In the dimly lit train wagon, Frøya remained eerily motionless, her face devoid of any emotion, as the man hurtled toward her with the intent to attack.
With the swiftness of a guardian, Guto intervened, thrusting Frøya out of harm's way just before the assailant's strike landed, bracing himself to bear the full brunt of the attack.
***
Moments earlier...
Guto and Frøya readied themselves for the imminent battle, both well aware of the man's menacing mutation and the peculiar limitation that could tip the scales in their favor. Guto's hands crackled with a perilous purple aura, while Frøya mentally fortified herself, preserving the secrecy of her own mutation.
'I don't want to reveal my mutation.' she thought with unwavering determination.
Determined, Guto launched his assault, surging toward the man, targeting his abdominal region with his purplish fists. As his punches landed, the man remained strangely still, offering no resistance to Guto's deadly touch, though he exhibited no signs of pain.
Swiftly, Guto withdrew, evading a retaliatory punch from the man. Sensing an opening, Frøya leaped into action, striking with a forceful hook to the man's ribs, causing him to stagger. Guto followed suit a powerful uppercut to the same area, intensifying the damage inflicted on the weakened spot.
The man let out a pained grunt, striving to regain his balance and reactivate his mutation. Yet Frøya and Guto didn't grant him a moment's respite. Frøya executed a perfectly timed kick to the man's face, further disorienting him. Capitalizing on this vulnerability, Guto barraged him with a barrage of hooks, working to drain his energy and disrupt his ability to remain still.
Frøya closely observed the man's movements and urged Guto, "Keep him off balance! Don't let him find his equilibrium!"
"Alright!" Guto responded, adhering to her guidance.
Together, they encircled their opponent, employing constant motion and precision attacks to deny him any opportunity for stability. Even the train's swaying motion, typically a hindrance, was converted into an asset. The unpredictable movement of the train further confounded the man's attempts to harness the stability required for his powers to activate.
Guto and Frøya cooperated seamlessly, consistently applying pressure and weakening the man's resolve. Yet, despite their relentless assault, the man demonstrated unwavering resilience, refusing to yield.
As the battle pressed on, Guto's strength began to wane, and the purple energy surrounding his hands dimmed. His concern became evident in his voice as he admitted, "Frøya, I can't keep this up much longer."
Frøya, acutely aware of their predicament, met his words with a determined nod and replied, "Then, Guto, let's give it everything we've got. One final push!"
With newfound resolve, they launched their ultimate attack. Guto channeled the last of his strength into a mighty punch aimed at the man's midsection. Frøya followed with a spinning kick, precisely targeting the already weakened area.
Their combined assault proved devastating. The man grimaced in pain, stumbling backward. Guto, having reached the limits of his purple energy, took a step back and deactivated his mutation entirely.
Overwhelmed and unable to harness his mutation due to their relentless onslaught, the man finally sank to his knees, vanquished. Guto and Frøya, exhausted and victorious, stood triumphant but breathless.
"We did it." Frøya exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of relief and pride.
Guto, still catching his breath, looked at her with a grateful smile, acknowledging her unwavering support throughout their arduous fight. "Yes, we did." he affirmed.
However, when Guto gazed at Frøya once more, he noticed a disconcerting transformation, her demeanor had turned utterly lifeless, devoid of expression.
Simultaneously, the battered man began to stir, raising himself with evident determination.
"What on earth? Do you never give up?" Guto voiced his incredulity.
The man retrieved a small flask containing a mysterious blue liquid.
"What is that?" Guto wondered aloud, his voice laden with confusion and concern.
With a decisive motion, the man plunged the needle into his arm, administering the vivid blue liquid directly into his veins. A guttural cry of agony escaped his lips as the toxic substance surged through his bloodstream, an unbearable torment consuming him.
It was as though malevolence itself had seized the man's body, leading to violent convulsions. His eyes rolled back, leaving only the stark whites visible as the drug's formidable power took hold. Muscles grotesquely swelled and contorted beneath his skin, surpassing their original proportions. Bones audibly cracked.
Beneath his mask, blood began to seep, a visible sign of the ongoing and excruciating transformation. Veins pulsed noticeably beneath the surface of his skin. The blue liquid coursed in rhythm with his quickening heartbeat.
'What is he doing? A suicidal attack? What an idiot.' Guto thought with a mixture of incredulity and concern.
"Frøya, concentrate! He's getting back up." Guto exclaimed, panic edging into his voice.
***
Amidst a realm of impenetrable darkness, a young girl in white pajamas played with two miniature dolls. The surroundings were utterly devoid of light. The girl, who appeared to be around six years old, bore a striking resemblance to Frøya.
A sudden noise, a resonant slam, drew her attention to a door standing alone in the abyss. The girl contemplated its presence and murmured, "Why is she back? Did something happen?"
Closing her eyes, the child focused her thoughts, and images of Frøya's recent ordeals raced through her mind. She was clearly troubled as she pondered, "How did she get herself into this situation?"
In response to her growing fear, the girl created a cocoon of flesh around herself, curling up in a fetal position within it. A whirlwind of thoughts swirled through her mind: 'No, no,' 'I'm scared,' 'I wish you were here again,' 'somebody help.'
"Do not worry." a monotonous yet strangely familiar voice reassured her.
Startled, the little girl emerged from her cocoon, her gaze shifting to another door guarded by a descending metal gate. The gate lifted slowly, granting her access to the door.
"Should I really open that door? Is there truly no other way?" she questioned herself.
Finally, she opened the door, revealing a tall woman with black curly hair and a light complexion. The woman's face remained blurry and indistinct. She wore a long black dress adorned with purple accents.
'She always creeps me out with that face.' the girl thought.
"Ah, finally. I thought you were never going to free me again. I'll be sure to enjoy this!" the woman declared.
"Please, just don't hurt Guto." the little girl pleaded.
"Guto? You've made a friend? YOU?" The woman laughed. "Do not worry, he is in good hands." With those words, she dissolved into smoke.
As the man rose to his feet, he observed Frøya standing motionless, as though entranced in another world. Seizing the opportunity, he dashed forward with the intent to deliver a lethal blow.
"UUUAAGGHHH." he roared with unbridled rage.
Just as he was about to strike, Frøya snapped back to reality, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending threat.
"So slow." she thought to herself.
Unaware of her sudden return to consciousness, Guto, believing her still in a trance, pushed her out of the path of the impending attack, sacrificing himself to shield her from harm.
"Ugh... What?" Frøya muttered, her voice tinged with confusion and surprise.
Guto was propelled backward by the force of the man's attack.
"UUAAGHHH." the man bellowed once more, filled with seething anger.
'Tsk, why the hell would that kid help her?' Frøya pondered within her thoughts. But the question was overshadowed by a deeper determination. "Doesn't matter." she declared aloud. "Okay big boy, time for you to die!" she asserted with a resolute smile, her resolve firmly in place.