June 6, 2007. 17.43
Wakely stirred, her head heavy, her body weak. She blinked slowly, realizing she was resting on Laura's lap.
Laura's hands were hovered above her, palms raised, a soft green glow spilling from her fingers. The light pulsed against Wakely's injuries, healing her skin.
The warmth spread through Wakely's body, easing the ache in her ribs, dulling the sharp pain in her head. She drew in a slow breath, her chest rising with the glow's rhythm.
Wakely pushed herself upright. Her right hand pressed against the back of her head.
"What... happened?" she asked, eyes searching for an answer from Laura, confused.
Laura's arms dropped, the glow fading as relief washed over her. "Thank God you're okay..." she whispered, pulling Wakely into a tight hug. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Wakely blinked, her head still heavy, then noticed Rafa sitting in a chair nearby. He got up, stepping closer, eyes fixed on her. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Wakely nodded, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You beat me, huh?"
Rafa smiled back, leaning slightly toward her. "Yeah, duh."
Wakely's smirk lingered as she straightened her posture, "So, care to explain?" her eyes softened, waiting for his answer.
Rafa's eyes slowly went gentle on Wakely. He drew in a slow breath, then spoke. "I'm actually The Demon Lord. Well he is like another persona inside my body to be more exact."
Laura's nodded, confirming Rafa. "He's right."
Wakely froze, her smirk vanishing. Her eyes widened in disbelief that crashing over her. She jolted upright, voice breaking into a shout. "WHAATTT???"
Wakely's eyes snapped to Laura, her voice cutting harsh. "You hid a fucking Primordial Being in the main hideout?"
Laura shook her head quickly, stepping closer. "I didn't know that, Wakely! Well, The King knew, and he let Rafa in." She reached out, trying to hold Wakely's hand.
Wakely shoved her hands away, her glare sharp. She turned her eyes on Rafa for a second, then back to Laura. "And you're just okay with this? You're treating him like some stray kitten when he almost cracked my skull open?"
Rafa scratches the back of his neck. "To be fair, you threw me through a literal brick wall first."
Laura's eyes then narrowed to Rafa, her voice sharp. "Why didn't you tell us earlier, Rafa?"
Wakely nodded, her glare matching Laura's. "Yeah. Why did you even keep it hidden?"
Rafa leaned back slightly. "Because I hate the Demon Lord, my other persona."
He then paused, noticing how close Laura and Wakely were. A faint grin tugged at his lips. "Are you two lesbians or something? That's way too close."
Both Laura and Wakely flushed, color rising to their cheeks.
Wakely snapped, her voice cutting. "What's your problem, dickhead?!"
Laura exhaled, her tone were shy. Her two index fingers touched each other "I'm actually her ex‑girlfriend."
Rafa's eyes widened, shock breaking across his face. "Wait, really? You guys don't look gay."
Wakely exhaled, her tone softer now. "Well yeah... It was a long time ago."
Laura lowered her gaze, nodding slowly. The silence stretched, the air thick with awkwardness.
...
Suddenly, Wakely fake‑coughed. "I'm hungry," she muttered, pushing herself up and heading toward the dining room.
Rafa watched her leave, then turned to Laura. "I'm sleepy too. I guess i‹ll go to my bedroom." He stepped toward the door.
Before he could exit, Laura reached out, her hand catching his. Her voice trembled, shy, stuttering. "I'm… not a lesbian now. I… I love boys too."
Rafa met her eyes, nodding once, his tone calm. "Okay. I don't mind either."
She released her hand gently, then Rafa waved at her while walking out of the room, heading toward his bedroom.
Laura waved back, then she quickly closed the door, it was her room afterall.
Rafa stepped into his room, the door shutting behind him with a dull thud. He stripped his clothes off, and headed straight for the shower.
The water hit his skin hard, steam rising as he leaned against the tiled wall. His mind replayed Laura's voice, the stutter in her words, the way her hand trembled when she held his.
He then dried off, pulling on fresh clothes of black right shirt and white chinos, then crossed to the bed. The mattress sank under his weight as he lay back, staring at the ceiling.
Laura's words echoed again, looping in his head. I love boys too. The shy tone, the blush on her face, it wouldn't leave him alone.
Then he realized something.
"Wait, did she fell in love with me?"
Rafa jogged alone around the church, his breath steady, the morning air crisp.
It was 8 AM, the sun rising high, spilling golden light across the frozen horizon. The rays stretched long, painting the sky in soft orange and pale blue, the silence broken only by the rhythm of his footsteps.
The warmth pressed against his body despite the cold ground. His black tight shirt clung to his frame, the black training pants with white stripes moved along with each stride, and his white running shoes against the path. Sweat poured at his cheek.
Snow covered the ground, its surface shimmering as the sunlight hit. Each step kicked up faint crystals, scattering like sparks. The frozen landscape glowed alive, the blinding white softened by the sun's warmth, turning the harsh ice into something almost serene.
Rafa slowed as he returned inside the church, his chest rising with controlled breaths. He grabbed a bottle and drank.
Then, Wakely and Laura approached him. "Hey, wanna go on a mission?" Laura smiled at Rafa.
Wakely then crossed her arms, her expression cold. "It would be your first time to do something job in the Leviathan, right?"
Rafa lowered his water bottle. "Sure. Where are we going?"
The empty carriage rattled hard, steel wheels grinding against the tracks. Crates stacked at the far end shook with every jolt, the noise filling the empty space. Their voices had to rise over it, laughter and chatter bouncing off the metal walls.
Outside the window, the mountains stretched wide under the 10 AM sun. Snow clung to the ridges, the peaks sharp against the pale sky, while valleys dipped into shadow. The train cut through the landscape, the rhythm of its motion blending with the roar of steel.
Rafa held on the door of the train carriage, his voice raised over the rumbling noise. "Why are we here? Ain't Serovian the hometown of the Russians?"
Laura kept her eyes on the passing peaks. "The Serovians are making a portal generator. They're trying to reach the Cosmic Beings."
Wakely was sitting on the floor, smoking. "And we're going to steal it. Then sell it to the black market. Easy money."
The train screeched to a halt inside the mountain basecamp, iron gates sliding shut as walls surrounded them. Soldiers marched along the train, rifles slung, boots crunching against the ground.
Inside the carriage, Rafa crouched low, Laura beside him, both hidden in the shadows. Wakely flicked her cigarette away, grinding it under her boot before slipping into cover.
The soldiers moved in formation, checking each carriage one by one. Metal doors slammed open, crates pried apart, voices shouting orders as they drew closer.
The noise grew louder, boots striking against steel, until the latch of their carriage rattled. A soldier pulled it open, stepping inside with his rifle raised.
Thump!
Rafa's kick slammed into the soldier entering the carriage, his body flung back, crashing into the men behind him and dropping several at once.
At the same time, Laura and Wakely burst out through the carriage door, wings of momentum in their movements.
Laura surged forward into the open hallway, her body accelerating within the way bellow the thin roof and defensive wall.
Several soldiers spotted her, their voices sharp. "Враг!!! (Enemy!!!)"
Gunfire erupted, echoing through the basecamp.
Laura sprinted at inhuman speed, her fists clenched. She drove punches into the soldiers' stomachs, dragging them with her strikes, thirty men collapsing in her wake as white smoke trailed behind her.
Wakely attacked from behind, her flying kick soaring near light speed, smashing through twenty‑seven enemies, her strikes leaving trails of white smoke again.
Rafa stayed near the train, trading blows with soldiers.
The soldier swung his right arm, Rafa ducked, then uppercut him hard, sending him sprawling.
Dor! Dor! Dor!
Gunfire rang out behind him. Rafa stepped like shadows, slipping past the bullets, then unleashed a brutal chain.
Right jab, left jab, knee kick, elbow smash, spinning backfist, low sweep, left jab, palm strike, hook punch, and a rising knee.
Dropping two soldiers in a blur. He quickly shadow‑stepped again, moving to another soldier, fists hammering into the man.
Turrets from the main building locked onto them, barrels roaring.
Brr‑brrr‑brrrtt!
Rafa shadow‑stepped once more, weaving through the rain of bullets.
Wakely dodged, then raised her glowing hands. A crimson beam shot out, tearing through the turrets, exploding them into scrap.
Laura slipped past the barrage, then soared forward. She smashed her boot into the main gate, the door bursting open as she stormed inside.
Dozens of soldiers waited within, rifles snapping up. They fired instantly, bullets streaking toward her.
Laura twisted aside, dodging clean. Rafa followed, his kick slamming into the line of soldiers, scattering them. Red lights and black lightning flashed across the hall, tearing through the defenders, dropping them all in a storm of light and shadow.
Rafa, Wakely, and Laura sprinted deeper into the building, their movements cutting through the chaos.
Every room on that floor was packed with soldiers, but the three tore through them with ease.
Laura attacked with crimson beams bursting from her hands, her kicks smashing into bodies, dropping them hard.
Wakely's hands glowed the same crimson, her right arm shifting into a blade forged from pure energy. She slashed through the ranks, cutting down anyone in her path.
Rafa fought with fists and kicks wrapped in red light and black thunder, each strike exploding against armor, sending soldiers crashing into walls.
They climbed to the next floor, then the next, over and over again, clearing every level the same way with beams, blades, and thunder tearing through the defenders until no one was left standing.
Until they reached the top floor, silence reigned. Every room had been entered, every soldier lay lifeless, blood staining the ground. But no portal generator was found.
Rafa then jumped and kicked down, smashing through floor after floor beneath them. Red light and black thunder ripped open the structure, collapsing them into a vast basement chamber. Sunlight streamed through the hole Rafa had created, piercing the darkness.
The room lit up, revealing the portal generator, massive, circular, its frame glowing with eerie blued power.
From the control room, a scientist shouted. "Сейчас! (Now!)"
Laura was struck by a sudden kick, her body thrown back.
Rafa and Wakely spun around.
A figure in black, cloak, scarf, everything shadowed, landed from the strike on Laura, rising slowly to his feet.
Wakely moved to attack, but Rafa held her back. He smiled faintly. "Pray, leave this in my hands."
Wakely laughed "Alright then, devil." then rushing to Laura, who was already pushing herself upright, the blow barely slowing her.
Laura's looked at the machine. "We should take the portal generator right away."
Wakely nodded instantly. "I agree."
Meanwhile, Rafa walked forward, his steps slow and withered, his voice cutting through the chamber. "Mark well, maggot. This shall be a matter of grim interest."
The person walked closer to Rafa too. "Ты уже проиграл. (You already lost.)"
Rafa struck first, his fist exploding into a storm of black thunder and red light.
The cloaked man slipped aside, stepping to the flank, then snapped a left jab toward Rafa.
Rafa ducked, his body twisting, then answered with his own left jab wrapped in red light and black thunder.
The man caught it on his forearms, the impact cracking the air, sparks scattering across the basement.
Laura and Wakely reached the generator. Wakely's right arm shifted into a blade of pure energy, slashing into the casing. Laura's crimson beams hammered the locks, her kick breaking the final seal. Together they tore the glowing core free.
"I got it!" Laura shouted, clutching the pulsing light. Wakely steadied it, her blade dissolving back into her hand.
Behind them, Rafa and the cloaked man clashed again. Their fists collided, shockwaves ripping through the chamber, steel walls trembling as thunder and shadow tore against each other.
Rafa shadow‑stepped, reappearing above, his knee crashing down. The man blocked, cloak whipping, then countered with a spinning kick that sent Rafa sliding back across the floor.
Rafa grinned, lightning crawling across his arms. He surged forward, unleashing a flurry jab, hook, uppercut, knee, and elbow, each strike wrapped in red light and black thunder, each blow shaking the chamber.
The cloaked man met him strike for strike, their battle raging like titans, while Laura and Wakely held the core tight, the prize secured as the basement shook under the storm of their duel.
The cloaked man lunged, his kick slicing through the air. Rafa caught it on his forearm, sparks snapping as red light and black thunder flared.
Rafa countered with a spinning backfist, but the man ducked low, cloak dragging across the floor, his fist driving upward.
The blow grazed Rafa's jaw. He twisted and grinned, answering with a knee strike, but the man blocked, sliding back with a sharp shove.
They clashed again, fists colliding, shockwaves ripping through the chamber. Floor cracked under their feet, the air vibrating with each strike.
Rafa shadow‑stepped, reappearing at the man's flank, his knee smashing into ribs. The man staggered, then spun with a roundhouse kick, forcing Rafa to lean back.
A jab snapped forward, Rafa deflected it with his elbow, then drove a straight punch wrapped in thunder. The man raised his guard, absorbing the impact, cloak whipping violently.
The pace quickened, jab, block, dodge, counter, both of them locked in a storm of blows, neither yielding ground.
Rafa's boot slammed into the floor, sending cracks outward. He surged forward, his fists blazing, but the man slipped aside, his palm strike grazing Rafa's shoulder.
They locked eyes, breathing sharp, the chamber trembling from their clash. For a moment, it was dead even, strike for strike, block for block.
Then Rafa backed off, he seized his right hand with his left, pulling it down as red light and black thunder swirled. A scythe tore free from the storm, its blade glowing with violent energy. He grinned, voice sharp. "Fuck you, maggot."
The cloaked man froze, nerves breaking through his composure. "Что за хуйня...(What the fuck...)"
Rafa gripped the scythe tight, its blade glowing with violent purple, arcs of red light and black thunder crawling across the weapon.
Rafa swung first, the purple scythe tearing through the air, arcs of red light and black thunder trailing behind it.
The cloaked man dodged, cloak snapping, trying to counter with a jab, but Rafa was faster, the scythe already cutting across his guard.
Steel walls shook as the blade smashed into him, sparks scattering as his body slammed back.
He tried to rise, but Rafa pressed forward, scythe sweeping in a violent arc, forcing him to ducked under a wide arc, his fist snapping into Rafa's ribs. Rafa absorbed it, grinning, then drove the scythe upward, forcing the man back.
They clashed again, scythe against fists, shockwaves ripping through the basement. Dust fell from the ceiling.
Rafa's boot slammed into the floor, cracks spreading. He surged forward, scythe blazing, his strikes faster, heavier, breaking through the man's guard.
The man then dodged left, cloak dragging, but Rafa shadow‑stepped, reappearing at his flank, the scythe carving downward.
The blade grazed his shoulder, tearing cloth, blood spraying as he crashed against the steel wall.
Rafa laughed, his voice sharp, mocking, as he spun the scythe in his grip, thunder cracking across the chamber.
The man lunged again, fists flaring with shadow, but Rafa's scythe cut through his strikes, each blow deflected, each counter faster.
He was thrown back once more, body smashing into the wall, steel bending under the impact.
Rafa surged forward, scythe burning, his swings relentless, slash, sweep, hook, thrust, each strike heavier, each blow breaking through.
The man's defense collapsed, his arms shredded, cloak torn, his movements slowing under the storm.
Rafa grinned, laughter echoing. "Is this what I lostto?" His tone mocking, his scythe raised high.
The man's eyes widened, panic breaking through, his steps faltering as Rafa pressed harder.
The scythe's blade cut across his chest, sparks and blood scattering, his body flung into the steel wall again, lifeless resistance fading.
Rafa shadow‑stepped, appearing before him, the scythe slicing in a final arc, the blade cleaving his head clean, thunder cracking as silence swallowed the chamber.
His head laid on the ground with a spat of blood.
Rafa threw the scythe aside. The weapon dissolved into ashes within a second, fading into the air.
He turned toward Laura and Wakely, his voice calmed. "So, what do we do now?"
Laura looked at Rafa's gaze. "Wow, you were actually just toying around with the man."
Wakely stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the glowing core. "Let's take the core to the black market."
#12 End.