(A/N: I will change the grace → bonfire because I like it.)
___________
The bonfire crackled softly in the desolate ruins, its flames casting fleeting shadows over the jagged stones and shattered statues that bore witness to countless forgotten battles.
The night sky stretched endlessly above them, its darkness speckled with faint stars, obscured now and then by drifting clouds.
The faint howling of the wind was the only sound that accompanied the fire, save for the occasional clink of armor as the Tarnished adjusted his seat on the crumbling stone beside the flames.
The Tarnished sat cross-legged by the fire, his helm placed carefully beside him. His armor, dented and scratched from the day's battles, reflected the firelight in faint glimmers.
He stared into the flames, lost in thought, until a quiet shift of movement caught his attention. He turned his head to see 2B sitting on the boulder with elegance, her silhouette sharp and graceful against the faint glow of the embers.
"You're going to freeze if you stay over there." He beckoned her to come closer, his voice warm and teasing.
2B hesitated, her arms crossed under her chest. The beautiful silver hair of hers swayed in the breeze and shimmered in the firelight, and her gaze was distant, almost hesitant. "I'm not cold." she replied evenly, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her tone.
The Tarnished chuckled in a low, quiet tone as if he was musing at her reaction. "Come here anyway. You've earned a moment to rest."
After a pause, she stepped forward, her movements deliberate but not unkind. The firelight softened her usually sharp features, illuminating her face with a golden glow as she settled onto the stone beside him. The space between them felt vast despite their proximity, and the Tarnished noticed the slight tension in her shoulders.
Without overthinking, he shifted closer and reached out, gently draping his cloak around her. "There. Better?"
2B blinked, glancing at the fabric now wrapped around her. Her expression softened slightly, and she gave a small nod but didn't say anything to reply to his words.
The Tarnished leaned back, watching her for a moment before speaking again. "You know, it's alright to let yourself relax. We've both been through enough for one day."
She turned her gaze to him, her voice quieter now. "Relaxing has never been something I'm… accustomed to."
"Well." He rolled his eyes, and with a faint smile, he turned his gaze at her. "You could start now." He opened his arms slightly in an unspoken invitation, his movements slow and careful, as though he feared scaring her away.
For a moment, 2B hesitated, her mechanical mind warring with something deeper, something more fragile. Then, as if something within her relented, she leaned into him.
Her movements were stiff at first, but when his arms wrapped around her in a firm, resolute hug, she let herself melt into the warmth that was very unfamiliar to her. Her head came to rest against his shoulder, and her hands settled lightly on his chest.
The Tarnished let out a soft breath, his chin brushing the top of her silvery hair. "See? Not so bad when you can lean on someone, right?"
She huffed lightly, almost a laugh, and closed her eyes. "It's… strange. But not bad at all."
The fire crackled beside them, its warmth mingling with the comfort of their shared closeness. He rested his cheek on top of her head, his hold on her steady but gentle.
The Tarnished stroked her platinum silver hair that had become somewhat of a mess due to the battle earlier in the day, combing it in a meticulous way that didn't fit him at all.
She felt small in his arms, her usually unyielding demeanor softened by the quiet vulnerability of the moment. The two of them enjoyed the other party in a moment of silence. No word could describe how they were feeling about each other right now.
"I never thought I'd find this." 2B murmured, her voice barely audible. "Not in a place like this."
The Tarnished smiled faintly, his grip tightening just a little, as though to reassure her. "Neither did I. But here we are."
They stayed like that for a long while, wrapped in each other and the golden glow of the bonfire. The ruins around them faded into the shadows, the night carrying on unnoticed as they allowed themselves this rare, fleeting moment of peace.
For once, the battles, the pain, and the questions could wait. All that mattered was the quiet comfort of the fire that flickered amidst the starry night and the warmth they found in each other's arms.
The warmth of the fire crackled softly beside them, but despite the peace of the moment, 2B's thoughts drifted, her body still pressed against the Tarnished's. She tilted her head slightly, resting her cheek against the cool metal plates of his armor, her gaze fixed on the dancing flames.
Something in her chest felt... off. Not a kind of malfunction in calculations, nor was it a warning from her internal systems, but an unseen weight she couldn't quite explain, a strange stirring that grew heavier as the silence lingered.
The Tarnished shifted slightly, his gloved hand absently brushing against the fabric of her sleeve as he held her. His touch was light, but it grounded her, keeping her from spiraling too deeply into her thoughts.
"Do you remember?" She began quietly, her voice almost lost in the crackle of the fire, "When we first met?"
The Tarnished let out a low chuckle, his breath warm against the cool night air. "How could I forget? You nearly split me in half. I still get shivers when I think about that time."
2B sat up just enough to glance at him, her expression unreadable under her blindfold but her voice steady. "You didn't seem particularly concerned at the time." She pouted lightly and lifted the blindfold just enough to gaze at him through her bluegray eyes, which were incredibly beautiful.
His thoughts were lost in the moment. This wasn't the first time he saw what lay behind her visor, but every time she showed them, he always got lost in those eyes. But he quickly regained his composure as a warm smile formed on his face.
"I wasn't." His response was playful, but it carried a hint of truth. "I've faced worse. Though I'll admit, I wasn't expecting someone like you. That speed and precision was... something else out of place compared to this shattered world."
Her lips quivered into a faint, fleeting smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You countered my every move. The tactics in your combat weren't recorded in any data I have. But you're able to adapt to my fighting style rather quickly."
The Tarnished tilted his head, his gaze thoughtful. "At first, I thought you were just another monster of the Lands Between, another thing to survive by gnawing what is left in this forsaken land. Worse yet, I encountered you in Seluvis's laboratory at that time, so I thought you were one of his puppets. But when I saw silent sufferings in your movements... I knew you were something different."
"You called me a 'machine' back then." She said softly, the memory sharp and vivid in her mind. She paused, the weight in her chest growing heavier. "You weren't wrong."
"No, I was wrong." Seeing that the atmosphere had dampened all of a sudden, he spoke firmly, breaking the silence. "You're more than a machine that you think you are. After all, you're my dear partner on this long journey."
She turned her head away, her face back to the flames. "I'm not sure I agree with that statement. I've spent my entire existence following orders, carrying out missions. My purpose has always been defined by someone else."
Whenever she felt lost or ashamed, 2B would do that. The Tarnished extended his hand and lightly brushed his fingers across her gloved hand. His touch lingered, light but deliberate. "But here you are. Sitting with me, talking like this. I take it that you were not told to do that?"
She hesitated, her systems whirring faintly in her mind. "No, it's not."
He leaned back slightly, his gaze soft as it seemed to meet hers under the black blindfold. "That first battle... I thought it was the end for one of us. Perhaps it should've been. But something struck in my mind, and I think the same thing happened to yours."
2B's brow furrowed under her visor, her hand curling into a loose fist. "I remember hesitating. For the first time in my existence, I didn't understand why. You should've been my enemy following Seluvis's order, but something about you…"
The Tarnished smiled faintly, though there was a trace of sadness in it. "I felt it too. Like something bigger than the fight itself was pulling us back. A wondrous miracle in a carefully woven tapestry of fate."
The silence between them was heavy now, not from awkwardness but from the weight of the shared memory. The battle had been fierce, a clash of blade and willpower that had left the ground scarred and the air thick with dust.
And yet, the moment their eyes met, something unspoken had passed between them. Something neither of them had been able to put into words.
"I still don't understand it." 2B said quietly, her voice almost trembling. "But it's stayed with me. That feeling… Is that what humans feel? How can I understand this abstract concept of emotions?"
The Tarnished reached up, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. His hand lingered for a moment before he let it fall back to his side. "Maybe we're not meant to understand it. Maybe it's enough that it brought us here."
She turned her gaze to him, her eyes fixated on him as if trying to uncover hidden answers in the flickering firelight reflected in them. "Do you regret not finishing the fight?"
"Not for a second." He replied without hesitation, a mischievous glint in his eye. A sly smile tugged at his lips as he added. "In fact, I was kind of grateful that dragon Adula interrupted us. It gave me the chance to meet a beauty like you."
2B's expression shifted instantly. Her composure cracked as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She was a bit weak with compliments. Flustered, she raised her hands to hide her face, her usually steady demeanor completely unfound.
Seeing 2B flustered like this stirred something playful in him, a rare indulgence that felt out of place. "Oh, come on. That reaction? Adorable." He teased, leaning in to poke her gently on the cheek.
Her response was swift and precise—a sharp nudge to his side that knocked the wind out of him. He winced, coughing lightly as he clutched his ribs. "Okay, okay, remember, you're still stronger than me." He managed to wheeze out, though the smug smirk tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed his amusement.
"That's what you get for teasing me." she retorted, her tone carrying its usual cold, mechanical edge. But beneath it, there was a subtle note of concern.
She leaned forward, gently placing a hand on his arm. Her touch was steady, her movements measured, as she helped him adjust his position.
Before he could say another word, she shifted closer, perching into his lap in a fluid motion. The action wasn't calculated, nor did it seem entirely planned. It was simply what felt right in the moment.
Her arms wrapped around him in a loose but protective embrace, her cheek resting lightly against his shoulder.
The Tarnished let out a soft sigh, his hand moving instinctively to pat her back in a soothing rhythm. "Alright, fine." He murmured, his voice softer now. "But… Do you regret it?" His tone was careful, as if gauging her reaction, afraid to push too far.
She was quiet for a moment, her head resting against him as the fire crackled softly beside them. Then, slowly, she shook her head. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips. "No." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not anymore."
The words hung between them, quiet but heavy with meaning, as the night wrapped around them. In the glow of the fire, their shared silence spoke louder than anything else, the warmth of their embrace chasing away the shadows of doubt and regret.
They fell silent again, the memory of that first, violent meeting lingering between them like a phantom. But now, it didn't feel like a wound—more like a scar, something that had healed over time and bound them in ways they couldn't explain.
The fire crackled on, its warmth wrapping around them as they sat together, the weight of the past slowly giving way to the fragile comfort of the present.
Amidst this, 2B's mind drifted into the distant past—back to when she opened her eyes to this world.
_______
Flashback time
_______
The air in the underground lab was frigid, carrying the bite of stone chilled by centuries of stillness. A thin fog layer ever presented low to the ground, curling around the bases of elaborate equipment arranged haphazardly in the chamber.
The walls, built from dark stone, were carved with intricate golden runes that pulsed with a steady, hypnotic rhythm, like the slow and dying embers. Their light was vivid, yet it was not overbearing, casting a warm glow that seemed paradoxically cold as it flickered over the room's grim contents.
Tables and shelves lined the walls, littered with a mixture of grotesque precision and chaos in the pursuit of knowledge. Glass vials brimmed with thick, shimmering fluids, their hues shifting like liquid metal under the influence of the rune's golden light. Noxious vapors coiled upward, dissipating into the shadows above.
Mechanical limbs, incomplete constructs resembling twisted combinations of metal and flesh, hung limply from hooks on the walls, their gleaming surfaces etched with the same runes that adorned the chamber.
Scrolls and tomes, some meticulously preserved and others disintegrating with age, lay scattered across the space, their forgotten languages a testament to the long-lost knowledge of this place. The golden runes seemed almost alive as they crawled over the spines of the books, whispering fragments of meaning to no one in particular.
At the room's center stood a raised platform of polished obsidian, its edges aglow with the same golden light. The runes engraved upon it were more intricate, their patterns forming constellations of meaning that seemed to hum with restrained energy.
The radiance danced like liquid sunlight, outlining the figure lying atop the altar, a silent, enigmatic presence in a room that felt more alive than dead. The golden runes, ever pulsing, seemed to make the air brimmed with a strange vitality, as though they were the lifeblood of this forgotten domain.
Code name: 2B, or YoRHa No.2 Type B.
She looked more like a masterpiece sculpted by an artisan than a living being. Her body lay motionless, her limbs perfectly aligned at her sides with an unsettling precision that betrayed her artificial origin. Every detail of her form spoke of elegance and purpose, a fusion of aesthetics and functionality.
The black combat dress she wore clung to her figure, accentuating the delicate balance between her alluring appearance and her lethality. The high-slit design of the dress flared proved to allow for her fluid and acrobatic combat style. The high neckline ended in an intricate lace-patterned fabric, revealing a modest window just above her chest.
Her puffed sleeves, ending just past her elbows, were adorned with feather-like textures that seemed almost organic, though unmistakably synthetic. Under the sleeves, layers of black and white fabric seamlessly transitioned into gloves, their material hugging against her skin and extending to her fingertips with immaculate symmetry.
The skirt of her dress, made from a flexible, flowing material reminiscent of finely textured leather, swayed gently with the faintest movement. It was designed not only to enhance her combat efficiency but also to lend her an air of sophistication that set her apart from the chaotic disarray of the world she found herself in.
Her skin was flawless, an unearthly shade of pale that seemed untouched by sunlight or time. It carried an unnatural perfection, lacking the blemishes or imperfections of organic life. Her short, white hair was cut into a sleek bob, its sharp angles framing her serene face with precision.
The black blindfold she wore was unblemished, its smooth fabric concealing her eyes and veiling her expressions. It wasn't just a physical barrier; it was a symbol of her enigmatic nature, a shield between her and the truths of the world she navigated.
She was a being of immaculate beauty and deadly purpose, built to navigate the battlefield with elegance yet bound by the rigid constraints of her design, a paradox in itself. Even in her stillness, she exuded an aura of quiet strength, a dormant force awaiting its awakening.
Her sword rested beside her, bound to the platform with thick iron clamps etched with faintly glowing runes. The weapon radiated an aura of menace, as if resentful of its captivity.
Preceptor Seluvis stood at the edge of the dais, his crystalline gleaming faintly in the flickering light, hiding his true expression and adding to his eerie and artificial demeanor. His robes shimmered faintly, the fabric intricate patterns and vibrant, aristocratic hues that suggested wealth and a scholarly air, but his somewhat gaudy choice of colors hints at a pretentious nature.
He held a tome in one hand, its leather cover illustrated with symbols that writhed as though alive. The other hand extended toward 2B, his long, claw-like fingers hovering just above her form, almost fervent in their belief.
_______
(A/N: For those who don't know Seluvis, he's the NPC you met when we got to Ranni's rise. In one of the three towers.
His questline gives you a potion that turns a human into a puppet. You have four choices to give to Gedion, Nephili, Dung Eaters, Ranni, and if you give it to Ranni, then you're locked from her ending.
So Seluvis is ambitious and cunning to turn against his liege.
The timeline will be years before the Tarnished arrive.)
________
"A marvelous art." He muttered, his voice a low rasp that echoed unnervingly in the stillness. "Not of flesh, nor spirit. A machine, yet... alive."
He circled the 2B slowly, the movement of his robes grazing against the cold floor. His gaze lingered on her features, the serene stillness of her expression unsettling in its unnatural beauty. "What secrets do you hold, doll? What force drives you, in defiance of the Erdtree, of the Golden Order itself?"
His words hung in the air, unanswered, as he turned his attention to a shard of crystal suspended within a delicate frame nearby. A fragment of the fallen meteor, carrying the night's power, a fragment of the starlight.
____
(Description: An ephemeral sliver that gives off a pale blue glow.
What remains of a passing flash of starlight.)
____
The shard pulsed faintly, shining its azure light into an array. He lifted it carefully, holding it at his eye level. The runes on the experiment table flared in response, their light intensifying as the air around 2B began to shift.
Then, a faint movement caught his stoic eyes. He was sure that it wasn't his imagination as the twitch of her finger, almost imperceptible, occurred again. The glow of the runes danced across her body, and for a fleeting moment, her chest rose as though she were drawing breath.
Seluvis froze, his grip tightening on the shard. His crystalline mask obscured his expression, but the sharp tilt of his head betrayed his intrigue. "You can awaken." he murmured, but the ecstasy in his voice was easy to discover.
"What will you become if you do? A tool to wield? Or something beyond my control?"
The runes surged again, and this time, 2B's hand moved slightly, her fingers curling just enough to seem deliberate. The preceptor's lips twisted into a thin, satisfied smile beneath his mask, obscuring under his ridiculously large hat. With a snap of his fingers, the energy dissipated, and her body stilled once more.
"Not yet." He muttered, lowering the shard and placing it back into its gilded frame. "You will wake when I deem it so. I still have some... preparations against that starlight witch."
He turned and strode toward a cluttered desk piled high with notes and diagrams. The quill in his hand scratched furiously across the parchment, recording the details of his experiment.
"A warrior from another realm." he mused aloud, the sound of his writing mingling with the faint hiss of bubbling concoctions nearby. "Free of the Erdtree's influence, untouched by the Flame of Frenzy... you might be the perfect solution I sought."
The chamber fell silent again, save for the soft hum of restrained magic. 2B remained motionless on the table, her stillness belying the quiet defiance that radiated from her very presence.
In this world of twisted faith and shattered ambition, she was an enigma, an outsider whose purpose had yet to be revealed.
Seluvis glanced over his shoulder at her, his eyes gleaming with something between fascination and greed. "Sleep for now, Mrs. Doll. There is much to learn, and when the time comes... you will serve under my guidance."
The runes on the platform dimmed, their light fading to a faint, pulsing glow. The lab grew colder still, the shadows deepening as the Seluvis's attention turned back to his work. Not until Seluvis left the hidden laboratory did the light die out.
Amidst it all, 2B, who had lay silent, began to absorb the starlight shard Seluvis contained in the glass holder placed near her. The power of the shard was sufficient to begin the booting process.
[System booting: 0%... 17%... 90%... 100%]
__________
Darkness filled every corner of her eyes, but then a flash of light brushed by. A flicker, more like a spark, streaked across her HUB, and data began to flood in. The diagnosis of the system began to work once again, reconstructing the shell of her body. System messages continued rolling on her visor, preparing for the protocols that had been set in her core.
[Boot Sequence: Initiate]
[Core: Operational Successfully.]
[Memory Synchronize: Failed to retrieve from Database…]
[Searching for other Databases: Failed to locate, no database could be found.]
[Initiate Backup Protocols…]
[Combat Protocol: Successfully Boot…]
[Emotional Support Protocol: Successfully activated.]
[Environment sensor protocol: Successfully Boot.]
A low hum filled her auditory sensors. The machinery sound of pistons was faint as the complex mechanism of her android body began to do its thing.
Gradually, the sound resolved into a sharper clarity, and the runes hovering above her restrained body glowed in a continuous rhythm, signaling her awakening in this strange world.
[Visual Feed: Online.]
Her sight, which was filled with nothing but darkness, snapped into focus. The images of the world were overwhelming blurs of dim light of black and white with different hues. Her optics adjusted as the blindfold did its job of filtering out the images through the codes rapidly scrolling through her HUB.
She studied her surroundings with curiosity as the live feed described a rather primitive setting. The odd-looking runes were embedded deeply on the old stone walls, flickering alchemical lamps and crystals. The contraptions that were clearly outdated even with just a glance filled the shelves.
Perhaps it was a ruin left by the old time. It did look like a lab, but the technology was primitive compared to the knowledge in the protocol.
Her fingers twitched involuntarily, the subtle movement echoed the soft sound that broke the silence of the ruin. The stiffness from her long dormancy caused her to stumble, but that feeling was soon washed away as the strength calculations were automatically corrected and applied through her cyber muscles.
[POD links: Searching…]
[Warning: No Signal found…]
The alert flared through her mind as her visor was filled with the red pulse on her system interface.
"Ignore the warnings." She mumbled softly, forcing the warning box to close. The priority right now was to assess the surroundings.
She put her long legs down from the experiment table and leaned on it. It felt strange for her to walk after a long time, but it was quickly adjusted based on the calculation that took place deep within her.
She extended her arm to seize the katanas that were arranged neatly next to her and turned on their anti-gravity feature, which caused them to float there behind her.
Her katana hovered behind her in silent obedience, the faint glow of its edge casting a soft light that highlighted the eerie clutter of the lab. Glass beakers bubbled softly on nearby tables, their contents emitting wisps of colored vapor. Shelves buckled under the weight of ancient tomes and arcane relics. The smell of burnt chemicals and stale incense lingered, mixing with a metallic tang that was too strong to ignore.
The black thigh-high stockings, reinforced for battle, lead to sturdy heels that seem impractical yet carry her with inhuman grace. She took a cautious step forward, her high-heeled boots clicking softly against the cold stone floor. Her sensory systems flared briefly, analyzing and recalibrating.
[Environmental scan: Completed.]
[Threat assessment: Moderate.]
A door lay ahead, yet it appeared unreal as the response she got back from the scan said so. It radiated a low hum of restrained magic. But the real danger wasn't the door. The faint sound of footsteps echoing from the hallway beyond it grew louder with each second passed.
Her head turned sharply toward the sound, her posture stiffening.
Hostile entity.
Her combat subroutines began spinning up, the katana behind her shifting position, angling slightly forward in anticipation of conflict.
A voice pierced the silence, low and resonant, carried through the stone walls. "I see you've woken. So predictable."
The voice sent a chill through the stale air, carrying an arrogance that further made her synthetic frame tense. Her visor flared briefly, scanning for the source. The footsteps grew closer, measured and deliberate, accompanied by the faint rustle of elaborate fabric.
From the shadows of the dim hallway emerged a tall, wiry figure. His crystalline mask caught the faint glow of the magical door, refracting light in jagged patterns that danced across the walls. Seluvis stepped forward with the ease of someone entirely confident in his control of the situation. His ornate robes swayed lightly with his movements, their vivid hues standing in stark contrast to the drab stone and flickering green runes that lined the laboratory.
2B's visor highlighted him immediately, her HUD marking him as a potential threat.
[No Weapon Detected.] flashed briefly, though her instincts and directive kept her katana hovering at the ready, its edge gleaming faintly.
Seluvis halted just a few paces away, tilting his masked head as if appraising her. "I had hoped you'd remain dormant a little longer." He said, his voice dripping with condescension as if he was looking at her from above. "But I suppose a creation as... efficient as you couldn't remain idle forever."
Her head tilted slightly, her blindfolded gaze locking onto him. "Who are you? You are not my master." she asked, her tone cold and measured.
"Ah, yes, introductions. How quaint." Seluvis spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture. "I am Seluvis, sorcerer, scholar, and perhaps your savior, depending on how you interpret this... predicament."
Her grip on the situation remained tight, though the lack of immediate hostility from him didn't allow her combat protocols to escalate. Still, the hovering katana angled forward ever so slightly. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Seluvis laughed softly, the sound echoing unnervingly. "That's a rather forward question for a puppet bound by directives, wouldn't you say? I merely want to observe. To understand you, your purpose, and perhaps... repurpose you for something more useful than your current aimless wandering."
Her stance shifted subtly, weight distributed for a potential strike despite the warnings scrolling across her HUD. "You experimented on me."
Seluvis chuckled again, his mask gleaming faintly in the flickering light. "Experiment? Such a crude term. I prefer to think of it as research. After all, you're not from here. You certainly don't belong to this world. Surely even you can sense that."
Her silence was damning, though her blade hovered closer, the hum of its anti-gravity field growing faintly louder.
Seluvis raised a hand, unthreatened by the motion. "Careful, dear Mrs. Puppet. I've woven layers of enchantments through this space. One wrong move, and you might not like what follows."
Her systems processed the information, the subtle glow of runes on the walls confirming his claim. She remained still, calculating the odds of success.
"What is this place?" 2B asked finally, her voice cutting through the tension like steel.
Seluvis's posture relaxed, as though satisfied she wouldn't attack just yet. "Ah, now that's a more interesting question. This is my workshop, a humble space for the pursuit of perfection."
He paused to let the words sink in and pointed his finger at her. His expression under the mask was unreadable. "And you, my dear, are the finest acquisition I've come across in some time. So much potential, so much mystery… there are countless things to discover."
He stepped closer, his mask catching her reflection. "And yet, still bound by chains you cannot break."
Seluvis raised her chin as if he was admiring the taste of whoever created her. His fingers brushed against her skin in an eerie manner. But before the sensation of the mortal flesh, the scholar part of him came first.
He thought of the possible experiments now that she had woken up from her static state. "Fascinating, isn't it?"
2B's lips pressed into a thin line, her visor glowing faintly as her systems began drafting an escape plan. "Release me." she demanded, her voice filled with a rare disgust and spite.
"Pardon me?" He laughed openly this time, the sound sharp and grating. "You misunderstand. You're free to leave… if you can. But I wonder... will you survive what lies beyond? Or will this strange world consume you as it does all others?"
The door behind him began to fade, its magic pulsating faintly as though reacting to their exchange. The illusion wall dissipated at his touch. 2B didn't answer, her blade tilting upward as she took a step forward.
Seluvis tilted his head again, his posture utterly calm. "Do try not to bore me, will you?"
The tension in the room thickened, and the faint hum of the katana's anti-gravity system seemed to echo louder. Whatever was to come next, neither side intended to yield easily.
2B's posture stiffened further. Her combat algorithms parsed his movements, analyzing every subtle shift in his stance. Yet her primary directive held her back, a constant reminder flickering across her HUD:
[Directive: Do not harm humans.]
"Don't change the topic." Ignoring the red warning, she spat out, her voice steady but laced with a faint edge of warning.
Seluvis tilted his head, a gesture both amusing and patronizing. "Though I suspect the likes of you have no appreciation for such things."
"What is truly fascinating is you. An anomaly in the Lands Between, lost and out of place. Tell me, What purpose does a broken doll like you serve here?"
2B's grip tightened slightly on her katana, the hovering blade quivering with restrained energy. Her response was cut short. "Purpose is irrelevant. I exist to survive."
Seluvis took a step closer, his crystalline mask reflecting the faint glow of her visor. "Ah, but survival without understanding is just… a function, isn't it? And yet here you are, defying every one of my expectations. Waking, breathing, and questioning. Do you even know why you woke up? Or who brought you here?"
For a fraction of a second, her system stuttered, the question stirring a fragment of memory she couldn't fully access. She said nothing, her silence both a shield and a weapon.
"I excavated you in an ancient ruin of a lost civilization. Now does that sound oddly familiar to you?"
Seluvis chuckled again, softer this time, the sound carrying an unsettling familiarity. "No answer? No matter. You'll find this world is not kind to those who stumble blindly through it. But then again…"
He gestured toward her katana, still poised in midair. "You seem equipped to handle its hostility. For now."
2B's voice cut through his musings, sharp and commanding. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
Seluvis spread his arms, his movements theatrical, as though addressing an unseen audience. "Why, to observe, of course. To see what you'll do, doll. It's not every day a relic like you awakens in my domain."
The low hum of restrained magic from the door intensified, the runes along its frame glowing faintly. Seluvis stepped aside, a smirk audible in his voice. "Go ahead, see where that path leads you. I'll be watching with interest."
With that, he turned and walked into the shadows, his figure vanishing as his footsteps faded into the labyrinthine halls.
2B remained still, her katana hovering by her side, its edge catching the faint glimmers of magical light. Her system logged every detail of the encounter, tagging Seluvis as a potential threat.
[Threat assessment updated: Moderate-High.]
She turned her attention to the door, her visor scanning the intricate magical script etched into the stone.
Her katana shifted back into a neutral position, hovering close as she stepped forward. The hum of the door grew louder as she placed a hand on its surface, ready to face whatever came next.
The corridor stretched endlessly before her, its dim confines suffused with an eerie blue light emanating from sigils carved into the ancient stone walls. The air was cold and heavy, laced with the faint scent of metal and mildew.
Each of her steps echoed unnaturally, the sound reverberating off the uneven stone with a distorted, almost ghostly resonance. It felt as though the corridor itself was alive, its whispers reaching into her senses like unseen fingers, slowly creeping up her body.
Her katana floated silently behind her, its anti-gravity field a comforting hum in the oppressive quiet. Her systems pulsed with a faint alert.
[System Integrity: 94%]
[Warning: System anomalies detected.]
The red flicker in her interface was brief but persistent, like an itch she couldn't scratch. She dismissed it with a low sigh, her jaw tightening.
The anomalies had been irregular since her escape, but the disruptions were growing more frequent. Now wasn't the time to worry about them.
Ahead, the faint, rhythmic ticking of something mechanical reached her ears, blending with the hum of the sigils. It was methodical, deliberate, and impossibly regular—like the heartbeat of some unseen monstrosity.
"You're curious, aren't you?" The voice sliced through the silence, smooth and insidious, like venom wrapped in silk.
2B froze, her head snapped toward the sound, her posture instantly taut, ready for combat. "You have an odd habit of hiding in the dark, I see." she muttered, her voice sharp and unwavering.
The voice chuckled, low and mocking, echoing through the corridor as if it came from every direction. "And here I thought you'd enjoy the suspense. But no matter... I prefer to remain unseen, for now."
Her fingers twitched, tightening briefly around the hilt of her blade. "Enough games."
Perhaps 2B was tired of this push and pull of Seluvis, her gaze sweeping the corridor. "What do you want?" Her words were abnormally sharp, exuding the unfriendly attitude toward the first human she encountered upon her booting.
"What do I want?" the voice replied, feigning surprise. "Oh dear, this isn't about me. It's about you. You're new to this world, so fragile and predictable. I'm merely curious about how far you can go."
The ticking grew louder. The blue sigils on the walls flared to life, casting rippling, unnatural shadows across the corridor. As the light brightened, a figure stepped out of the gloom ahead.
It was human, but at the same time, it was not. Its limbs were cobbled together from mismatched Tarnished remains, the flesh crudely stitched and fused with glinting metal joints.
Its head was an approximation of human features, but the eyes were lifeless pits, and golden veins of Erdtree energy pulsed faintly beneath its patchwork skin.
"One of my failures." Seluvis's voice crooned as he introduced his artwork, his voice laced with a bit of shame. "Consider this... a test. Surely a YoRHa combat unit can handle a single puppet?"
The construct twitched, then lunged toward her, its movements unnaturally sharp and erratic. Its bladed arm scraped against the stone floor as it charged, sparks flying with each step.
2B's body shifted into a defensive stance, her katana snapping into her hand with fluid precision. She moved to strike, her systems calculating the trajectory in an instant. But then–
[Error: Combat directive disabled.]
[Target identified as human.]
Her systems locked mid-motion, her body faltering as a warning flashed red across her visor. "No!" she hissed under her breath, retreating a step as the puppet swung its blade at her. The sharp edge passed just inches from her side, carving a deep gash into the wall behind her.
"What's the matter, doll?" Seluvis mocked, his tone dripping with amusement. "Are your precious rules getting in the way? How amusingly pathetic."
Her mind raced. The puppet's human components triggered her programming safeguards, making it impossible to attack directly. But her systems didn't stop her from defending herself, or rather from using her environment.
She pivoted, dodging the puppet charge as it threw itself into a nearby pillar, sending chunks of stone tumble to the ground. Her visor highlighted a fracture running along the ceiling, and her systems calculated the weak points in milliseconds.
[Analysis: Structural integrity compromised.]
In a single, fluid motion, 2B hurled her katana upward. The blade spun with a piercing whistle, embedding itself into the fractured section of stone overhead. The resounding impact echoed through the chamber like a thunderclap, sending fissures spidering across the ceiling.
With a deafening sound, the structure gave way, and massive chunks of black stone broke free, falling in a chaotic storm of debris.
The puppet below jerked unnaturally, its grotesque body flaring in a desperate attempt to keep itself intact. The first slab struck its shoulder, shearing off an entire arm in a shower of sharp objects.
Black gooey blood splattered the floor as its legs buckled from the sheer weight of the fallen debris. Soon, the puppet's tendons gave in to the weight of the collapsing ceiling.
Another boulder smashed into its torso, squashing it with a sickening crunch into a bloody paste. The gears and golden filaments poured out, writhing like disemboweled intestines before they stopped moving.
The puppet was consumed in a violent cacophony of destruction as the avalanche continued, sending dust and grit exploding into the air. Before flickering and dying, its golden veins flared one final time, crackling with a brilliance that was almost agonized.
Under the debris, the last pieces of its body twitched weakly before going silent and being crushed beyond recognition.
2B moved forward as the dust settled, her boots crunching through broken stone and the shiny remains of the puppet's destroyed frame. The surface of her katana was as clean as ever as it protruded from a ragged slab of rubble. She grabbed the hilt and pulled it free, causing a black fluid to drip from the edge of the blade.
2B stood up straight and gazed out over the debris, her expression stern and unforgiving. The puppet was reduced to a mangled heap, its once-bright veins now lifeless and dark. She kept her hold on the katana, however, alert for the next danger that might lurk in the darkness.
"Impressive." Seluvis clapped in moderation, his voice echoing once more, as disembodied as ever. "Resourceful, even when bound by your own chains. I must admit, I underestimated you."
She said nothing, merely turning her blindfolded gaze toward the darkness ahead.
"But don't get comfortable yet." Seluvis continued, his tone sharp with anticipation. "There's much more ahead. And I doubt you'll survive long enough to thank me for this... enlightenment."
The corridor ahead dimmed, the sigils fading one by one, leaving her in near-total darkness. Only the soft hum of her katana and the faint echo of Seluvis's laughter lingered as she pressed forward.
________
Some time later…
________
The room was a chilling void of sound, illuminated by the cold, flickering blue light of the crystals embedded in the ancient stone walls.
With her head lowered in a position that was far from natural, 2B knelt on the floor with her knees pressed against the uneven stone, defeat ingrained in every molecule of her being. Her hands were bound behind her back with glowing golden runes that pulsed in slow, rhythmic waves, their magic a weight that pressed intrusively against her body.
Her feeling was betrayed by her clenched jaw and the slight tremor in her cyber muscles, but her blindfold concealed the storm behind her eyes very well. Combat protocols buzzed, her energy reserves changed in anticipation of an attack, and her systems cried out for action.
But the restraints held her in place, blocking her commands and forcing her into the suffocating stillness.
[Combat directive: Suppressed.]
[Pod connections: Disabled.]
[Override functions detected… unable to resist.]
Every time a system alert appeared on her interface, it was like a blow, a physical reminder of her powerlessness.
This wasn't her. This couldn't be her.
She was designed for accuracy, command, and action. But now, she knelt like a helpless doll on exhibit.
Seluvis paced around her, his boots echoing faintly against the stone floor. She felt his arrogant smugness, which seemed to permeate the air, grating against her senses.
"You've performed admirably, my dear. Oh, yes. A truly fascinating subject." he praised, his voice dripping with condescension. "But even you must have realized by now that resistance is futile."
Her fists clenched tighter behind her back, her synthetic skin pulling taut over her knuckles. She wanted to strike, to stop his voice, to put an end to his sick game, with all of her strength. Her defiance was choked by the unknown restraints, whose magic twisted through her systems like intrusive roots.
"You're silent now." Seluvis continued, his tone mocking. "Good. That will serve you well in the presence of her."
His words sent a chilly shiver down her spine. Even though the blindfold blocked her vision, her eyes moved a little.
"Oh, do not fret." He crouched to meet her lowered face and crooned. "You'll be on your best behavior. I can guarantee that." With a snap of his fingers, the restraints were adjusted, causing her head to tilt downward in a mocking sign of submission and her posture to straighten.
Her internal systems flared with suppressed commands and error messages flooding her interface as her body moved against her will.
[Override detected. System integrity compromised.]
No. Stop this.
The words screamed in her mind, but her lips remained still. She was not designed to handle the feeling, but it now consumed her like wildfire, a foreign rage that burned deep within her chest.
He is not my master! Why can't I fight back? Why—
The faint sound of footsteps interrupted her spiraling thoughts. The gentle rustle of fabric accompanied their slow, deliberate pace. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as an otherworldly presence swept in, pressing against her sensors like a physical weight.
Seluvis stood sharply, his smugness tempered by respect. "Lady Ranni." he said in a polished and practiced voice. "You honor me with your visit."
Silvery light glistened on Ranni's pale, ethereal form as she stepped out of the shadows. Her azure eye glinted faintly, but her face was mostly hidden by her wide-brimmed hat. She was surrounded by an aura that was both oppressive and oddly calm, which made 2B's artificial body shiver.
Ranni's delicate hand rose, her slender finger pointing directly at 2B. Her voice, a lilting melody laced with quiet authority, cut through the still air. "This one. What creation is this, Seluvis? Hath thou brought forth yet another trinket for thine amusement?"
Seluvis, ever the sycophant, swept into an exaggerated bow, gesturing toward 2B as if unveiling a masterpiece. "Indeed, my lady. A marvel from beyond this realm, crafted by incomprehensible art. She is—"
"A weapon." Ranni's voice, though soft, silenced him like a blade drawn against his throat. She moved closer, her piercing azure gaze fixed upon 2B, dissecting her with an intensity that felt as though it could peel back the layers of her being. "And yet… she doth kneel. Wherefore?"
Seluvis's confident grin faltered. He stammered, his hands fluttering in an attempt at explanation. "Ah, well, my lady, she had been subdued. She—"
Ranni's tone grew colder, her words biting. "Thou dost misconstrue my meaning, Seluvis. I question not the posture, but her spirit. Doth she kneel willingly, or hast thou broken her will?"
The question struck 2B like a hammer. Deep within her, systems churned, dragging buried doubts to the surface.
Willingly? Nay. Never willingly. Yet… I kneel. Bound by programming, by directives I cannot disobey. But is that all I am? A tool? A thing, forged to serve without question?
Ranni's gaze lingered, heavy and unrelenting. The silence stretched, suffocating, as though the very air had turned against her. Every fiber of 2B's being strained against the magical binds holding her, the desperation to answer clawing at her mind like an unhealed wound.
Seluvis's nervous laughter broke the tension. "Of course, my lady, she is under my absolute control. A creation such as this must need to be guided, for to grant it freedom would be folly indeed."
Ranni's eyes narrowed, and her tone became cutting. "Control, Seluvis, is but a fragile tether. Beware, lest it fray and fail thee."
Turning her full attention back to 2B, Ranni seemed to loom larger, the chill in the air sharpening. "Tell me, machine. If thou wert loosed from these chains, what then? Wouldst thou strike him down? Flee to the wilds? Or stand idle, lost and purposeless, as a blade without a hand to wield it?"
2B's fists clenched so tightly her synthetic joints strained, the motion almost imperceptible beneath her stillness.
Ranni's words cut deeper than Seluvis's mocking ever could because, for the first time, 2B realized she had no answer. Everything had been lost to her since she was unable to access the database to recover her memories.
What would she do? Her silence was not her own, yet it betrayed her all the same.
Ranni tilted her head, as though peering into the very core of her. After a long moment, she stepped back, her expression unreadable. "Intriguing." she murmured, almost to herself. "Yet thou dost underestimate her, Seluvis. Heed my words… this one may yet surprise thee."
Seluvis bowed low, relief flickering across his features. "Thy wisdom, my lady, knoweth no bounds."
Ranni's form began to fade, her voice lingering like frost in the air. "Thou art arrogant, Seluvis. Tread carefully, for it is folly to think a weapon cannot turn upon its master."
The chamber door closed softly behind her, leaving 2B and Seluvis alone in the chilling silence. Seluvis's demeanor shifted instantly, his sneer returning as he circled her like a vulture. "Ah, how cunning you are to feign such innocence and draw even Lady Ranni's eye."
He leaned closer, his voice a venomous whisper. "But you are mine, puppet. Whatever foolish notions stir within your metal construct, know this: your purpose is mine to command, and mine alone."
For the briefest moment, something surged within 2B—a spark, a flicker of rebellion that burned against the chains binding her. She remained silent, but in the back of her mind, a single thought sparked, as steady as a flame in the dark.
A spark of rebellion bloomed with the core of the android.
_________
Years later…
_________
The dungeon was a labyrinth of twisted metal and ancient stone, its walls pulsing faintly with an unnatural light. The air was oppressive, filled with the low hum of dormant machinery and the faint crackle of unseen energy.
The Tarnished stepped into the final chamber, his footsteps echoing in the vast, cavernous space. This place was said to be a secret chamber of Seluvis, who had succumbed to his ambition, acted against his liege, and ended at her hands.
The room was circular, with a raised platform at its center. Pillars of blackened steel reached up to the high, vaulted ceiling, their surfaces engraved with glowing runes that flickered erratically. A heavy fog lingered near the ground, curling around the Tarnished's boots as he approached the center.
And then his eyes caught her.
2B stood at the far end of the platform, her sleek black figure stark against the cold, mechanical backdrop. She sat on the hilt of the gigantic two-handed katana with grace, waiting for the next order.
(Pic)
As soon as she saw the Tarnished walk in, she hopped down, and the blade hovered behind her back in a low hum from the anti-gravity installed in it.
Her katana was drawn, the blade resting at her side, its edge gleaming ominously in the dim light.
Over the years, Seluvis had experimented countless things on her to take over the admin authority set in her core. Since then, she was forced to act as the guard to his laboratory to catch the unwanted guests.
Her visor obscured her eyes, but the slight tilt of her head gave the impression she was already assessing him, calculating his every move.
The moment he stepped onto the platform, a low, resonant chime echoed through the chamber, and the runes on the walls flared to life. A deep, mechanical voice spoke, seemingly from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"Protocol engaged. Threat detected. Begin elimination."
2B's grip on her katana tightened, and without a word, she dashed forward, her movements were incredibly fast. Her attack came down impeccably, the sharp gleam of her katana slicing through his shield as though it was made of paper.
The impact reverberated through the Tarnished's arms, forcing him to discard the shattered shield with a frustrated grunt and kick her away to create some space between them.
With an almost inhuman reaction, 2B managed to bring her katana up to guard against his kick. But the power behind that pushed her away by a large margin. Her boots slided against the cold floor as she stationed herself by plunging her katana into the ground.
2B adjusted her balance before thrusting her blade at the Tarnished once again. Her speed was too hard for normal eyes to see.
Left exposed, he tightened his grip on his two-handed sword, raising it just in time to deflect her next blow. Sparks erupted as the proof of the clashing steel, her relentless strikes forcing him to retreat step by step toward the edge of the crumbling platform.
Her movements were a masterclass in precision. Every slash and thrust was calculated to exploit his defenses. He swung his greatsword in a wide arc, aiming to break her momentum, but she pivoted on her heel, slipping past the blow with effortless grace.
Before he could regain his footing, 2B leaped into the air, her silhouette strengthened by the faint glow of the chamber's runes. She spun midair, her katana arcing toward him in a deadly vertical slash.
The Tarnished reacted instinctively, throwing himself into a roll. Her blade slammed into the platform behind him, shattering stones and sending fragments flying in every direction.
The dust cleared, revealing 2B as she wrenched her katana free from the fractured ground with unnerving poise. She didn't hesitate, her fluid movements carrying her forward as she pointed the blade toward him, her stance ready for another strike.
"You're persistent." the Tarnished said, his voice steady despite the exertion, his greatsword shifting into a defensive stance.
She didn't respond. Instead, she lunged forward, her katana flashing in a blur of silver. The battle had only just begun.
As 2B entered his range, the Tarnished swung his blade in a wide horizontal arc. The air hummed with its force. She dove under his swing, her movements sharp and calculating.
2B thrusted her blade toward his neck, aiming for the killing blow.
But he had long anticipated that move and caught his blade midswing with his other hand. He angled his sword to deflect the blow, though her blade still managed to cut into his skin, drawing a thin line of blood on his neck.
He didn't hesitate and brought the pommel down in a crushing move, aiming at her head. His nearly 2-meter greatsword crashed down, sending debris everywhere.
The blow would have been devastating if 2B couldn't dodge it. But only if it hit.
Tilting her head to the side, she narrowly evaded the vicious blow by mere centimeters and smoothly retracted her katana. Her small body hung low to the ground, and with a swift sweep of her leg, she aimed at his shin.
The kick connected, but it didn't do any good damage as the Tarnished posture didn't flinch for one bit. He remained steady in his stance. The sheer weight of his armor absorbed most of the force in her kick.
Without missing a beat, the Tarnished shifted his sword to adjust his grip, wielding it like a massive hook.
The heavy swing of his caught 2B's small figure in the connection of the hilt and the safe guard, sending her away with a monstrous force. Within a second, she adapted to the situation and twisted her body mid-flight before she landed with a thud.
She placed one hand on the cold floor while the other was still gripping her katana. The calculation swirled in her processor to adapt to the opponent's fighting.
As the battle raged on, the chamber itself seemed to come alive. The runes on the walls pulsed in rhythm with 2B's movements, and energy surged through the pillars, sending arcs of lightning crackling across the room.
The Tarnished had to dodge not only her relentless attacks but also the unpredictable hazards of the arena.
"You're strong." He called out between breaths, his voice tinged with both frustration and admiration. "But why do you fight like this? What are you protecting?"
2B paused for a fraction of a second, her katana raised. Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion. "Orders. Purpose. Nothing more."
But there was something else—a faint tremor in her tone, a crack in the mechanical facade. The Tarnished noticed it, even if she didn't notice herself.
"Your master has died at the hands of Ranni." His words struck a chord in her mechanical heart, sending a rupture as the years of suffering at Seluvis's hands and his twisted mind tormented her.
For an android like her, she shouldn't be able to feel hatred toward her master but here she was. The boiling rebellion and hatred thought consumed her mind in an unknownable way.
He grimaced under his helmet, gripping his sword tightly. "Come on, if you really act like the way you say, you'd have killed me from the first move already."
Her head tilted slightly, as though considering his words. Then, she lunged again, her katana aimed directly for his heart. He parried with his bare hand, redirecting her katana and breaking her poise in one swift movement.
"You are a machine with no purpose in mind, aren't you." He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he took a stance, preparing to lunge at her.
His words, however, caused her to bite down her lower lip in frustration. The change was minimal, and it didn't show much on her cold expression. She placed her hand on the cold floor and performed a black flip to create distance from the Tarnished.
He shouted, pushing her back with all his strength. "Is this really what you want? Or is it what they made you for?"
"I'm only following the orders given by my master." 2B replied, her voice steady but laced with a quiet uncertainty. Though she wasn't sure she truly considered Seluvis her master, her purpose was rewritten by him and etched into her very being.
She was a perfect killing machine for Seluvis and his ambition. But this man's words managed to stir something within her rational and logical thoughts. A spark of emotion that shouldn't be known for a machine.
The Tarnished's eyes flashed with defiance as he countered, his sword deflecting hers with ease. "Then that master of yours is dead. Think for yourself!"
With a quick, fluid motion, he parried her katana and let it slide down the length of his sword. In one smooth spin, he caught her blade under his armpit and yanked it from her grip, sending it tumbling across the floor.
The glow of the runes dimmed, and the air around them seemed to shudder, the chamber's energy faltering with the loss of her weapon.
For a split second, 2B's movements faltered, uncertainty flickering through her eyes behind the visor. The blade that had been an extension of herself was gone, leaving her disarmed.
But the pause was brief. Without hesitation, she summoned her two-handed katana, the weapon humming to life as it floated behind her.
2B switched to her two-handed katana that was hovering behind her and got in the stance. "I don't know what I'm without the directives and orders! What am I but a machine?!" she shouted, defeat laced in her mechanical voice.
The Tarnished didn't let up. He advanced, his sword at the ready, but his strikes were less aggressive, more probing. "Then prove that you're not just a machine. That you have a choice."
Her visor flickered, the faint glow behind it dimming and brightening in rapid succession. She stepped back, her katana lowering further, her free hand gripping her head as if struggling with an internal conflict.
The chamber's energy surged again, brighter and more chaotic than before, as though the dungeon itself was trying to force her to continue.
"Override protocol. Eliminate target."
2B froze, her posture rigid. Then, slowly, she raised her katana again, but this time, her grip was unsteady. Her voice was soft, almost pleading. "I don't… want this."
"Nice said." He muttered, his voice low but full of conviction. For a moment, the Tarnished's expression softened. He could only save the person who wanted to be saved. Pity without one's asking is just a poison to one's self.
He saw the hesitation in her movements, and he deemed it worth it to save this suffering soul trapped in the order that they didn't want to follow.
2B's breath hitched, her katana slipping from her hand as her arms trembled. Seeing the opportunity, he rushed up and tackled her down, pinning her body on the ground as he sat on her smaller frame.
For a brief, fleeting moment, it seemed like the battle had ceased entirely, like time itself had slowed down, leaving only the silence and the uncertainty hanging between them.
But then, her body tensed, her systems clicking back into place. Her grip returned to the hilt of her katana, the faint glow from her visor flickering. The internal struggle was clear on her face, but she wasn't going to stop.
With a sudden surge of strength, she kicked out, knocking him off balance. He grunted, falling to the side just enough for her to roll away, quickly rising to her feet.
But 2B's hesitation had already shown him that things were shifting and the next move would determine everything.
And then, with a sharp, almost pained cry, she drove her katana into the ground, shattering the energy coursing through the chamber. The light faded, the hum of machinery dying away, leaving only silence.
When she looked up, her visor cracked and half-shattered. Her eyes were hidden behind the blindfold, yet it was very human in every way. Her voice filled with something he hadn't seen in a machine before.
Uncertainty.
"Who am I… if I don't follow orders?" she whispered.
The silence that followed 2B's whispered question was heavy, stretching between her and the Tarnished as the shattered remnants of her orders faded from the air. Her katana remained buried in the ground, the faint hum of its energy gone silent.
But the Tarnished didn't lower his guard completely. His instincts, honed from countless battles, told him that whatever choice she had made, their encounter was far from over.
"This should be the time when I say something cool and you're touched by what I say. But fuck it." He chuckled softly, his hands resting on the pommel of his sword. "You're still holding back a lot on your mind."
2B lifted her gaze to him, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. Then she pulled her katana from the ground, its edge gleaming faintly in the dim chamber. "I… don't know who I am without orders. But I also know that it's not right to walk away like this."
The Tarnished nodded, understanding her resolve. "Then let's settle this through combat. They usually say actions speak louder than words, don't they?"
She tightened her grip on her katana and darted forward, her hesitation melting into raw determination. Their blades clashed again, sending sparks flying from every collision.
This time, there was no hesitation in her strikes, no reluctance. She moved like a dancer, her blade an extension of her will, each swing faster and more precise than the last.
The Tarnished met her attacks head-on, his strength and endurance pitted against her speed and precision. The platform beneath them cracked and groaned under the intensity of their battle, the sound of steel against steel echoing in the vast space.
The clashes of the two sent sparks flying in the dim chamber. 2B's movements were fast and fluid, as though she was dancing gracefully instead of fighting. Her katana was a blur of silver arcs as she swung at him.
In contrast to her elegance, the Tarnished was more down to earth, as his movements seemed crude and devoid of any flashy moves. But strangely enough, it countered her very effectively.
2B thrusted forward, her blade aimed at his chest. But the Tarnished sidestepped and stomped down her blade. With an elbow to her wrist, he disarmed her remaining katana, sending it clattering on the ground.
(A/N: Mikiri Counter. Sekiro's players know this move.)
Undeterred, 2B spun into a low kick, trying to throw him off balance. But the Tarnished was like an unshakable mountain, unaffected by her move. He grabbed her neck and slammed her to the ground, immobilizing her completely.
The impact caused a dent upon contact as 2B's system warning messages scrolled repeatedly on the visor. She struggled at his grip and tried to remove his hand but then–
"Stand proud, you're not a machine." The Tarnished's whisper caused all of her struggling to cease as if the situation she was in was nothing but an illusion of mind.
"Congratulations on your freedom." He chuckled slightly at her unresponsive state. 2B felt like a child finding solace in those simple words and couldn't help but feel emotional.
The Tarnished released her and stepped back to give her some space. She remained on the ground, her analysis function couldn't process the freedom she had yearned for. The fluctuation reflected her inner turmoil at the taste of being free from that sick bastard's hands.
"What should I do now?" She admitted that she didn't have anything in mind after being set free. Her voice tinged with something akin to despair and loss as she sat up and gazed at him.
"That's for you to decide. But you can start by taking my hand." The Tarnished offered her a hand, his voice steady and without judgement as he handed her the two katanas rolling on the stone floor.
2B hesitated at first, but then, slowly, she reached out and took the hand of the one who gave her another chance since she came to this world.
______
The walls of the chamber trembled violently, sending fine streams of dust cascading from the ceiling. The rune-etched walls flared and dimmed erratically, their glow pulsing in rhythm with the deep, guttural growls reverberating through the space. A tremor rippled underfoot, followed by a deafening roar that seemed to crack the very air.
From the shadows, a massive figure emerged, its sheer size commanding an oppressive presence. Adula, the Glintstone Dragon, stepped into the dim light, her towering form framed by shimmering, crystalline wings. Each shift of her body refracted light into dazzling beams, creating a surreal and blindingly beautiful aura around her. But beneath the splendor was a sense of menace—a predator poised to destroy.
The Tarnished tightened his grip on his greatsword, his stance instinctively lowering into a defensive posture. His voice was dry but tinged with resignation. "Of course. A dragon. Because why wouldn't there be?"
Adula's roar echoed again, an almost melodic mix of fury and raw power that rattled the chamber. Without hesitation, she opened her maw, unleashing a torrent of glintstone breath. The azure inferno surged forward, consuming everything in its path.
"Move!" the Tarnished shouted, diving to one side as the flames obliterated the ground where he had stood. 2B flipped backward in an acrobatic arc, the heat licking at her heels as she landed in a low crouch, katana drawn.
As the flames subsided, leaving molten streaks on the platform, the Tarnished pushed himself to his feet. His greatsword glimmered faintly, a golden aura beginning to envelop its edge as he summoned his power. "Team up?" he called over the din of Adula's guttural growls.
2B's gaze flicked to him, her visor obscuring her expression, but her faint smirk was audible in her voice. "For now."
They moved in unison without another word, their earlier hostility dissolving into mutual purpose. The Tarnished charged directly at Adula, his greatsword glowing brighter as he channeled his faith into the blade. He swung at her outstretched claw, the impact reverberating like a bell toll. Sparks flew, and while the strike failed to pierce her crystalline armor, it forced her to recoil momentarily.
Meanwhile, 2B darted to the dragon's flank, her movements a blur of precision and speed. Her katana sliced through the air, aiming for the joints in Adula's massive legs. Each strike was surgical, aimed at weakening the dragon's mobility.
Adula retaliated with a ferocity that shook the chamber. She lashed out with her crystalline claws, raking the ground in wide arcs, forcing 2B to flip and roll away. Her tail followed in a sweeping motion, a crystalline whip that shattered the stone floor as it swept across the battlefield.
The Tarnished raised his shield against the tail's strike, the impact jarring his entire body and sending him skidding back several feet. "Damn it, she hits like a fortress!" he grunted, shaking off the ringing in his ears.
2B launched herself into the air, her katana aimed at the dragon's back. Adula twisted with shocking agility for her size, her wings flaring wide. A burst of glintstone energy erupted from her body, forcing 2B to veer off course and land heavily on her feet, skidding to a stop.
"I'll keep her busy!" the Tarnished shouted, rushing forward with his greatsword raised.
"Try not to get yourself killed," 2B replied flatly, though her tone carried a note of wry amusement.
The Tarnished swung his sword in a massive overhead arc, aiming for the base of Adula's wing. The blade clanged against her scales, leaving a faint crack but failing to penetrate fully. She snarled and turned her attention to him, her claws slashing downward.
At that moment, 2B seized the opportunity, rushing in from the dragon's blind spot. Her katana struck at the joint of Adula's hind leg, sparks flying as the blade found a weak point. Adula roared, her balance faltering slightly as the combined assault began to take its toll.
The two fighters weaved in and out of the dragon's attacks, their movements synchronized by necessity rather than intent. The Tarnished's brute strength and resilience complemented 2B's agility and precision, their strikes chipping away at the dragon's defenses bit by bit.
Adula roared once more, her wings unfurling as she leaped into the air, sending a shockwave through the chamber. Shards of glintstone rained down, forcing the Tarnished to raise his shield while 2B darted through the falling debris, her katana gleaming as she prepared for another strike.
"Keep her grounded!" 2B shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
The Tarnished nodded grimly, gripping his greatsword tightly. "Easier said than done!"
Adula's massive wings beat against the air, creating gusts strong enough to stagger the Tarnished and scatter loose debris across the chamber. The dragon ascended only briefly, her crystalline body shimmering ominously as she prepared another burst of glintstone breath.
2B didn't respond, but her actions spoke louder than words. She darted in and out of the dragon's reach, her katana a blur as she struck at its limbs and underbelly. Her movements were surprisingly fast, each attack landing with surgical precision.
Adula retaliated with a burst of glintstone breath, the destructive weapon sweeping across the platform in a blinding wave. The Tarnished dove behind a fallen pillar, using it as cover, while 2B dashed sideways, her sleek form weaving through the torrent of azure flames.
The Tarnished gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "If she gets too high, we're done for. I create a path; you get on her back." he muttered. He threw all of his daggers onto the wall to create a ledge.
On the ground, 2B was already in motion. Her boots barely touched the dagger, using it as a springboard to launch herself toward Adula's back. Her katana gleamed in the shifting light as she spun in midair, aiming her strike at the dragon's wing joint.
The blade bit deep, severing a key tendon with a sickening crunch. Adula's roar of pain shook the chamber as her flight wavered. She plummeted back to the ground, her enormous form crashing into the platform and shattering more of its surface.
Adula twisted, her massive wings creating a vortex of air that sent debris flying. The Tarnished struggled to stay on his feet, planting his sword in the ground to steady himself.
The dragon reared up, her maw glowing with the visible energy of another breath attack. "Move!" the Tarnished bellowed, sprinting toward the dragon's flank.
2B leaped off Adula's back just as the dragon unleashed a devastating beam of glintstone energy, the attack carving a molten scar into the chamber floor. Landing gracefully beside the Tarnished, she glanced at him briefly.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked, her tone clipped.
"You bet." he said, gripping his greatsword tightly. "Hit her until she stops moving."
She sighed in sarcasm. "How brilliant."
Adula's tail whipped toward her, a crystalline blur of deadly force. 2B slid under it at the last second, her katana flashing as she struck the exposed joint at its base. Sparks erupted as her blade connected, and Adula's tail sagged slightly, her movements growing slower.
"Keep at it!" The Tarnished shouted, circling back to attack the dragon's injured wing.
Adula, however, was far from finished. Her eyes glowed brighter, and a pulse of magical energy rippled through the chamber. The runes along the walls flared to life, their chaotic glow reflecting the dragon's fury.
The Tarnished barely had time to raise his shield before Adula unleashed another torrent of glintstone breath, the azure flames sweeping across the platform. 2B vaulted over a fallen chunk of debris, narrowly avoiding the blazing breath.
Adula's deafening roar echoed through the chamber as 2B and the Tarnished launched their assault in perfect unison. Despite their contrasting styles, they moved like seasoned partners, their attacks timed to exploit every opening.
The Tarnished swung his greatsword in wide, brutal arcs, each strike sending tremors through the ground and further splintering Adula's crystalline armor. His strength was relentless, every blow a calculated effort to break through the dragon's defenses.
Meanwhile, 2B was a blur of motion, her katana flashing like streaks of light. She weaved through Adula's thrashing limbs with uncanny precision, each slash targeting weak points where the crystalline plating was thin. Her blade struck with surgical accuracy, leaving deep gashes that glowed faintly with magical energy.
Adula snarled in fury, raising her massive claws and slamming them into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the platform, the force strong enough to crack stone. The Tarnished stumbled, his footing momentarily lost, but he quickly recovered. Using the momentum, he surged forward and delivered a devastating overhead strike, cleaving through one of Adula's claws with a sickening crunch.
The dragon recoiled, shrieking in pain. Seizing the moment, 2B dashed beneath the dragon's neck, her movements fluid and precise. With a powerful leap, she vaulted upward, her katana cutting through the fragile plating that shielded Adula's throat. The blade bit deep, causing the dragon to rear back, exposing the vulnerable expanse of her chest.
"Now!" 2B's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
The Tarnished didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his greatsword raised high, but instead of striking with the blade, he drove his gauntleted fist against the hilt of 2B's katana, hammering it deeper into the dragon's neck. The blade sliced further, nearly severing Adula's throat. The dragon let out an earth-shaking roar, her massive form writhing in agony.
Desperation flared in Adula's eyes. With a heaving gasp, she unleashed a torrent of glintstone breath, the azure flames surging toward her attackers in a deadly wave. The Tarnished reacted instantly, grabbing 2B by the scruff of her clothes and throwing her clear of the blast.
He planted his feet and raised a massive tower shield from pocket dimension, chanting an incantation under his breath. A blue light shimmered across the shield's surface, bolstering its resistance against the magical onslaught. The glintstone breath crashed into him like a tidal wave, but he held firm, gritting his teeth as the searing heat pushed him to his limits.
When the breath subsided, Adula stumbled back, the wounds on her neck partially sealed by the residual energy. The dragon's wings unfurled, creating a powerful gust that swept across the platform and forced her enemies to halt their advance.
Adula's eyes burned with resentment as she glared at them, her pride wounded. With a final, guttural snarl, she flapped her wings and began to fade, her massive form dissolving into shimmering magic. In moments, she was gone.
"Did she just… run away?" 2B asked incredulously, gesturing toward the empty space where Adula had vanished.
The Tarnished lowered his shield with a heavy sigh of relief, his muscles aching from the effort. "Looks like it. Can't say I'm complaining."
2B tilted her head, watching the empty air for a moment longer before turning to him. "Nice teamwork." she said, her tone neutral but carrying a faint undercurrent of approval.
He smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The tension in the room dissipated as they turned toward the chamber's exit. Though they said little, the shared silence was steeped in the unspoken understanding of a hard-fought victory.
As they reached the threshold, 2B sheathed her katana with practiced ease. Her posture relaxed slightly, though her tone remained sharp. "You're not as useless as I thought."
The Tarnished chuckled, his exhaustion evident in his voice. "So… where were we before the big lizard interrupted?"
Her visor tilted toward him for a beat before she turned away, her voice softer this time. "Maybe another time."
He watched her walk ahead, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Are you shy?"
"Shut up." 2B muttered at his teasing.
______
"You were totally cool back there." 2B said as she snuggled up in the Tarnished tight embrace. She quite liked this warm feeling and perhaps was already addicted to it.
The Tarnished chuckled softly, still a bit bashful as he adjusted 2B on his lap. "Cool? I don't know about that. Pretty sure I was just trying not to get cut in half."
She tilted her head slightly, her expression neutral but her tone playful. "Don't downplay it. You had me pinned, didn't you? That was… impressive."
His grin widened, though he tried to keep his tone modest. "Well, maybe a little impressive. But I think you let me win."
2B blinked, feigning surprise. "Let you win? I don't think I'm programmed for that."
"Could've fooled anyone but me." he teased, his hand gently brushing a stray strand of her silver hair away from her face. "You're kind of scary with those katanas, you know. If Adula hadn't shown up, I'd probably be in pieces."
She shrugged, her weight relaxing further into his hold. "Maybe. But you held your own. For someone who looks like they haven't maintained their armor in months."
He let out an exaggerated gasp, his free hand going to his chest in a dramatic posture as though he was insulted. "Now that's uncalled for! My armor is perfectly fine, thank you."
Her lips curved into the faintest smile, and she rested her forehead lightly against his. "I suppose it's not bad. For a human."
The Tarnished chuckled, wrapping his arms more securely around her. "And you're not bad either. For a machine."
She nudged him playfully, her tone softening. "I guess we made a decent team back then, huh?"
"Yeah, we do." he said, his voice quieter now. "Wait, did you mean we don't make a good team now?" He sprang up and looked at her with his eyes widened in bewilderment.
"Remember what you did today!" 2B slammed her fist into his chest playfully and pouted. Her puffy cheek made him want to tease her a little more, but he decided not to ruin the mood.
Without saying anything, the two of them locked their lips in a passionate kiss, their eyes slightly close to savour this sweetness contrary to the harshness of the Lands Between.
He held her head gently, letting the silver hair flow between his fingers. As he stroked her back in a slow and deliberate manner, he could feel the slight shiver causing through her system like shockwaves.
Their breath hitched as they parted their lips, leaving a strand of saliva dangling midair before 2B took the initiative as she wrapped her hands around his neck in the attempt to deepen their kiss.
Her plump thighs adorned in the black stocking locked him in place. She wanted to experience this a little longer, indulging in his embrace like a contented cat.
In the heat of the moment, he grabbed her thigh and slowly moved up to the part where the stocking couldn't reach. The arm around her waist tightened, pulling her body closer to his.
The thought of him wanting to monopolize her for himself made 2B genuinely happy as she let his hands roam throughout her body. The two finally became one at that moment, lost in their love and passion as if the world around them no longer existed.
No one was there to interrupt them, as it was the special place made for the Tarnished and the Android, who found solace in each other's arms.
2B let out a small sigh, closing her eyes briefly as she leaned into him. "I think I could get used to this." she murmured.
________
(A/N: So this is the end of the oneshot, 13k+ words. Quite a number and a hassle to edit this. Also, fuck that one guy who wants fluff in an Elden Ring fic.)