai. "Human, daemon, makes no difference to me. No matter what stands in my way, I'll destroy it with my strength."
Duke readies his handguns. "A daemon that can develop a miracle, with the presence of a human? I hate to say this guys but if we make a single mistake we'er dead."
Rachel stands up as their destroyed limbs regenerate. They then let out a scream that shatters all the windows in the small town, accompanied with their determined words. "Protect my future! SWORDS OF THE GUARDIAN!!!"
What Rachel experienced was the turning point in their determination. A firm determination to live and the will to make it a reality. The conditions for a miracle to manifest.
It was Evolution!!!