(Author's Note)
I have come to the conclusion that I just throw stuff at you guys with no explanation at all! so, I've decided to use the last few chapters to clear a few things up.
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..
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(This situation takes place two years before Julian entered this world.)
Stein sat silently, in the barren wasteland. It was devoid of vegetation, grey shrubs and dying bushes scattered across. On the floor in front of him, there was a paper, with different types of bones scattered across it.
[God Cast: Hush]
It fell silent, all of a sudden. Stein was so focused staring at the bones, that he didn't notice the lack of sound.
Swsh!
A slice came for his neck. But swiftly, he evaded it. He jumped into the air. Looking down, he saw a white-haired woman, with purple eyes and a seemingly vengeful stare.
Then, his sound came back to him.
"Hm. How did you find me?" Stein descended, and landed in front of his bones yet again, this time facing the white-haired lady. She scowled even harder.
"That special mana you have, I could detect it from a mile away."
She lifted her black cloak up, revealing her sword that she placed back into her sheath.
"Why don't you just keep your sword out? You're as dumb as ever."
"Don't joke with me. You don't have the right to do that, you bastard."
"I still don't get why you're so mad."
"You... really can't take things seriously, huh? After what you did to me?"
"Jeez. Do all of you 'guys' just hate me? Especially you, Yoko. Even after I'm the only reason you're blessed with this immense power."
Stein yawned, sitting cross-legged again.
"We aren't alike at all. From the start, there wasn't a shred of humanity in you."
[Cast: Fluid Spinning Drill]
Yoko cut her hand, letting the drops of blood fall. Then, it changed shape into a drill of the sort. She threw it at him.
Stein got up with his hands, springing off them like a handstand, to avoid the attack.
To his dismay, the drill changed directions mid-air, crashing into Stein.
Stein fell to the ground, his feet dragging to stop the drill.
Stopping the force, he threw the drill to the side.
"You've gotten stronger, huh?-"
[Cast: Quickstep]
She dashed at him in one leap, a trail of dust following her. Stein quickly took out his sword.
Clink!
The two swords clashed.
[God Cast: Soul Flame]
In Stein's open hand, his skin started boiling, as a blue flame formed in his hand, growing in size. He pushed his sword up, putting her in a compromising position with her abdomen exposed.
Stein threw the ball of fire.
[God Cast: Cut]
The ball of fire dissipated in the air, and Yoko dashed back.
"You act like you dislike this power given to you, but you use it quite a lot."
"You talk too much."
Swsh!
Another cut. It was a hit, though far too shallow. A slice at the cheek. Stein stepped back, his eyes widened.
It has been a while since a cut was inflicted upon him. It seems he would have to get serious.
[Cast: Crimson Slash]
Stein was inflicted by another cut, reaching even deeper. A horizontal cut through the abdomen.
He clutched his stomach, stepping back.
"I'll kill you... and I'll regain my humanity."
"Unfortunately for you, it won't work like that."
[God Cast: Spirit Scythe]
In his palm, a scythe made out of what appeared to be souls formed, struggling to keep its shape.
Stein grumbled. "Are you happy, now? You're really going to die now. Because of your insolence."
"You failed to kill me last time. Do you think you're gonna kill me this time?"
Stein swiped his scythe in the direction of Yoko. A heavy gust of wind followed.
"Ack!-"
Yoko stabbed her sword into the ground, resisting the heavy breeze.
[God Cast: Necromance]
From the ground, a hand grabbed Yoko's sword. It became exceptionally harder to unearth the sword.
Stein was already at Yoko, about to decapitate her with a clean swoop.
She ducked.
As his body passed over her head, she grabbed him by the leg.
Continuing the momentum, she swung him around, throwing him into the air.
[Cast: Fluid Spinning Drill]
Another drill formed in her palm. She gripped it tightly, throwing it with all her might.
Yoko followed the drill, jumping into the air to follow it. She moved even faster than that, which was not the plan.
But she quickly adapted.
She grabbed the spear, spinning around and striking Stein herself.
"Keuk!-"
Blood fell out of his mouth.
[God Cast: Blood Manipulation]
Yoko grabbed the blood leaking out of his mouth, changing its shape. She formed chains, quickly wrapping them around Stein in mid-air.
"A-argh!-" he struggled, descending faster and faster. Yoko employed more and more strikes as they descended.
In the midst of the struggle, he broke threw the chains, and managed to grab onto Yoko's head.
[God Cast: Mana Drain]
A glowing kind of energy was being pulled away from Yoko.
"Not... a second time!"
She grabbed his hands, prying them off his face.
Crsh!
The pair crashed into the floor.
The dust cleared, and all that could be seen was Yoko there, with Stein there on top. His fist was bloodied.
"Haah... you're a serious problem. Lucky for you, I have to reach Gluttony as fast as possible, before she causes problems."
Stein stepped off Yoko, walking off.