The Silver Man deflected my strike off its forearm, suffering only cosmetic damage to its polished skin. The foul machine slid to my right with uncanny speed. Even expecting the maneuver I was unable to track its motion. Instead I preemptively fired off a tech, a quick step forward that left me momentarily without traction, but reversed my direction.

I was almost fast enough to dodge a jab of its fists, though it found some purchase on my shoulder, taking a chunk of flesh and cloth as it passed through. My Vital Net did what repairs it could, but was on the brink of collapse. I only had one good tech in me before the end.

By the time I completed my rotation towards the Silver Man, it was already prepared for a second strike. Still… I saw an opening, if I could get my twin swords into position.

My Vital Net offered no solution, but my malhahonic web was in a decent state. Perhaps I could—

Thunderous music washed over the scene. A cheerful, upbeat tune.

The Silver Man lay cleaved in two at my feet. I relaxed my wrist and allowed it to turn until the tip of my sword rested on the ground. I stayed that way a few minutes, trying to catch my breath as my Vital Net slowly recovered. The mountains stretched off in the distance, their dark peaks loomed like the judgmental ghosts of my past.

“Avenged at last,” I said. I fell to my butt, allowing my sword to clatter on the blood red stones. “So why don’t I feel any better?”

A vision of the sea lay above the mangled bodies of two other Silver Men, part of the trio which ambushed me. The view was… familiar.

Had I been here before?

I had, hadn’t I? Hitori had been here. This was where he….

I looked at my hands.

“I sacrificed so much to save you,” I said. “And how do you pay it back?” I took a deep breath. “By dying a week later!”

I screamed and punched the rock behind me. The pain centered my thoughts, and I let out a long sigh. There was no point in getting angry.

Why am I thinking about this?