Sighing heavily, I find myself growing increasingly frustrated with the situation. Glancing to my side, I see Ira clinging possessively to my arm, her head resting comfortably on my shoulder as we walk. The presence of Jenna and Mia in my mind provides a fleeting sense of reassurance. They are both exceptionally strong, but I can't help but question whether even their strength would be enough to handle a psycho like Ira.
I look at Ira again, her grip on me unyielding. She turns to face me, a smile playing on her lips as she cups my cheek gently. "Don't worry darling. I won't let them hurt you," she says, her voice a disturbing mix of affection and possession. The urge to smack her is almost overwhelming, but I restrain myself, knowing it would only complicate matters further.
My attention shifts to Eliot, who's following behind us. His demeanor is calm, almost eerily so, considering the circumstances. I wonder if his odd behavior is a result of the trauma he's endured.
Yawning, I try to focus on the path ahead, but my thoughts keep drifting. Eliot's presence, while seemingly insignificant, adds another layer of complexity to the already tangled web I find myself in. What exactly is his role in all of this?
Our walk is suddenly interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. They've finally arrived, but I'm left wondering how things will unfold now. As the newcomers come into view, I recognize Jenna, Dolura, and Draken, but there's someone else with them – a new face that I don't recognize.
Taking in the sight of the new arrival, I can't help but find something oddly familiar about him. His hair, a striking mix of pink and white, immediately reminds me of Aeliana. But his eyes, those are different – a deep, crimson red that seems to hold a world of their own. My mind races with possibilities. Maybe he's another high-ranking officer I haven't come across before, or perhaps he's even part of Aeliana's affluent family.
As I'm sizing up this new character, Dolura's reaction catches my attention. She's staring at Ira and me, her face devoid of expression, but then her eyes harden as she notices how Ira is clinging to me. Great, as if things weren't complicated enough. I watch Dolura closely, rubbing my eyebrows in frustration. Tsk, why did that parasite have to show up here?
Her voice breaks the tension, "Who... is that?" she asks, her gaze fixed on Ira.
Ira, never one to miss a beat, speaks up with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I am his fiancée," she declares, tugging on my arm possessively. Her claim hangs in the air, thick with implications.
"How do you know them, Darling?" Ira turns to me, her smile widening as she seeks an explanation.
I exhale slowly, carefully choosing my words. "These are the people I have been traveling with," I explain, trying to keep the situation under control. I can't just tell them to attack; Ira is too dangerous for a straightforward confrontation. And with her level of craziness, who knows what she'd do – she might even kill me on the spot.
Ira's smirk deepens as she assesses the group. "Well, since they're not family, killing them shouldn't be a problem, right honey?" she asks, her gaze shifting back to me, a twisted sense of excitement in her tone.
Ira raises her finger, poised to launch into a fight, I quickly intervene. "Before you fight, I'm going to stand back. You wouldn't want me to get hurt, right?" My words are calculated, aimed at manipulating her protective instincts for my own safety.
Her response is as predictable as it is unsettling. Ira's smile is almost affectionate as she cups my cheek. "Ah, you have a point. I wouldn't want this pretty face to get covered in blood," she says, releasing her grip on me.
I let out a deep sigh of relief and walk back, finding solace against a wall in the back. It's so easy to manipulate her, like most models I've encountered. They never change. Leaning back, I stretch my arms, detaching myself from the impending chaos. Whatever happens to the others doesn't really concern me. That idiot Dolura might even get herself killed due to her own stupidity.
Ira, now facing the group, apologizes in a tone dripping with insincerity. "I'm so sorry~," she says, taking a step forward. Her next words send a chill down my spine, "Normally, I would take my time torturing my enemies, but unfortunately, I have to wipe all of you out so our wedding can commence." Her smile is that of a true menace.
I watch them, curious about how they'll handle her. Draken appears calm amidst the tension, which is more than I can say for the new guy, who looks ready to explode with anger. I idly rub my chin, wondering how this will play out.
Eliot, standing next to me, breaks the silence with a shaky voice. "W-what's wrong with you? W-why aren't you scared when she's about to kill them?" His confusion is palpable.
I glance at him briefly, my eyes meeting his. "I don't care," I reply bluntly, turning my attention back to the unfolding scene. "They aren't weak, but if they die, they die. I'm not going to cry about some people dying."
Eliot's frustration is evident as he clenches his teeth. "Y-you're crazy... t-they're your companions, how can you just let it happen?"
I unwrap a chocolate bar and start eating it nonchalantly. "So what? If you're so worried about them, why don't you help them?" I challenge him.
Eliot looks like he wants to argue but ultimately remains silent, his internal conflict clear.
"That's what I thought," I say, biting into the chocolate. I watch the scene unfold with a detached curiosity.
Jenna stands firm, her katana in hand, facing Ira with a resigned expression. "Please don't fight," she pleads, "turning yourself in might prevent your death." I watch her, slightly annoyed. I've told her time and again not to use that sword. It's a good blade, but it needs repairs. If she keeps pushing it, it's bound to break.
Ira, unfazed, licks her lips menacingly and points a finger at Jenna. In an instant, Jenna's expression changes; she grabs Dolura and Draken, throwing them back to safety, but then collapses on one knee, struggling to stand. Blood trickles from her eyes as she chokes out, "W-what the heck type of ability is this?"
Despite her apparent suffering, Jenna's glare at Ira remains cold and defiant. Ira, observing this, can't help but smile. "You are a fighter," she observes, almost admiringly. "Most people would die instantly."
The new guy, the one with the pink and white hair, watches the scene with a mix of disgust and anger. Ira turns her attention to him, her smile widening. "Do you know me by chance? You look like you have a grudge," she teases, clearly enjoying the situation.
The man takes a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "I will forgive you this once since you look mentally ill," he mutters, more to himself than to Ira.
Ira, intrigued, taps her fingers on her cheek, pondering aloud, "Just why can't I control your blood? Are you human?" Her curiosity seems genuine, albeit twisted.
The man, looking over at Jenna, responds with a calm yet firm tone, "Human... of course. What else could I be?"
★ ★
Novus observes the unfolding chaos with a calculating gaze, his attention shifting between Ira and Caelum. 'Hmmm... Is this a test? Does he want to test what I'm capable of? Or maybe he wants to test my judgment?' he ponders, trying to decipher Caelum's intentions in this dangerous scenario.
He then turns his attention to Jenna, who is struggling against Ira's blood manipulation. 'For a human, she's not bad. However, no one! No one is worthy of marrying him!' Novus's thoughts reveal a sense of protectiveness and perhaps jealousy over Caelum's well-being and status.
Jenna, in her weakened state, looks at Novus and then back at Ira. 'He's not affected by this since he's not a human... Is this why Caelum created him? Did he create something completely new just because he didn't want to deal with her himself?' She coughs more blood, her strength waning. 'He is truly a legend. Despite my strength, I can't do a single thing about her controlling my blood.' Her thoughts are a mix of awe and frustration, recognizing Caelum's foresight and her own helplessness.
Novus, ready to intervene, lifts his hand, prepared to unleash his power. But before he can act, Ira launches her attack first. She creates hardened blood attacks, sending spikes of blood from all angles in the hallway. Novus dodges them with ease, his movements fluid and precise. 'I will show him an overwhelming victory,' he thinks determinedly, focused on proving his worth and effectiveness to Caelum.
★ ★
General Harlan is now seated, his gaze fixed intently on the lifeless body of the man Novus had just dispatched. Dr. Hartwell is nearby, meticulously examining the deceased bodies, her attention focused on her tablet.
General Harlan breaks the silence, his eyes still on the body of the man. "Are you positive he's still alive?" he asks, seeking confirmation on the status of the man who had been a threat just moments ago.
Dr. Hartwell pauses her examination, looks up from her tablet, and responds with a hint of irritation in her voice. "Are you questioning my judgment?" she asks, clearly unappreciative of any doubts about her expertise.
At that moment, a duo of soldiers rushes into the room, seemingly ready to report something urgent. "We have clear—" begins one soldier, but he's promptly silenced by his companion, who, noticing the tense atmosphere, interjects, "So sorry, Dr. Hartwell, we'll leave you be." She quickly ushers her colleague out of the room, chastising him under her breath, "Can't you see these two are fighting!?"
Once the soldiers have exited, General Harlan attempts to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Novus is truly incredible, right?" he remarks, perhaps trying to lighten the mood or change the subject.
However, Dr. Hartwell is not easily diverted. She blinks, gives General Harlan a pointed look, and walks over to him. "Hey, we're still talking here. Did you think you could distract me?"
Dr. Hartwell, undeterred by the general's stature, walks up to him and firmly grabs his cheeks, forcing him to look down at her. General Harlan, despite his position and experience, feels a surge of apprehension. 'Dammit, I made a mistake, I should've kept my mouth shut,' he thinks to himself, realizing he may have crossed a line with his earlier comment.
Dr. Hartwell's glare is piercing as she demands, "Answer my question." The intensity in her eyes is unmistakable, conveying her seriousness and refusal to be dismissed.
General Harlan, now genuinely intimidated, sighs and capitulates, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that." His apology is a rare display of submission, especially for someone of his rank and experience.
Dr. Hartwell's demeanor shifts as she smirks and pulls him closer, planting a kiss on him. "You better be. Don't forget who you're married to, John," she reminds him, asserting her position not just as a top scientist but also as his spouse.
After the brief but intense exchange, she grabs her tablet and turns General Harlan's attention to it. "Now look at this," she instructs, showing him a scan on the device. The tablet displays an image of the dead body's energy signal. Dr. Hartwell points out a crucial detail: "See, it has two overlapping signals. And what's weird is that when someone dies, the wavelengths change, but his haven't changed one bit. So, one of his abilities is keeping him alive."
"I'm not sure if it's a potential healing ability or some other unknown ability keeping him alive, but I'm sure he will end up moving soon. Although I would love to keep him as a test subject, he does have one of the parasite weapons we created connected to him, which makes him a hazardous threat," she explains, highlighting the complexities of their predicament.
General Harlan, absorbing this information, looks concerned. "How should we deal with this?" he inquires, seeking a practical solution to the potentially dangerous situation.
Dr. Hartwell taps on her tablet thoughtfully, pondering the options. "Well, we can do it the hard way, which is to kill him and the parasite connected to him simultaneously. That will be a pain since I can't find it anywhere," she admits, acknowledging the difficulty of such an approach.
The general, keen on exploring all possibilities, asks, "What is the easy way?"
Dr. Hartwell smiles slightly, her response laced with a hint of sarcasm. "You can always beg Caelum," she suggests, half-jokingly.
General Harlan's response is immediate and emphatic. "No way, that would never work," he dismisses the idea outright.
Dr. Hartwell nods in agreement, albeit with a note of reservation in her tone. "Well, I wouldn't say never, but I doubt he'll help," she concedes, acknowledging that while Caelum's assistance is unlikely, it's not entirely outside the realm of possibility.