Chereads / Spectres of the Past: Prince of Spectres / Chapter 8 - Kintsugi Soldier: part 2

Chapter 8 - Kintsugi Soldier: part 2

In the hangar, Wade is seated off to the side as Prince and Ford stand opposite one another

Prince

Are you ready for this?

Last chance to back out.

Ford

After waking me up from my nap, you better believe I'm ready for a fight.

Prince

Alright then.

Wade, tell us when to start!

Wade

Sigh…I can't believe you two are actually going through with this…

Whatever, fine.

Ready?

Go!

As Wade yells, Prince and Ford both unleash their Manifestos

Ford's Manifesto appears to resemble a human, except it has ribs seemingly growing outside its body, and possesses a third eye in the middle of its head. In addition, it has a number of fractures that seem to have been resealed

Ford's Manifesto elbows the wall next to it, causing a part of the wall to suddenly extend, hitting Prince in the face

Prince

Ugh…

(So that's his Manifesto…)

(At first glance, it looks like it would be good for close quarters combat, but I guess it's like that guy on the train, he knows his Manifesto's physical limits, so he uses the environment to his advantage.)

(Still, that just makes me want this guy to join us even more!)

Nice hit!

What's your ability called?

Ford

Huh?

Why are you interrupting our fight to ask questions?

Prince

I'm just curious

Ford

Fine I guess, my ability is called Kintsugi Soldier.

Since we're still in a fight, I won't tell you the problem.

All I can say is, you won't be able to defeat me in this space.

Prince

Funny, I heard the same thing yesterday.

Things didn't work out too well for the last person who said that.

Ford

What about you?

What's your manifesto?

Prince smiles as he whispers something

Ford

What was that?

Devil's Trill stomps on the ground, releasing the sound Prince had stored causing Devil's Trill to be pushed forward incredibly quickly, catching Ford off guard

Prince

I call it Devil's Trill!

You said flying made you feel at ease, well music does that for me!

So why don't I show you what you're gonna miss out on if you don't join us!

As Devil's Trill goes into punch Kintsugi Soldier, it blocks, however instead the sound is distorted, sounding like a loud snare drum as the two Manifestos exchange blows

Ford

Hngh!

(The ability itself is really straightforward, it just controls sound…)

(...but the way he uses the ability in combat is absurd!)

(This Manifesto has such a large bulky form I never thought it would be able to move this fast, but it doesn't trade speed for power or anything of the sort!)

(His Manifesto keeps loading its elbows with sounds, setting them off to help accelerate its punches even more, adding to their power!)

(I need to move the fight, or else Kintsugi Soldier won't be able to make full use of its ability!)

Ford looks around him in a hurry, and picks up a large hammer, and swings it into the ground, causing it to crack

Ford

Kintsugi Soldier!

Kintsugi soldier ducks out of the way from Devil's Trill, and punches the ground, causing a large spire of concrete to extend, forcing Devil's Trill into the air

Prince

Oof!

Prince spits out the blood that was gathering in his mouth before smiling again

Prince

Isn't this great!?

C'mon, Ford, can you honestly tell me you've ever done something like this before?!

Ford

Can't say I have…

Wade

(What's even going on with this fight?)

(It's my first time seeing Prince fight up close, and he has such an interesting way of doing it…)

(True to himself, he doesn't let anything constrain him when he's fighting.)

(Prince, I know you say music makes you feel free, but I think it would be equally true to say that fighting makes you feel free.)

Prince laughs as Devil's Trill starts to get faster and louder, with each time it hits a different surface, creating a different sound.

Its punches blend together to form a symphony in the small hangar

Ford

(I need to start stepping things up!)

(I've been on the defensive this whole time since he shocked me with that first attack, I need to regain control!)

(If I let him keep going at his own pace, who knows what will happen!)

Before Devil's Trill can connect another hit on Kintsugi Soldier, it punches itself, causing its body to morph and avoid the hit from Devil's Trill

While Prince sits there in shock, it hits itself again, and the extra ribs around it begin to dig in and grab onto Devil's Trill's arm

Ford

Let's see what you do from here!

Prince

Hehe!

Challenge accepted!

Devil's Trill lifts up the arm holding onto Kintsugi Soldier, before slamming it into the ground repeatedly, forcing it to let go

Prince

Didn't see that coming, did you?

Ford

Same to you…

Bet you didn't expect this?

Kintsugi Soldier reaches out and touches Devil's Trill, causing it to fall to its knees

Prince

Woah!?

What's this!?

Ford

I finally managed to meet the conditions for Kintsugi Soldier.

Kintsugi Soldier can restructure anything it's broken.

Prince

Oh, so that attack with digging into my arm wasn't to stop my attack…

…it was to set up your own!

Ford looks very smug as he smiles and gets up

Prince

That was a really good strategy!

That came way out of left field!

Ford

Thanks!

I was pretty proud of this!

I never really needed to actually get Kintsugi Soldier too involved because no one has been able to see it in fights, but when I was watching how your Manifesto kept moving around without restrictions, it gave me an idea.

Why should I limit myself when I still had more cards to play?

Prince

Hehe, I know, right?

Ford

Well, thank you for the sparring match, it was good training before Europe.

Tell me, what's your name?

I wanna know who to address the postcard to!

Prince

Prince Spectre!

Ford

Prince Spectre…I'll make sure to remember that!

As Kintsugi Soldier goes in for its final hit, its fist stops right before connecting

Prince

?

What's wrong?

Ford is starting to sweat profusely as he begins to shake

Ford

Wait, by Spectre, you wouldn't happen to be related to…James Spectre?

Prince

Well yeah, he's my dad.

Ford is in complete shock and stumbles back

Ford

W-wait, no, no why am I fighting against that guy's son?

Prince

Is something wrong?

Wade

Well, you know how I said your dad was a big deal in the CIA?

Prince

Yeah?

Wade

Well, he also has a bit of a reputation among Manifesto users–

Ford

A bit?!

What do you mean "a bit"?!

That's The King you're talking about!

Prince

The king?

He's not royalty though, he's just a guy.

Ford

Ha, I can't believe this…

The King is considered to be the best Manifesto user known across the world!

His Manifesto is unmatched in its balance, between its regeneration ability, it's capable in both close quarters and long range combat!

Not to mention, The King himself was the first one to begin to cultivate young Manifesto users in any official capacity, to the point where even the American government couldn't ignore him anymore!

He's also had numerous legends associated with him during the war, to the point where he's become something of a folk-legend to both Manifesto users and regular people!

Anyone who knows anything about Manifestos has heard about The King before!

They say he towers above common people,a fearsome tail that has the power to pierce anything with its explosive fire power, as well as large and well defined build.

To top it all off, they say that his head is adorned with a crown of black flames, the signature sign that his Manifesto is an anomaly!

How could his own son not even know about his dad's legends!?

Prince

I dunno, he was never really around, anyways, are we going to continue this fight or not?

Ford

Are you crazy?!

There's no way I can go toe-to-toe against The King's son!

Prince

What are you talking about?

You were doing it before, you even brought the king's son to his knees with one attack.

You should have more confidence in yourself.

You're strong, there's no doubt about that.

So instead of letting your doubts and insecurities control what you do, tell me what you want.

I'll do whatever I can to help if I can, so just say it with confidence.

Prince smiles reassuringly, as Ford is caught off guard

Ford

Prince…

I give up. You win.

Ford falls to the ground in defeat

Prince

What?!

N-no, but I wanted to keep fighting more!

Is it cause of who my father is?!

I told you, we're different people so it doesn't matter!

Ford

That's not why I wanted to stop fighting…

Ford starts to mumble something under his breath

Ford

…no one else has ever said that to me…

…How could I keep fighting someone that nice…?

Wade

What was that?

Ford

Nothing, me talking to myself.

Wade

Oh, hope it wasn't something you didn't want us to hear.

Ford

Why?

Wade

Prince has good ears.

Ford starts to blush and sweat as he looks at Prince who is smiling ear to ear

Prince

Wade! Wade!

Wait till you heard what he said about me!

Ford

Ah!

Be quiet you musical munchkin!

Ford tries to cover Prince's mouth

Prince

Ow!

Wade looks at them and smiles

Wade

So, Ford…

…Are you coming with us?

Ford scratches his hair nervously

Ford

If you guys would be ok with someone like me joining you two…

Wade

Of course we would be.

Now, could you move your hands?

You're kinda choking Prince

Ford

Hm?

Ford looks down to see his elbow still left on Prince's throat as he slaps the ground, gasping for air

Ford

Ah!

I'm sorry!

Hold on Prince!

Don't go into the light!