Ira's laughter escalates into a crescendo of madness, her face partially veiled behind her hand. "Hmhmhmhmhhahahahaha!" Then, in a sudden halt, her demeanor shifts. She points a finger directly at Novus, her voice dripping with malice. "You? Human? You're lying," she declares, her footsteps deliberate as she approaches him. "Not that it matters" Her arm lifts gracefully, a single drop of blood falling from her extended finger. The moment it meets the ground, it metamorphoses, spawning solid spikes of red blood that shoot towards Novus with lethal precision.
Novus, his movements a blur, evades the initial onslaught. Yet, the blood spikes are relentless, duplicating upon impact with the wall and redirecting their assault. A hint of understanding flashes in his eyes. 'This human's ability can duplicate and manipulate blood, her ability to control such a substance is intriguing.' he deduces, catching a spike effortlessly. His crimson red eyes glint as he crushes the blood construct in his hand, a silent vow resonating within him, 'I can't look weak in front of master. I must show him I'm capable of entertaining him.'
Novus flicks his pink and white hair back nonchalantly, his demeanor unshaken. "Is that all you can offer?" he taunts. Ira's gaze hardens in response. She gestures, and the hardened blood reverts to liquid. A smirk plays on her lips. "I'll break you from within," she threatens. The blood surges forward, enveloping Novus, seeking any crevice to invade.
In the blink of an eye, Novus responds. "You are weak," he states simply, his presence vanishing and reappearing behind Ira in a near-instant. His hand poised for a lethal strike, only to be thwarted by a sudden wall of blood materializing between them.
Ira's smirk widens, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh my~ You sure like to judge," she muses. The liquid blood moves with a life of its own, slicing through the air like a blade, each evasion by Novus only inviting more relentless pursuit.
Novus lifts a finger, and in a mesmerizing display, a dark blue marble materializes, its surface swirling with enigmatic depth. As the blood surges towards him once more, the marble acts like a vortex, absorbing the vicious liquid with insatiable hunger. From a distance, Jenna observes the spectacle, her teeth gritted in frustration.
'I couldn't lift a finger against her... I have an ability, I just don't know how to use it,' she contemplates bitterly. Her gaze shifts back to the unfolding combat. 'If she didn't have control of my blood, I would've finished her with a single strike.'
Meanwhile, Ira watches her blood vanish into the marble, a playful smirk on her lips. "My my~ you're making me use more blood~," she comments, slicing her hand to let fresh blood spill onto the ground. Caelum, observing from the sidelines, raises an eyebrow, his analytical mind piecing together the escalating stakes. 'More blood means more power, right? And this guy is not bad. He doesn't engage in unnecessary talk like the other Idiots do. He's tactical, ensuring bystanders remain unharmed.'
Amidst the tension, Eliot collapses, trembling with fear. "I-it's over, he's dead. No one can beat Ira, she's a monster," he stammers, his voice quivering with dread.
Ira, her gaze softening affectionately towards Novus, speaks with a haunting calmness. "Let's finish this quickly, okay~? I have a wedding to plan," she suggests. The blood pooling around her begins to churn, forming a colossal pillar, mirroring the hallway's width, and lunges towards Novus with relentless force.
Novus, casting a brief glance behind, considers the safety of the onlookers. 'Master wouldn't want them to get hurt,' he resolves. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he redirects the blood stream upwards, its force shattering the roof and tearing through the facility's floors until it erupts onto the surface.
In a swift motion, Novus teleports behind Ira, shattering her protective blood wall with sheer force. His punch sends her soaring upwards, following the path of the devastated structure, a trail of destruction marking the intensity of their confrontation.
Ira is propelled upwards, coughing blood, her resilience undiminished. Midair, she wipes her mouth, her blood coalescing around her to forge a formidable armor of solid crimson. Landing with a thud, she rubs her head, muttering, "That... hurt."
Novus emerges from the shadows, his fist aimed at her, but Ira's eyes widen in anticipation. She unfurls her palm, conjuring a blood shield that absorbs the blow but sends her careening backward. Mid-flight, she executes a sweeping motion with her arm, unleashing a barrage of blood spikes, transforming the area into a brutal canvas of red.
'Where is he?' she ponders, her gaze darting frantically. But Novus, the embodiment of composure, materializes before her, evading her onslaught with an unsettling ease. He stops in front of her, his glare piercing. "Your mistake is your greed. You do not deserve to marry master," he whispers ominously, his grip tightening around her neck.
Hoisted off the ground, Ira's mind races. 'W-what is he talking about!? Master?' Confusion and fear intertwine as Novus's words echo in her mind. "Your blood won't save you," he declares coldly.
In a desperate act, Ira manifests a colossal blood thorn, its tip menacingly sharp. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! How dare you say I can't marry my fiancé!" she shrieks. But as the blood weapon strikes Novus, it's as if it has met an immovable force—no effect, not a single scratch.
Her struggle for breath intensifies, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. 'No... no, I can't die. I want kids, I... Can—' But her aspirations are abruptly silenced as Novus's grip tightens until a chilling pop resonates, and he nonchalantly lets her body fall to the ground.
Novus, his expression unreadable, muses to himself, "I wonder if the master is pleased with this?" A silent query hanging in the air, a testament to the cold finality of the confrontation that just unfolded.
Novus teleports beside Jenna, his presence as silent as a shadow. "She's dead," he states, his voice devoid of emotion. Jenna merely nods in acknowledgment, a sigh of relief escaping her.
Dolura, without a word, rushes to Caelum's side, standing close to him. Caelum clicks his tongue in annoyance. 'There she goes again, the damn roach sticking to me like I'm some sort of saint,' he thinks, his irritation palpable.
Eliot, still trembling from the ordeal, stutters in disbelief. "I-I c-can't believe it... Is she really dead? T-that monster?" Jenna, confident in Novus's judgment, responds affirmatively. "If Novus here says she's dead, she's dead."
Draken, ever the optimist, flashes a reassuring smile. "Cheer up, pal. This whole place is being taken over by the military. You don't have to worry about any more abuse," he offers, trying to lighten the mood.
Eliot's expression briefly flickers with hope, only to be overshadowed by guilt. "Dammit, dammit, dammit, it's all my fault. If I had kept it a secret, none of this would've happened..." Jenna, intrigued by his admission, probes further.
Eliot, resigned to his fate, reveals his secret. "I-I have some type of magic power like Ira... I-I can hack into anything, at least anything I've tried. I found this place by chance and told everyone to enter it. When I found some weapons, I was excited, but Ira and Vorn took advantage of it to control everyone else." Leaning against the wall, he continues, "Then they got their magic and became even crazier. It's all my fault. If I hadn't given them the guns in the first place, they wouldn't have gone mad with power."
Draken, intrigued by Eliot's abilities, can't help but envision grand scenarios. "I wouldn't say it's your fault... you just happened to be a victim. But a hacking ability sounds cool, imagine controlling a bunch of giant robots!" he says, his imagination running wild with scenes from his favorite mech mangas.
Meanwhile, Caelum, ever the pragmatist, sighs inwardly. 'These damn idiots. I can't tell them to hurry up since they saved me, and this man...' His gaze shifts to Novus, who stands silently, observing the group. 'He's not bad, just a calm dude,' Caelum concludes, finding a sense of respect for Novus's composed nature amidst the chaos.
Jenna suddenly snaps her fingers, as if struck by a sudden realization. "Oh right, I forgot," she exclaims, slapping her forehead in a mock display of forgetfulness. Turning to Caelum, she gestures towards Novus. "So this is Novus," she introduces. "You two haven't met, but he was a military volunteer that General Harlan came across. Since he wants to do his own thing now, his last task is to escort you to your destination. He's the one that's going to be navigating and driving the helicopter."
Caelum processes the information, a nod of approval forming. 'Okay, this is not bad. Someone as strong, calm, and collected as him will be just fine. I was worried some annoying talker would be escorting me,' he thinks, a sense of relief washing over him. He turns to Novus, offering a brief acknowledgment. "Good job dealing with Ira."
Novus, maintaining his stoic exterior, simply nods in response. Internally, however, he feels a surge of satisfaction. 'Master is pleased with my work, I was right. He doesn't want people to be a bother. He created me to deal with issues for him,' he contemplates, pride swelling within him.
As the group begins to move, Dolura gently tugs at Caelum's shoulder. Fighting the urge to sigh, Caelum turns, only to see her showcase a tiny snowman resting on her palm. With a forced enthusiasm, he comments, "Wow, so cool~," while internally rolling his eyes. 'Seriously, you get an ability and you practice making snowmen with it?'
Their journey towards the elevator is interrupted by the arrival of Mia, General Harlan, and Dr. Hartwell. General Harlan's gaze flickers briefly towards Eliot, offering a curt, "Well done." Caelum's attention, however, is drawn to Mia. Her hands tremble subtly, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind. 'Oh no, is he mad? No, right? Wait, I know...' In a swift motion, she practically throws the cat on her shoulders into Caelum's arms. "He missed you," she blurts out.
Catching the kitty, Caelum cradles it close, his internal turmoil momentarily soothed. 'Oh, I missed you, little buddy,' he reflects, a rare smile crossing his face.
As they gather in the elevator, General Harlan updates them. "The situation above seems to be under control now. I'll get some soldiers to get you all a room." Amidst the conversation, Dr. Hartwell's presence is hard to ignore, her fascination with Novus evident as she sneaks glances, scribbles notes, and snaps discreet photos.
Caelum, trying to dismiss the peculiar behavior, can't help but wonder. 'What the hell is wrong with her? Is she in love with him?' He sighs inwardly, a hint of exasperation in his thoughts. 'She could make it less obvious...'
-
Caelum steps into the room, his shoulders slumping slightly as he takes in the surroundings. 'It's a shared room... due to the destruction, they don't have many rooms available. I guess it's better than nothing,' he thinks, resigned to the situation. Dolura finally detaches herself from his side and claims a bed, leaving Caelum to his own thoughts as he sits down and closes his eyes. 'Time to enter my half-asleep state,' he mentally prepares himself for a moment of peace.
However, the tranquility is short-lived. The door creaks open, and Aeliana enters, her white and pink hair shining like a beacon in the dim room, her pink eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. She approaches Caelum and starts waving her hand across his face. "Hello?" she begins, her voice playful. The waves become more rapid and annoying. "Hello, hello, hello, hello."
Caelum exhales deeply, trying to rein in his irritation. 'Calm down, calm down. She's a noble; I can't punch her,' he reminds himself, then asks with a controlled tone, "What do you want?"
Aeliana taps her chin thoughtfully. "I'm bored. I wanted to ask you if you can give me advice like last time," she says, her tone suggesting genuine interest.
Caelum rubs his eyes, slightly perplexed. 'Last time? She wants to be a better person?' He considers her request, then decides to satisfy his own curiosity first. "Sure, but I have a question. That man Novus has the same hair as you. Is he part of your family?"
Aeliana pauses, an idea sparking in her mind. 'Oh, this is a good opportunity. I want to travel with him, but I didn't think he'd let me. But if I say Novus is my brother, I would be able to go, right?' She nods confidently and replies, "Yup, he's my brother. You don't mind if I go with you guys, right? I mean, I don't go anywhere without my brother."
Caelum sighs, sensing the potential complications but also the futility in arguing. "Fine..." he concedes.