Chereads / Memerdimension Neptunia: Checkmate Re;birth! / Chapter 5 - Are You Going To See The Rose In The Vase, Or The Dust On The Table?

Chapter 5 - Are You Going To See The Rose In The Vase, Or The Dust On The Table?

"Ara! Where are my manners?! Please, allow me to introduce myself, boys!" She shouts, switching her attitude to a more friendly and curious one, "I am the Viral Pernicious Unit: Vinaya, Lioness Sin Pride, and you two are?"

Towering at easily six feet tall, a well-dressed older woman took a mocking bow before the only two beings able to move before her. She had a cocky smile on her elegant and beautiful features. Her attire sported a bold gold with white accents and features, and her bright red eyes burned with confidence as she began strutting her way over to them.

The two men took a glance at each other with their peripheral vision, keeping the focus of their gazes on the enemy. Both men knew rushing in by themselves would result in certain death, proven by the blade in the adversary's mouth. They couldn't afford any distractions, but a plan of action was needed. Putting away one of his swords, the blond male was the first of the two to speak.

"Weeping Angels?" Mugen said cryptically, his voice barely above a whisper to avoid that woman from hearing him.

The blond raised a sword-clad fist, offering it for his friend. Who in turn mirrored his ally, eyes burning holes into the lioness's soul. Meanwhile she was taking painfully slow, deliberate steps towards them. Her glare focused on the singular sword in Mugen's possession at that moment.

"Weeping Angels," Gynesis nodded bumping his fist with his ally's.

Both men's faces scowled in contempt at the Viral Pernicious Unit walking over to them. The gestures barely hide the hints of Fear racking their entire bodies at that moment. Whatever 'Weeping Angels was, it apparently involved the redhead getting deathly close to them.

Vinaya looked like she was on a Sunday morning stroll, sultrily shaking her hips as she sauntered over to them. As seductive as those movements might've been if an ordinary woman had done them, the emotions evoked were anything but positive. 

The way she was walking felt... strange to the two. With every step she took, the facades provided by their scowls slipped further and further off. Every time one of her heels hit the ground, they'd flinch ever so slightly, but never back away. No matter how much their bodies wanted to.

"My, my, still standing? You two must be quite powerful~" Vinaya taunted, her words perfectly fluent despite Gynesis's sword in her mouth. "Even if you two are shaking like little leaves in a hurricane~"

The redhead was awfully close by now, almost enough for one of the two men to hit her with their blades if they'd only taken one step forward. And it's there that she took her last step, her gaze asking them to get within her range. Daring them to.

Just one. All Mugen needs to get within attacking range is to lurch a few inches forward and he can swipe at her again. And yet he stayed put, still fist-bumping his comrade.

That was until he let go of his sword, allowing it to leave his grasp. With his weapon no longer in his hand, Mugen dashed to her flank, leaving Gynesis to catch it before disappearing into black lines. Appearing right next to her in the blink of an eye compared to how quickly he moved earlier, Mugen arrived inches away from Vinaya, his fist cocked back for a right hook.

However, their enemy's gaze didn't move from the katana's new wielder. He'd reappeared directly behind her, after rushing straight at the woman with a slash to the chest. But her close tabs on him allowed her to read the upward slash he'd sent with ease, and counteraccordingly. Counter by backhanding the weapon, resulting in a metallic clang to ring out and sparks to fly. It seemed her sleeves doubled as bracers. Fashionable and functional.

"What's the matter, boys?" The woman chuckles, a low, menacing sound that not many would want to hear coming from behind them on a late-night walk home. "Cat's got ya tongues?"