mr_clyde_and_the_unforseen_war

 While examining the capsules alongside Hayami, some twitching from the subjects inside make me think that this is a modern torture chamber of sorts. What else could it be? And judging by their appearance, healthiness is not a standard that is respected here. In fact, they are all wearing worn out clothes and dirty too. Spots with blood also are present in some of the individuals.

Looking at Hayami, she seems to recognise one of the people.

“Mr. Flake?” Getting closer to the windows, she starts to bang on the capsule to see if he responds.

“He is a homeless person that wandered around a restaurant I frequently go to. Sometimes, I gave him some of my leftovers. The last thing that he told me was that he got a job at a prestigious organisation.” Clenching her fist, only rage at those who did this to him is expressed by her frowning face.

Patting her shoulder, she smiles slightly at me. “I’m sorry for this.” I need her to be sane for what's to come.

“Kingslayer, we decoded a quarter of the files. We found-”

“A reappearing word all throughout the texts. Which is-”

“Phantasia.”

So, the Innsperta Association wants to write books now? Direct films? It doesn’t make any sense. Are they really good at deciphering? Such thoughts come to an end swiftly as an external agent is here to disturb us.

A banging from the door increases the paranoia of all of us. Signalling Hiyami to hide with the twins, the three of them cover behind one of the pods.

“Is anyone here?” That voice, which only makes waves of rageful resentment reach my heart. Green is onto us.

“Hellooo?... Hmm, guess no one’s here.” Footsteps that get quieter and quieter restore faith in the mission.

Wait, that shadow below the frame of the door… He is still he-

My instincts save me once again, as the door comes flying to me. The shadow of Green is casted in the torture chamber as the lights behind him could blind permanently anyone that directly faces it.

"Now, now, who the fuck are you?" Angrily raising his voice, his now golden claws shine with a faint green aura.

If I talk to him, my voice will be instantly recognised. Which fortunately leaves the option of violence open. How thrilling.

Charging straight at him, I unseathe Lorentz from my waist and try to slash him. Missing by a large margin, my exit from the room is successful. Disguising it as a mistake from me, his attention is now outside of the room and of course, Hiyami and the twins.

"You filthy rat, show your face!"

Trying to claw my head, he damages my visor and a crack appears. Creating space between us, I jump and position myself far from him. Pointing Lorentz at him, the taunt is successful as he lets out a warcry while sprinting to me.

Preparing myself to defend from his attacks, that faint glow from his claws are now brighter than ever. Gesturing his hand as if his prey is at arm's length, he claws the air. An instant later, his hand projected a holographic slash as big as my torso. Staggering for a moment, bracing myself comes naturally at a slow reaction time and for that, a tiny scratch on my shoulders rips the cloth of my shirt.

Relentless holographic claws travel the air to try and damage me. Fortunately, Lorentz has a new module in its parted blade: plasma, capable of even cutting through steel, at the palm of my hands waiting for my orders.

With just contemplating the katana lighting up, it translates to reality. Amaterasu’s blessing propels my slashes to cut through the holographic claws. Some of these attacks are out of my bounds as a human, so evading is also crucial.

This constant wave of talons pushes me back at incredible speed. Realising where this constant battling will eventually lead to, trying to hold my ground is for the best. The main hall is too close! With no other choice as to unveil more fragments of my identity, the deployment of the blades from the handle is only natural. The eight pieces of flaming steel with a touch of plasma on their edge are now working in unison to stop the barrage coming from Green.

His grinning turns to a macabre psychotic face of pleasure, so much so that he comes to a full stop, making my incessant leaping and running follow his lead too. “Hahaha…HAHAHAHA. Pathetic. Show yourself, once and for all!” Shouting for my increasingly fated reveal, the pride inside me doesn't allow it. I’ll not obey you.

“Come and take it out.” Taunting him with a simple hand gesture, his fury could melt an iceberg.

Crouching for a brief moment, he tears apart a piece of the ground. Inserting his claws on the floor, a glowing holographic claw appears on top of where the claws are stuck in. Suddenly, a gigantic version of the talons that persecuted me earlier is now covering the whole floor.

“Run.” Releasing his golden hand, the stereoscopic wave starts to rampage, filling the whole hallway from top to bottom.

In a short notice, my feet start running until my final stop being the railings from where you can view Amaterasu's statue. Some of the guests notice my presence. Only moments later, the falling pieces of concrete and wood, accompanied by the distorted booming sound of the hologram, robs the focus of everyone's gaze.

To evade his attack I had to leap to the side. Now fallen on the floor recovering, he uses this time to catch up to me and grab me by the neck. The strength of his grip is comparable to a demolition charge exploding constantly. Trying to free myself from his hands, he almost reveals his claws to kill me, only to stop for a second.

“This will be better.” A devilish smile that would warm the heart of Lucifer himself paints a picture of Green’s overwhelming pride in his abilities.

Leaping through the air and landing on the ground floor, he then takes my hoodie off. Holding me higher like a hunter proud of his catch, the cameras rolling all point to me, alongside the attention of everyone in the room.

“Hello, beautiful people of Britannia, and the beloved sponsors of Innsperta. I introduce you to the terrorist that haunts our empire to this day. The one and only… Julian, the Kingslayer.”

Dropping me to the floor, even Juliette is shocked. My unstoppable coughing is the only sound in the whole mansion. From the up stairs, on the railings, even the workers are speechless at the sight in front of Amaterasu.

Looking at the eyes of the statue, a certain heat within me finds its way to crawl to the surface, as the only melody in my head is a ringing familiar to me.

My stomach is filled with an indistinguishable mix of emotions.

Carnage…

Rampage…

Hate...

Fury…

Pride.