Resolve

Himeno stumbled back, hands held before her. She shook her head in an attempt to do away with the blurs clouding her vision, the blood dripping from her nose and mouth flinging toward the floor. She caught a glimpse of something rapidly approaching, her arm raised and prepared to block the attack.

A sudden jolt tugged at her arms, forcing them both to her side.

“Enchain!” She could hear someone yell.

The man before her clasped his hands together as if her were gripping onto something, pulling them back and around his shoulders before swinging with all his might. Her entire body jolted to the side, her blood staining the floor beneath her. Another, wielding a switch-blade, approached, preparing for a follow-up.

Himeno gathered her strength, pulling away from the invisible chains tying her down and furthering the distance.

The corridor they found themselves in was much too thin for a four-on-one brawl, forcing the agents to attack in waves. She stepped away until her back was at the end of the loading dock, her weight pressed up against it, her legs about ready to give out. The agents were cautious about stepping in with her, the man with the switch-blade at the forefront of their group.

She thought about how easy it would be to fall asleep, to simply allow herself to fall and give in to the peaceful feeling taking her over. She thought back to Sylvie, and she apologized in her mind hundreds of times. She could feel herself slipping away, that cold, comforting feeling starting to take over. The sound of heavy footsteps approached, her vision darkening.

Then, she was reminded of that dream. The dream that always haunted her, in which she always watched her mother die at the hands of that man. 

An invisible jolt of electricity coursed through her body, her eyes snapping open just in time to evade the oncoming attack. She moved her head to the side, the man's knife cutting through the metal at her back. She took his wrist into her hand, slamming her fist square into his face, putting her entire body into the strike. Blue wind surrounded her fist, and the agent's body flew backward, almost crashing into another.

The other three looked onward, shocked. She could hardly keep both her eyes open, blood flowed endlessly through her nose and mouth, and her legs were working overtime to keep her standing upright. Regardless, her resolve remained strong.

Another agent, a woman, rushed in, arms encapsulated by shining blue light.

“Get out-” Himeno pushed herself off the wall of the loading dock, leaning forward and pulling her head back, “My way!” She slammed her forehead against the woman's nose, blood gushing out of her nostrils. She stumbled backward until she fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Enchain!” That voice from before shouted, and again, she could feel an invisible force tug at her arms. The same man from before approached, hands clasped together once more in preparation for a second strike.

Himeno tugged out of the invisible chains, clasping her own hands together and smashing them onto his chin. His body disconnected from the earth, tilting backward until he fell onto his back, falling unconscious.

The last agent standing cowered away, holding a hand out and shouting: “Enchain!” The invisible force tugged at her once more, this time wrapping itself around her entire body. Blue light shone around his palm, that same light fully consuming Himeno.

She fell to her knees, attempting to resist the invisible force. The blue light surrounding her body grew brighter, the man before her straining so much so that a vein appeared on his forehead. At the same time, the blue light around his hand intensified, expanding like a wall. She struggled against him, blood spilling from the agent's nostrils. He winced in pain, his arm giving out, the blue aura surrounding them dissipating completely.

She stood upright, slowly approaching the man. He cowered away in fear, holding his hand before him yet again. Nothing came out. Himeno gripped his wrist and squeezed. The man squealed, the sound of crunching echoing to him repeatedly.

“You’re gonna be a problem.” She muttered, taking a hand and placing it around his throat, squeezing tightly.
Her expression darkened, and she couldn’t tell how much time had passed. She simply waited until he no longer struggled, his body going limp in her grasp.

The other three agents stood in unison, looking at the horror before them.

His body collapsed, her gaze fixating on the other three.

“I won’t let anyone get in the way of me taking what’s mine.”

|

NN could feel something sharp cut through his skin, his button-up tearing, blood pouring from the right side of his chest. He stumbled back, clutching the burning wound.

“It’s as I foresaw.” The agent spoke, “Fighting me is a pointless endeavor. Listen to me, join our side, and you can live on serving a greater purpose!” He was practically pleading.

“Shut up! I already told you, I have no interest.” He groaned in pain, his legs growing weaker.

“I can heal your wounds. Just give in.”
“Give in? Join your side? For what? To serve a ‘better’ purpose? Better by whose measure? Yours, or mine?”

“You’re losing too much blood, and you aren’t making any sense.” He pointed his spear forward.

NN charged, agent Moore twirling his spear around and slapping the butt onto his chin.

His ears were ringing, and he stumbled back, falling to the floor, a wide grin on his face.

“Is this what you foresaw?” He asked weakly.

“It is.” The agent answered, watching NN’s blood pour from his body. “Your life ends here.”

“Is that so?” He removed his hand from his pocket, holding a black chess piece over his head. A black queen.

The agent began pulling through his own pockets, realizing his piece was now missing. “When did you-”

“This was always my goal,” NN stated, a red aura tangling itself around him, growing in intensity. It flowed from every part of his body, his open wound now sealing up. He held the piece between two fingers, that grin on his face growing even wider.

“If only you’d looked just a bit further, you could’ve won, but now.” He tightened both his fingers, crushing the chess piece to bits. “Now you lose.”

Agent Moore took a cautious step back, grip tightening around his spear.

“Take a look. What does the future hold?” NN taunted.

The agent peered at him, then beyond him, into something only he would be able to see. But there was nothing; he could only see himself.

“What the hell type of trick is this?”

“What’s it look like? I fulfilled your stupid future to get my hands on the chess piece and created a condition with myself. ‘If I can get my hands on that queen, then for the next minute and a half, his ability won’t.”

“Tch.” He rushed forward, “That changes nothing!” He plunged his spear straight through his chest, watching as it passed through with zero effort. There was no blood; NN didn’t even do as much as flinch. It was then that he felt a sudden jolt around his own chest, and what felt like fire burned through his flesh. His eyes widened, blood spurting from his open wound, an overwhelming amount of pain consuming him. His spear dropped from his hands, his body stumbling back, and his hands clasping at his chest. There was nothing there, no wound, not even a drop of blood. Beads of sweat ran down his face, his entire body shaking as he let out breaths of hot air.

“So long as you can’t take what you dish out,” NN muttered, suddenly appearing before the panicked agent. “You won’t be able to beat me.” He planted his fist firmly on his gut, an overwhelming pain swelling around both their abdomens.

Agent Moore flew back at an insane speed, tumbling backward several times until he was finally able to land back on his feet.

Where was he hiding this power? His thoughts screamed to him. He remained on the floor with one knee planted into the ground, panting heavily.

“Don’t worry.” NN appeared before him again, without a sound. “None of it is real, only the pain is.” He crouched down, taking his hand into his own and squeezing tightly.

The agent could feel something jolt and tear in his wrist, both of them wincing in unison. When he looked toward his wrist, however, nothing was wrong with it.

“It’s called the ‘ring of resonance.’ It’s my secondary technique that allows me to negate all battle damage taken from both parties; however, you still feel pain all the same. Not only that, but we also feel whatever we dish out, meaning our pain is in sync!”

“You’re insane! An ability like this is bound to destroy both your body and mind!” He quickly stood, squaring off against his opponent.

“You call it insane, I call it living.”