The situation became chaotic as we couldn't stand anymore against this city. Both me and Lunette wielded our swords and swung it towards the guards with our full power, and so are the guards. The noble behind them continued backing them up with his gun and shot us without stopping. Each of his shots is quick like a bee's sting, I barely could avoid it as the guards kept attacking us. The battle became fiercer and fiercer each passing second, and the others kept cheering at us like they were watching a gladiator. These adults are so sucks, how could they watch two teens fighting with pro guards without doing anything?
The noble doesn't seem like he cares if his gun shot the guards as well. He kept shooting his gun like crazy, he aimed randomly at us and some of his shots hit the people around us. And the people who didn't get hit? They just laughed at those who got shot by the noble. My and Lunette's faces became paler and paler as we continued watching their behavior. My rage reached its peak, I couldn't stand anymore.
I stabbed my sword to the ground and started to activate my magic. My hands grabbed the sword tightly as my eyes changed slowly to its form. I can feel the mana enveloping my body even more than before. Someone told me if magic was connected to our psychology. In Tyone Academy, they taught us that magic could be failed if our emotions are unstable. The teacher said if our rage reached the peak, our magic could become stronger. Though, we couldn't win if we can't keep our head cool in a fight. But this time, I couldn't help it.
A frown formed on my face as I continued to channel my mana through my sword to the ground. I prepared myself to cast a big scale magic. Lunette seemed like she understood as well as she activated her magic as well.
The first guard scoffed a bit and said with a slight smirk, "Do you think we will let you do that easily? You know you're not the only one who can use magic, right?" He grabbed his lance tightly and dashed towards me.
His gaze is really firm like a beast, it's almost like he really wants to rip my throat. His grip on his lance is really strong like he won't release it no matter what even if he dies.
The noble smiled slyly like an evil then spoke, "Heh, you're such a good guard. Now, catch those girls and kill them. There are lots of substitutes for them." He aimed his gun at me.
Lunette blocked the guard's way to me and swung her sword to parry his lance. The other guard made his own way to Lunette as well then swung his lance at her. Lunette tried to defend herself with her sword as if she's defending her lifeline. She swung her sword to defend her back, her chest, and every part of her body. The battle was very intense, their swords clash flawlessly and very light. Lunette couldn't counter their attack as they forced her to keep her defensive stance. Her footwork was practiced, thanks to Big Sister Wave who trained her so hard.
The noble aimed his gun at me while I was channeling my magic as he spoke with his arrogant eyes and smile, "Now, at first I want both of you to be my collection if both of you stop resisting at the first place. But, it's too late now, just die like this dumb family who dares to against me."
It's not like I care about it anymore. I could feel the magic was ready now. Both me and the noble were staring at each other as if we're willing to kill each other. He pulled the trigger of his gun as I released the magic of mine. The floor was frozen as it kept spreading through the floor. I don't care anymore if my magic would hit someone anymore. The rage has taken over me as we clashed our magic. The time ticked so slow as the world faded, only leaving both of us. His bullet was aiming at my chest while my magic was reaching his foot.
Before we hit each other, the mysterious figure with the black full body armor with red and white details on his armor fell from the sky and was standing between us. He blocked our magic with his bare hands as if our magic was nothing to him. The people around us quickly became silent, only leaving the sound of his machine and the wind through our skins.
The noble tilted his chin up as if he was underestimating him and said with the same arrogant voice, "Heh, the troublemaker has arrived. I know those girls were related to this traitor." He snapped his fingers, signaling the guards to arrest the mysterious figure.
The guards spoke in unison with excitement, "Understood, boss!"
Lunette took a few steps back to me as the guards turned their attention to Chronexus. They chuckled then rushed forward to him with their lances. I gritted my teeth as I felt the urge to intervene. He wasn't on our side, but I can't stand it as he took over our fight!! He was just a stranger who almost killed us before. It's not like I want to help him, but they said my enemies' enemy was my friend, right? Just see he will be the next after those guards.
I took a step forward to charge at them and the noble, but Chronexus guarded himself with his right leg as the guards strike him with their lances. I stopped myself from intervening. My legs were stuck on the ground and I was unable to move them. My body felt frozen in time, I don't know what happened to me. I could only watch them in place as they began their fight fiercely as if this world was at stake.
The guards continued their combined attack at him, but Chronexus avoided it like an adult who was playing with kids. One of the lances almost stabbed him in the chest. One of the guards smirked and let out a small "heh" from his mouth confidently. All of the people started to think they were finally able to erase the symbol of rebellion from this city, but me and Lunette think otherwise. They won't be able to reach him at all with those attacks.
Chronexus spun his body and lowered his body, "Nexerious Style, Beta Crush." He said as he prepared his blazing right arm.
One of the guards was surprised and spoke with a fearful tone, "What?! Please, don't!!"
Chronexus didn't seem like he listened to him and continued his action. The guard was unable to dodge it as Chronexus moved with an incredible speed. He clenched his hand tightly, telling that he was ready to launch his attack at any time and then, BOOM!! Chronexus punched the guard through his chest with his blazing hand. He created a huge hole in the guard's chest. The guard's chest was burnt as the armor melted away and the blood escaped from his chest. Everyone in the place was shocked by the view including me and Lunette. The other guard fell onto the ground with his shaking legs, unable to stand up. The noble didn't care at all while continuing playing with his gun.
I couldn't help but start to think that I was the one who was going to do that before if the rage kept taking over me for a longer time. I almost kill people, glad I'm not the one who's doing it now.
The fight ended so quickly as everyone left in fear. Chronexus was still standing in place and enveloped with a scary and mysterious aura. He was just staring at the other guard from his shoulder then he started walking to him slowly with a cold demeanor. The noble fired his gun at him, but his magic didn't scratch his armor even a bit.
The noble was surprised and spoke with an annoyed tone, "Don't forget about me, you damn metal." He shot his gun at Chronexus again repeatedly, but nothing worked.
All of his attacks were reflected by his thick armor and Chronexus just continued walking towards the guard who was crouching backward to run away from him. His every step was so firm and heavy, so cold as if even the atmosphere could kill me anytime. The guard continued crouching away from him in fear.
"No, no, no, NO!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!" He said in fear as if the world was over for him.
Chronexus spoke with a cold and mechanical voice, "And? What did you do to them when they begged you?"
A shiver came to his spine as if every hair from his body stood up in fear. The air was chilling his body even more than usual. The air felt so thick as his body trembled in fear like crazy. His face became paler and paler each step of Chronexus who came over him slowly as if he was enjoying this moment of his fear. Chronexus's hand was blazing with fire as he stretched his fingers repeatedly as if getting ready to do it one more time.
"H-hey, you want money, right? I'll give it to you, how much do you want? How about a thousand giros? That was quite a lot, right?" He slowly reached something from his back, trying to do a surprise attack at Chronexus.
Chronexus spoke back again to him with the same cold demeanor, "So? My bounty is a million giros, a thousand times more than what you have. How embarrassing." He clenched his fist even more as the flame burned hotter around his hand.
His cold demeanor made him unable to move again and frozen due to his fear. The guard was shaking his head in fear as if begging for his life, but Chronexus continued walking towards him without any slight care for him.
The guard continued trying to stay away from him and begged for the noble's help, "Boss, help me!! I don't wanna die!!" He screamed at him.
Unfortunately, the noble just shot both of his hands with a satisfied smirk, "Who said you were allowed to ask me for help?"
The guard's face turned into true fear as his words reached him. It felt like his hope vanished right in front of him. I know that he deserved it, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of pity at him in my heart.
The guard screamed again at him with a begging voice, "Don't please, don't!! I beg you!!"
Chronexus was finally standing in front of him. Neither of them moved as if they were frozen in time. Chronexus's aura was very scary as if he was an incarnation of a monster, even stronger than the chimera that we fought long ago. Without waiting any longer, Chronexus grabbed his collar and brought him into the air. The guard's expression was really terrified until he couldn't speak well, all he could do was just mutter nonsense. Me and Lunette closed our eyes as Chronexus blew a punch through the guard's body, melting his armor along with his body. JLEB!
My hands were shaking, I can never get used to it. I can hear the stab passing through the guard's body and the machine noise from Chronexus's armor. The world felt like it had faded and no one dared to speak or make any slight movement, leaving us in silence.
The noble clapped his hands and spoke in an arrogant tone with him, "Good work, maybe you're stronger than I think. But, let's see if you handle this."
Huh? What did he want to do now? I opened my eyes and saw Chronexus was standing and looking around us. We were surrounded by the guards again. This time not only just two, we probably were surrounded by ten, or even more. I felt a sudden panic in my chest as I racked my brain to escape from this situation.
Lunette yelled and sighed like a kid, "Aw, come on!! Can we just get out of here already?!" She pulled out her sword again and kept her stance.
I spoke to her as well with the same annoyed manner, "I hope we can too, but it feels like impossible for now."
Lunette turned her gaze to Chronexus and shouted at him, "Hey! I know you're not on our side, but we can work together this time, right?"
Chronexus looked at us silently then spoke, "Don't worry, I know both of you now. I won't let either of you die here, just yet." His mechanical tone was cold as always along with his stoic expression that came through his mask.
Chronexus ran towards us then grabbed my scarf and Lunette's shirt as she yelled, "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! RELEASE ME!!"
He spoke with a nonchalant attitude, "Shut up, and follow what I said."
I was surprised as he jumped so high with us in both of his hands. I couldn't help but scream at him again, "YOU DON'T EVEN SAID ANYTHING, SCRAP METAL!!"
The noble was surprised as well and started commanding his guards, "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! DON'T LET GO OF THEM!!"
The guards quickly spread away from the place and searched for Chronexus. However, his jump was really high until I couldn't see the ground anymore. We were flying through the clouds like a star in the sky. My heart was beating so fast in panic as we have no other choice since we can't land with ourselves. Surprisingly, Lunette was laughing on his other hand as if she found it exciting and amusing when we're in the sky. How can she be this excited when our lives were in danger?!
The wind blew our hair as we started to fall onto the ground like a shooting star. I grabbed my scarf very tight to make sure the wind wouldn't blow it from me. My heart was racing until I could hear my own heartbeat through this noisy voice of the wind and the machine from his armor. Each second brought us onto the land, but it felt like my death was coming closer each second. I don't know how long I will stay alive, but this moment was giving me gray hair. On the other hand, Lunette was enjoying this moment as if we were in an amusement park. I don't know why but I felt a connection to her as we were getting closer and closer onto the ground. I start wondering what its meaning is.
A meteor landed from the sky. I mean… Chronexus landed on the ground with both of us on each hand of his. I was about to say something, but this guy didn't let us and continued running through the city at the speed of sound. He dodged every person, every obstacle, and every building in front of him. I thought we were far away from the guards, but it looked like there were so many guards left around us. It felt like we were in the ant nest, no matter how far we ran away.
Chronexus spoke with a slight hint of hurry to us, "Close your mouth, or you could bite your tongue!"
Lunette shouted at him with a loud voice, "WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID?!"
The wind was preventing us from hearing each other correctly. I couldn't even hear what she said or what he said to us. I kept my grip on my scarf as I was scared to let it go.
Chronexus spoke to us again as he fought the guards with his legs while searching a way to pass through them, "I said close your mouth, or you will bite your tongue!"
This is getting crazy! He swings his legs and fights the guards with us in his hands?! I can see the world swirling around me as he keeps spinning his body to dodge or attack the guards. I don't think I could stand like normal for a while after this. He spun his body right and left while guarding and attacking, swinging us around. Our hair fluttered everywhere as the wind blew our faces like crazy. I could barely see anything and my eyes were rolling around as the world was swirling around me.
"Lunette, close your mouth tightly. Don't ever open your mouth until I say otherwise, okay?" Chronexus spoke with a neutral and mechanical tone, but I could feel a slight of… caring tone?
Lunette was surprised by his words and she felt annoyed by it then started protesting, "Hey! Wha-!!"
He threw Lunette into the air pretty high then used his hand to block the guard's attack while keeping his grip on me. Lunette was thrown high into the air and her body was spinning in the air, unable to compose herself. She almost bit her tongue since she was screaming in excitement, and found everything amusing at this moment.
Wait… Now I think, how did he know her name? We have met before but we never told him our name. I have some suspicions, but I'm not sure if I'm right or not. But more importantly, right now I feel so dizzy, nausea, and I think I want to vomit as well. Maybe it would be better if he threw me instead of Lunette. Ughh… Please, let this over already.
The guard said in an angry and firm tone to him, "DIE YOU!! THIS IS OVER!!" The guard began to stab Chronexus repeatedly using his lance.
The other guards began to use their guns from afar at him in succession. Chronexus grabbed the guard who tried to stab him and used his body as a shield for him…or should I say for me too?
After he finished using him as a shield, he threw him away at them like a rock to make a way. Lunette fell from the sky and grabbed by him again on his shoulder then made his way towards the pile of the guards with their guns. He used the boosters from his back and his legs to run away from the remaining guards around us.
It felt like there was a storm swirling inside my stomach. My stomach was churning everywhere, my eyes were swirling and blurring, my legs and arms were hanging everywhere limply. It felt like I almost let out my stomach contents from my mouth. Is it my imagination or real that I saw a building in front of me?
Lunette spoke in a hurry, yet I could hear that she found it fun, "Hey, there is a wall in front of us!" She smiled and laughed as if I misheard her hurried tone.
Chronexus without waiting or warning continued to run forward unstoppable. He hit the wall and broke the building in front of him. He destroyed every building in front of his way like a bull, or maybe he was more like a monster than an animal. Maybe I could say if he was more than a monster.
I could see every person inside the building. Some of them were taking a bath as he continued to break into every building in his way. We could see their naked form, either man or woman. I was too dizzy to even notice it. Everything looked so blurry in my view due to the shaking. The sky and earth felt like they were turned upside down.
Finally, after no one chased us anymore, he stopped and threw us onto the ground.
"OOF!!" We said as our body hit the ground. He threw us vigorously.
He was standing and towering us as we were sitting on the ground. I couldn't tell what he was thinking or what he wanted. He just remained silent with his arms crossed in front of his chest like wanted to scold us. His aura kept us silent for a while, but Lunette was staring at him with sharp eyes.
After a while, Lunette braved herself to speak, "What do you want by saving us?" Her voice was stern and aware, contrasting with her excited tone before.
I never understood her thoughts as always, her emotions always changed so quickly. She was a very expressive girl, after all. Meanwhile, I was just rubbing my stomach and patting it to ease my nausea. I don't want to vomit at this age.
Chronexus put his hand on his chin and adjusted his mask then spoke, "Luna, Lunette, didn't I tell you two to not enter this city? Why did you ignore my warning anyway?"
I was surprised by his now more expressive tone, he heard like he was mad or upset, or maybe scolding us. It felt like Big Sister Wave herself who scolded me. I tried to stand up with my shaking legs as I leaned onto the wall to compose myself.
My voice was shaky and barely could hear like a whisper as I said, "I have something to do here. I need to find something, and you can't just forbid us to enter this city."
"She's right, we got some business here, metal man." Lunette spoke with a slight annoying tone.
She was really playing with fire right now. Chronexus turned his gaze to Lunette with a firm and scary gaze. It's almost like he was telling him to stay silent only by his gaze. We both fell silent in fear. The wind felt so thick and heavy like enveloping us with a dark and scary aura.
He then spoke again with a firm tone, "Then? What will you do now? You both are now fugitives. Both of you will be searched in this city no matter what."
Lunette was annoyed and sulked at him, "Hey! It's not like this is our faul-"
Chronexus cut off in the middle sentence with a firm tone, "Do you hear what I said? I ask you now, are you answering my question? Are you dumb or something?"
Wow, he really stabbed her heart only with his words. Lunette pouted and started yelling at him randomly. I don't even want to hear or understand what she said. This happens for a while and Chronexus just crossed his arms while watching her sulking and yelling at him. He didn't seem like he cared or listened to her as well.
After a while, Lunette stopped in exhaustion. She was panting and catching her breath as she finished. It's almost like watching Lunette's behavior with Big Sister Wave.
Chronexus stepped forward with a cool manner then spoke, "Are you done already?"
I facepalmed myself and couldn't help but said in a tired tone, "I'm sorry. She's always been like this." But I quickly composed myself to speak to him with a wary tone, "Why did you save us anyway?"
Chronexus looked away for a while then looked at me again before he spoke with a cold and mechanical voice again, "It was my mistake. Now I know you both weren't bad. I want both of you to follow me, and I won't take 'no' as an answer."
Lunette frowned and protested very hard at him, "That's not fair, you scrap metal!!"
He grabbed our collars again without listening to us. We tried to fight, to defend ourselves, but he suddenly grabbed our collars and dragged us along with him already. We couldn't react to his movement and in a single blink we were in the same condition as before, again. I don't know if I can resist it again or not.
The journey was only a few minutes, thanks to his boosters. But somewhat for me it felt like eternity. We were dragged quite far away from the main street, and everything around us was slum. The wall could be broken just with a single blow, the street was dirty and there are lots of holes, and lots of garbage too. This view was so different from the main street. Almost everything around us was made of brick, not like the glasses or metals.
This view makes me so sad. I understand the problem that envelopes this city now. My heart almost breaks from this view. This view made me forget about my nausea and my dizziness. I found some people, kids, or teenagers like me and Lunette laying on the ground. Some of them had died already, some of them were starving, and some of them were living on the street. This view made me feel lucky that I have Big Sister Wave who took care of us. But this view also reminds me of… Ugh, my head felt so empty and my heartbeat was getting faster. I think my trauma was running wild again.
Chronexus spoke again with a slight hint of sadness in his tone towards us, "What do you think about this view?" He stopped once we arrived at our destination.
Lunette didn't speak anymore, and so I am. His tone was different from his usual cold, empty tone. I think he wasn't a machine, instead he was a human just like us. This place was located in the outskirts of the city, which is where this place wasn't cared for or looked for. There are many solemn and desperate faces filled around the city.
Someone shouted at him with a wary tone as if we were intruders, "Who are you bringing with you, Chronexus?!"
We looked around to search for the source of the voice, but we were unable to find it. Chronexus dropped us onto the ground then raised his hands to signal that he doesn't have any will for a fight.
He spoke with a neutral tone and he used his words carefully to not make any fight, "It's okay. They aren't from this city, and they aren't bad, but one of them was kind of dumb."
Lunette shouted at him with a high tone, "HEY!" But then she stopped as the person appeared in front of him and pointed his gun at her.
The person has a white hair that falls to his neck and a thick white beard on his face. His clothes were slightly different from the others. He was wearing a thick, long brown coat with a rooster symbol on his left chest. He was wearing armor under his coat and full of gears as if he was ready to fight at any time. I can see there are many guns around his belt, but I can't say for sure how many there are.
I think this is more complicated than I think. Everyone around us was staring at me and Lunette with a disgusting look. I know, almost all of their clothes are thin and there are some holes. Their bodies are so thin too, almost they can be blown away by wind. This place is so lifeless, I couldn't stand seeing someone live like this. Everyone in the main street were neat, shiny, and full of accessories, but not in this place
Chronexus spoke to him again, almost like begging, "Leader, can we invite them to our group? They recently became fugitives."
Everyone around us was talking about us and whispering to each other. Maybe they don't trust us because our clothes were similar to the nobles, not similar but as nice as theirs. This feeling, I hate this. I was fidgeting under my clothes in guilt, even for what I haven't done. I bit my lip, unable to keep this any longer as I tightened my grips on my clothes. My gaze was locked onto the ground, unable to look forward.
The person who was called leader by Chronexus let out a soft sigh then spoke to us, "Chronexus, I know you are kind. But you can't keep bringing every kid to this place, you know? We are lacking food and water." Despite saying that, he seemed to agree to accept us in this group, but he looked towards us with a sharp glare as a knife, "If you dare to endanger any people in here, I'll mark you as the enemy and kill you in place, understood?"
My body shivered in fear as he said it as if he was threatening us. Every single word that came from his mouth was serious, there is no any slight hint of joke or else in his tone. This situation made me feel like I was in front of a giant who was staring at me and could kill me anytime he wanted.
Lunette spoke up with a loud voice, "Hey! You can decide for yourself! We never said we want to stay here or join you guys, un-der-stand?!"
Damn, this girl. She's really a troublemaker, can't she notice how dangerous the situation we're in right now? She looked at me with a protective gaze, almost like she knows that I was scared and trembling. I don't understand, why is she always knowing about my condition? It's almost like she feels what I feel. Almost like… we're the same unity.
Chronexus spoke again at her with a bit forceful tone, "It's not like I force you to stay, but you don't have any choice right now, just give in already."
Lunette replied like a gangster at him again, "'Not like I force you' my ass! Your tone is telling us otherwise, you scrap metal!" She leaned her face towards him.
She knew that she can't win against him, or she can't even get a proper fight against him, but she did it anyway. I know deep inside she was as scared as me, I don't know why but I'm sure of it. I think she pushed herself too much right now. The people around us were talking about us and wary about us.
Chronexus spoke again to her after she facepalmed his face, "Lunette, I never knew you were this stubborn. And I can't read your emotions at all. Your emotions can change so quickly, almost like a wheel. But trust me, you don't want to get back to those jerks in the main street. Not until we change this city." He stopped as he waited for Lunette's response.
Lunette looked at me and she was waiting for my answer. I don't know what to do, or what I should do. I was trapped in this choice that could change our lives. It felt like the sky has picked a cruel fate for us.
I nodded and looked at Chronexus with a determined face, "I'll stay here. I won't move from this city until we get what we want."
Chronexus nodded and looked at the leader of this group. The leader of this group nodded and spoke to us, "Well then, welcome to Anti-Nexus. Everyone here wants to change this city back to the way it was before, when everyone can live with equality. And you both will help us in the fight soon, understand?"
We both were stunned by his words and let out a soft, "Eh?"
What did he mean by helping them in a fight? I thought we were just waiting here until the situation was eased. I think I picked a wrong choice, help me, big sis. Lunette facepalmed and let out a