Jules was tapping her foot, more out of nervousness then boredom.

In most of her missions, she was left in the dark about plenty of the details surrounding them, other then the basics and what she could contribute. Wicker was the planner, after all, and rarely let her have a say in the strategic part of operations.

For the most part, this worked out to successful missions, but often left Jules waiting, or terrified of getting caught, or slipping up, or setting off her teammates temper…

But despite everything, she knew Venators deserved it.

No matter what, she was doing what needed to be done. What she could do.

Even if it involved…

Jules shuddered at the very thought, still waiting patiently by the parking lot in case of a necessary quick getaway. The overcast sky gave her an uneasy feeling in her stomach, but she knew she could defend herself if the worst came about.

Then it happened.

First came the roaring and thrashing, along with the cries of Wailing coming from the academy’s entrance. The ground shook violently, a few car alarms set off just from the shock alone, as screams and yelling joined the crying Wailing. At first the figure blended in with the overcast sky, forming into a uniform blanket of grey, before the distinctive red markings lining its body came into view, standing out amongst the otherwise boxy academy skyscrapers.

Its reflection shone in the newly rebuilt support towers, as Jules had fallen to the ground, staring blankly at the monstrous mass that was now towering over them.

SCCCRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

It hurt.

Listening to its cry, Jules instinctively crawled back, forgetting all about the getaway car and booking it anywhere else.

Even if she was needed, this wasn’t going to make her do it. Nothing would at this point.

Wicker…

———

The Behemoth Wailing claimed the walkway as its own, blocking off any attempted exit from the front of the academy. The other Wailing stayed apprehensively on the border of the forest, waiting for the appropriate moment to strike. The security and third years held their ground, ready to defend if necessary. The remaining staff and students left as soon as they could, heading out the back of the academy to wait it out in the tournament arena until it all blew over.

And Wess and Sola stood in Faller’s office, awestruck while staring out the window at their brand-new threat.

“They’re here…” Wess bemoaned, slowly backing up. “I-Is anything happening yet?”

Sola shook her head. “I don’t think anyone’s fighting. Even the big one’s just sitting there.”

Wess grabbed Sola’s jacket by the collar. “We need to find the others as soon as possible.”

“Wait!” Sola said, getting herself free. “Faller said to stay here. And shouldn’t we keep tabs on the fight anyway?”

“We can do that anywhere on campus.” Wess reasoned. “And Faller said to stay out of trouble.”

Wess left the office, as Sola followed her out, impassioned. “But we can’t do nothing! The academy could be destroyed! All our friends could get hurt, and we just found out someone might be behind these attacks!”

“…Sola, we’re no match for that. No one is.” Wess argued, meeting her height. “We’ve fought Wailing before, and no matter what, we’ve always struggled. Even against one, and even with backup, we’ve come close to being seriously injured or killed.”

Sola shook her head, as Wess rested her hands on Sola’s shoulders. “The best we can do is find the rest of the team and get ourselves to safety.”

Sola shook herself free. “The best we can do is stop the fight all together! I don’t wanna run yet!”

Sola was jumping up and down vibrantly. “There’s gotta be a reason why those bugs are all over campus! Someone’s the source of it!”

“Sola…” Wess sighed, rubbing her temple. “What are you getting at?”

“The campus gets attacked after orientation day, then it’s attacked the end of the school year. That’s too big a coincidence.” Sola pointed out. “And the Wailing haven’t attacked yet, so maybe they’re being controlled by something that’s holding them back.”

“…didn’t Julia tell us that Faller was looking into Coatsworth?” Wess acknowledged. “And that he warned her of the first attack before it happened?”

“Yeah!” Sola realised. “He’s gotta be behind it, right?”

Wess looked surprised. “You’re asking me? Sola, we’re not going to interrogate Coatsworth. All of this evidence seems too circumstantial anyway…”

“But we have a chance to help!” Sola exclaimed, locking eyes with Wess. “Come on, Wess. It’s better then sitting around the arena doing nothing.”

Wess held her tongue, nervously glancing back at the window, before pulling out her tablet. “We’ll find the others first. Once we know everyone’s safe, then we can talk about our game plan.”

Sola nodded along. “That sounds good. Do you think they heard the announcement?”

———

Julia tapped her pen against her notebook, listening to music on her tablet while taking the occasional note from a history textbook.

“…she’s something special, and you know what I mean…” She mumbled, biting the pen lightly, as the library remained perfectly silent around her. “…she’s from the cosmos, an interstellar scene…”

Julia’s eyes started to drift, hitting pause on her music, as she thought back on her incident with Donovan on the roof, before focusing on the textbook again.

It’s okay. I’m safe. She thought, sighing out and playing the music again. I’m avoiding ledges for a while, though.

She tapped her pen to the music, before getting out of her seat to dance.

“And I just love her, as we go face to face.”

The alarm started to ring, as Julia kept up her singing.

“But it’s a problem, and one from outer spac…”

She eventually noticed the flashing light on the ceiling, as a message rang out across the library.

“Attention: Multiple Wailing detected near campus. Please exit to the tournament arena and await further instructions. Attention: Multiple Wailing detected near cam…”

Julia took out her earbuds, looking around to see if anyone else was nearby and reacting, before pulling up her schedule on her tablet.

“No drill…” She muttered, looking around again and packing up her gear, then ducking over to the window, trying to spot any activity.

The view of the training grounds showed nothing of note, other than the terrible weather, as the alarm continued blaring in the background.

Julia started to worry, realising what might finally be happening, before leaving the library in search of her team.

“Julia!”

Fortunately, Harley and Essex were running down the hall toward her, as a few people passed by in the hall, running to the back end of the academy.

“Did you hear the alarm?” Harley asked, the duo catching up to her.

“Yeah, I just did. There’s no safety drill scheduled today, so…” Julia said, looking at them both. “…I’m assuming the…w-worst.”

“Wess has finished her meeting with Faller and is outside his office, along with Sola.” Essex explained.

“Okay.” Julia agreed. “What’s…i-it looking like out there?”

“There’s a lot of them.” Harley said, the trio heading up the nearby elevator to meet with the others. “Including another Behemoth.”

“Oh my god…” Julia let out, her spine crawling just from hearing that.

“Do not worry. They have yet to attack anyone.” Essex assured. “Dulce is a good strategist. She would not risk anyone’s safety unnecessarily.”

“Another Behemoth…” Julia mumbled, having missed what Essex had said, as the elevator opened up to Wess and Sola, waiting patiently for the others.

“Is everyone okay?” Sola asked.

“We’re good. Julia’s caught up on everything.” Harley explained, Wess frantically looking outside.

“It’s horrifying…” She said, pressed to the window. “Just a mass of tentacles and hatred…”

The team stared out the window together, watching as the security lined themselves up, holding their ground, the Wailing still ever patient, and the Behemoth Wailing writhing around painfully, smashing its tentacles against the walkway.

“Are we fighting that thing?” Harley asked, getting a resounding silence from the others.

“I believe the defence will hold it off.” Essex said, looking to Wess and Sola. “What is the plan you wished to discuss?”

Wess and Sola looked at each other worriedly.

“We found something with Faller earlier.” Sola said, grabbing the team’s attention. “There were bugs around campus.”

Harley rolled her eye. “Yeah, we kn-“

“No, not…” Wess corrected. “Listening devices. A few in each classroom, and some in Faller’s office.”

“What?!” Harley exclaimed, Julia turning to face them. “That-that can’t…what?!”

“Faller said it was that outside influence he was talking about.” Sola added. “And I don’t know how or why, but I think Coatsworth is behind the bugs and the attacks.”

“The Vice-Principal?” Essex asked. “He has been a suspicious figure as of recent…”

“But I argued this is too much for any one team and too coincidental to mean anything.” Wess debated, folding her arms. “So…we don’t know what to do.”

“Okay, okay…” Harley said, trying to get a grip on things. “So, either we head to the arena and wait this whole thing out, go down their and risk our asses, or risk confronting Coatsworth and stopping it at its source.”

The team was left puzzled, no one willing to make any hard decisions, as all eyes landed on Julia, still reeling from the shock of just what this attack might mean.

“Julia?”

Julia lifted her head, visibly shaking.

“What should we do?”

Julia tapped her fingers together, avoiding eye contact with anyone else, her gaze drifting back to the window again and again. Her heart was racing, but she didn’t want to let on how this was affecting her.

“We can’t just sit here.” Harley said, visibly agitated. “We’ve gotta do something.”

Julia tried to focus her breathing, doing everything she could to calm her beating heart, before clenching her fists by her side and bracing through it.

“…we, uhh…we n-need to prepare.” Julia said, attempting to build up confidence. “We’re just sitting d-ducks without our weapons…and can’t do much otherwise.”

Sola nodded frantically. “Don’t worry! I’ll get them from our room ASAP!”

She sprinted down the hall, as Julia called out to her. “Sola, come back! I-I was gonna say Harley sho-“

Sola was too out of earshot, as Julia shook it off and started addressing the others. “Okay…so Sola’s getting our weapons…so we should help out here. Harley, Wess, go through the main building and find anyone who hasn’t evacuated yet. I’m sure there’s gotta be a few.”

“…right.” Wess nodded. “You can count on us.”

“Essex, since you already have your scythe, you need to stay with them and make sure they’re safe. Those Wailing could move in at any minute.” Julia declared.

“Jesalo Mosori.” Essex said, bowing to her. “I will do what is needed.”

There was a pause, as Wess realised Julia wasn’t talking. “Are you not coming with us?”

Julia shook her head, sighing out deeply. “…somebody has to confront Coatsworth.”

Harley stepped back. “Alone? Uhuh, no way. That’s way too dangerous.”

“We just established he might be a threat.” Wess reasoned, slightly yelling. “If he is…manufacturing the attack, who’s to say he isn’t armed, or surrounded by bodyguards? What if he hurts you?”

Julia shook her head frantically. “I can’t risk you guys getting hurt instead. I won’t do it.”

“Jul-“

“Nope, nope, I’m not hearing it.” Julia interrupted, turning around. “I’m the leader, and I say to stay behind. I can handle this. I know him, I’m sure he’ll listen to reason.”

“Confronting him without protection would still be reckless.” Essex advised. “Your safety it our priority, remember? We will not leave you.”

Julia refused to face them, remembering her recent brush with death and clenching her fist. “…a Venators priority is to help people. You can help bystanders, and I can help you by keeping you out of danger.”

The group was left silent, no one willing to argue the other side, as Julia acknowledged the difficult position she’d put them in.

“…if I’m put in danger, I’ll…text you.” Julia said. “By then, Sola should be back with our weapons and you would’ve gotten some people to safety.”

Julia forced herself to put on a brave face and face them again. “Don’t worry about me. I’m tougher than I look.”

The trio looked to each other.

“…okay.” Wess agreed, closing the distance. “But you text us the moment you feel even the slightest danger.”

“We’ll pound some teeth in for you.” Harley remarked, knocking her fists together.

Essex peered out the window, before spotting something and grabbing Julia’s attention. “Julia, you should come here.”

The group headed over, as Essex pointed down to the staff car park, indicating to the figure gathering work supplies and moving them to his car.

“C-Coatsworth…?” Julia realised, a shudder hitting her spine, as Wess moved a hand over to comfort her.

“We can stil-“

“Wess…we’ve discussed this.” Julia declared. “I’m fine, really.”

Feeling Julia’s intention, Wess removed her hand, backing off a touch. “…we’d best get a move on.”

“Peno Decu.” Essex wished, bowing to Julia, before heading off with the others.

“Uhh, yeah. What she said.” Harley added, giving Julia a thumbs up. “Go get him, tiger.”

Julia watched them leave down the hall, as her eye caught the Behemoth Wailing still consuming the walkway with its presence, thrashing angrily.

“G-go get him…”

———

“You follow my orders to a tee!” Dulce declared, the Venator students and security heading to the moat. “We don’t act until they do! Protect the academy but protect yourselves first and foremost!”

Groups of students and security closed in on the moat, as the Wailing did the same, the Behemoth roaring out over the crowd, shocking all nearby with its presence alone.

SCCCRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

“Damn it…” Dulce winced, keeping her eye on the Wailing, until the first few bordering the moat tentatively touched the water, cautiously keeping their distance. They backed away from it, as Dulce’s eyes lit up.

“Wait…” Dulce said, watching as the front few stepped back. “They don’t like it?”

The Behemoth roared out in the direction of the other Wailing, urging them forward. The Wailing present stood their, assessing their options.

“Does that mean…” Dulce muttered, gulping. “…it’s true they can’t tou-“

They started bounding forward, heading for the moat again, reaching the edge and leaping, clearing most of its length in a single jump. The Wailing continued to wade through, quickly closing the distance, as the Wailing still behind followed them through the moat.

“Shit! All electric Whil users, direct it at the moat! Ice and water, you slow them down!” Dulce cried, a few Wailing now flying over the moat and clinging to the main building. “Everyone else, take out the flyers ASAP!”

Dulce caught a Wailing breaking through the Whil users against the moat, now directly charging at her. A flying Wailing broke off the building and swooped at her too, as she stuck out her hand, used her Whil to absorb the charging Wailing’s momentum, stopping it in its tracks, then directed a kick toward the swooping Wailing, channelling the momentum through to it and sending it sailing across the ground.

The rest of the security made quick work of the charging Wailing, as Dulce folded back into the crowd, watching as the chaos unfolded around her, the Wailing causing as much devastation as they could.

“Whilit, save us…”

———

Harley didn’t know how to feel.

With Julia out of the picture, all she could do was worry about her until she knew she was safe. Even then, the pressure to lead the team in her absence was starting to creep in, as the trio reached a fork in the hallway, apprehensive about which way they should go.

“We’ll never explore them all in time.” Wess reasoned, a bit out of breath. “The building has a hundred floors. Even divided up, we’ll still be taking over thirty floors each.”

“The support towers will also be a factor.” Essex added, Harley trying to think.

“Uhh, shit…” Harley let out, a bit out of her element. “Come on, brain…”

“We’ll only exhaust ourselves running through each building.” Wess added. “And, heaven forbid, a Wailing breaks in…”

“Guys.”

Harley grabbed their attention, having figured something out.

“The people on the bottom floors have probably evacuated already, right? It’d be so much easier for them.” Harley said. “So, I’ll check the top floors going down, you two each check a support tower. We’ll meet up back here with Sola once you guys are done and cover the rest of the building.”

Wess went to critique but was coming up empty. “…that’s a good plan.”

“You’re damn right it’s a good plan!” Harley exclaimed, slapping her on the back. “Let’s get to work!”

“Ow…” Wess let out, as her and Essex hurried back down the elevator.

Harley took it to the top floor, getting a grand overhead view of the fighting at the entrance by the nearby window, as she started to make her way back down.

“Alright, Harley, you got this.” She assured herself, pulling out her tablet to time herself. “Let’s try ten floors in twenty minutes to start.”

She bent down, getting into a running position, before shooting off down the hall, checking each classroom and lecture hall she passed for possible bystanders.

Floor after floor, she came up empty, each room being clearly evacuated, before hurrying to next, calling out for anyone still present and hearing no reply.

By the tenth floor, she was starting to lose hope, as she pulled out her tablet and noticed twenty-three minutes had passed.

“…not good enough.”

Despite being out of breath, she entered her running stance again, hurrying through the next ten floors even faster then before, as she hit the nineteenth floor of her search and needed to stop.

“Stupid legs, hurry up…” She complained, leaning against the wall. “What do I train you for?”

She walked to the next classroom, having checked all the others on the floor and was about ready to give up her search.

She scanned her card, opening the door and expecting disappointment, but was surprised to find Spence, crouched and shuddering underneath her desk, and a few of students nervously looking out the window.

“Yes!” Harley exclaimed, landing to her knees. “Finally! Some actual people!”

“Who said that?” Asked one of the students, before turning to reveal who it was. “Oh, for Whilit’s sake, not blondie…”

Harley’s celebration was cut short once she realised it was Team Ferocity standing by the window, about as frustrated as she was.

“You didn’t bring a Wailing here, did you?” Baron asked.

Unfortunately, no. Harley thought. “Why are you still up here?”

“Cause there’s a Wailing outside.” Edward reasoned. “We’re not dumb enough to throw ourselves at an army.”

“Security can handle it.” Baron waved off, looking to Harley. “I mean, your friends with the security chief. Surely, you’ve got some confidence in her.”

“…regardless, you guys need to leave.” Harley insisted. “There’s no guarantee the academy’s gonna be safe forever.”

Baron looked to the rest of the team casually, before shrugging to himself. “Fine by me.”

Harley was surprised by how easy that turned out to be, as they passed her in the door frame with dry glances. “A-and you better help me look for more people!”

“I already said fine, Harls.” Baron let out, heading out the lecture hall with his team, before Harley’s attention was drawn back to Spence under the table.

She crouched down to face her. “Hurry up, teach. We’ve gotta get you to safety.”

“No way, I’m n-not going out there…” Spence fretted, shaking her head profusely. “I c-can’t face them again…”

“You don’t have to worry. I’m gonna get you out of here.” Harley said.

Spence kept shaking, jumping a bit at the echoing sounds of action coming from the ground, as Harley realised she wasn’t getting through to her.

“What’s the hold up?” Duke asked by the door.

“Just a second.” Harley replied, reaching out a hand and grasping Spence’s.

Spence flinched suddenly.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Harley assured. “I’ve fought plenty of these things before. They’re a piece of cake.”

“B-but I h-haven’t…” Spence worried. “And I know you don’t m-mean that…”

“Nope, I really do.” Harley said. “Cause every time I’ve fought one, other people have had my back, even the times when I’ve thrown myself at something way bigger and way angrier.”

Harley looked back at the window. “I can be pretty stupid at times, so it’s nice to have others who can help me in what I’m lacking. It lightens the load, you know?”

Spence finally faced her, as Harley helped her out from under the table.

“…you’ll l-look out for me, right? While we’re down there?”

“I promise.” Harley said.

“Cause I really don’t want to die yet.”

“Yeah, I promise.” Harley reiterated, heading back outside and further through the building, as the fighting outside only raged on.

———

Wess’ day was only getting harder.

She would be the first to say she wasn’t the most athletically inclined. She could swing a sword and had a decent amount of muscle built up, but she wasn’t anywhere near as bulky as Harley, or physically capable as Essex.

So naturally, scaling and surveying the left support tower, without the aid of an elevator was taking it out of her, despite her best efforts.

She reached the fifth floor, before stopping at the entryway and cupping her hands.

“Is anyone down here?!”

She got no response.

“Alright, moving on…” She groaned, dragging herself up the stairs, before taking a breather in order to collect herself.

“Why did I agree to this?” She said, catching the right support tower through the window. “Essex is probably done by now.”

Scanning through the window, she spotted the Behemoth Wailing in the distance, still planted on the walkway entrance to the academy, noticeably keeping its distance from the rest of the action. It still swung violently at anyone getting close but was far enough away that no damage it took would make a lasting impact.

“Crafty…” Wess noted, taking a second to analyse it. “Has it learned from the last attack? Or maybe Coatsworth instructed it otherwise?”

Having regained some stamina, Wess picked herself back up and continued up the stairs, ready to continue searching, until a small dot outside the window caught her eye.

She stepped back, trying to catch what it was, until it grew larger, its shape slowly defining, until its manic movements could be clearly made out, before it was too late to get out of the way.

A Wailing had broken off from the fight, and was now headed to the support tower, right toward Wess.

Instinctively, she jumped back down the stairwell, just as it crashed through the window, sending debris flying out and opening the stairwell to the elements.

Stray shards of glass caught Wess’ cheek, cutting it open, and another landing in her shoulder, as the Wailing peered around, before catching Wess in its sights.

KKKKKRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Wess was left speechless, deciding her best option was sprint away as fast as possible, swinging back down the stairs and through the hall.

The Wailing crawled after her, clinging to the walls with noticeable dexterity, before struggling to break itself out of the stairwell’s entrance, giving Wess enough time to find a place to rest, letting herself recuperate and calm her panicked heart.

She touched at her cheek gently, reeling back as her wound stung to the touch, before acknowledging the glass shard still in her shoulder.

Letting herself get over the initial shock, she steadied her breathing and hesitated slightly, before gripping the glass shard and yanking it out, holding back a cry of pain as it clattered to the floor. Nervously checking the status of the Wailing, she tore part of her dress, wrapping the fabric around her shoulder wound, as the Wailing finally broke through the wall, now crawling down the hall to Wess’ direction.

I’m out of sight, so if I leg it, I can still escape. Wess rationalised, already sprinting in the other direction, before further noise cut over the Wailing’s crawling, catching her eye.

“Come on, Liddy, we’re almost out of the building!” Rose encouraged, pulling Liddy along. “I totally heard someone calling out, so there’s probably a search party. It’ll be a smooth ride to the arena once we’re out.”

“B-but the Wailing…” Liddy quivered, tentatively following. “A-and the forest t-too…”

“I won’t let ‘em get to you.” Rose promised, turning her head around the corner toward the stairwell. “Besides, the Wailing won’t hurt someone as pretty a…”

Rose and Liddy noticed the Wailing immediately, having just turned the corner into its field of view, now becoming the perfect target to take out its aggression on. They both froze in fear, as the Wailing redirected itself toward them, making its presence known and crying out once again.

KKKKKRRRRRRRAAA-

In shock, the Wailing keeled back, as a shard of glass was now jutting out near its eye, Wess resting her arm after such a forceful throw.

The Wailing turned to its new assailant, dropping Rose and Liddy as its focus.

“Hey! You f-filthy beast!” Wess cried, holding back her anxiety. “F-finish what you started!”

The Wailing clawed at the glass, throwing it to the side, before screaming out again, as Rose and Liddy took their opportunity to escape, leaving Wess as its sole target once again.

I did it. She realised, the Wailing now truly pursuing her. I did the right thing. I can die comfortably knowing I did what was best.

Wess attempted to defend herself, but knew it was a mute point in the end, until the Wailing was charging at her, blood thirsty and ready to take her life.

Wess closed her eyes, holding strong despite everything, until a sensation hit her shoulder, leaving her terrified to open her eyes again. She knew it was the Wailing’s claw, it had to be, even if it was warmer then…

“Leave it to me.”

Wess froze.

What?

“Ch-chunk.”

A flurry of shots rang out beside Wess, clearly identifiable as rounds from a sniper rifle, before the Wailing cried out in pain again, finally giving Wess the confidence to open her eyes.

To her surprise, what she thought was the Wailing’s claw grabbing her shoulder was actually Joleicia, resting a hand on her before aiming her sights at the Wailing and holding it off for them.

As Wess’ vision returned, she realised the rest of Team Vanguard were now holding it off, Saxin and Lenin weakening its legs with their blades and Chops loosening its footing with her ice Whil. The Wailing struggled to recover, but still put up a real fight.

“Wha…but…you’re here?” Wess managed, Joleicia reloading her rifle.

“We thought some people might not have evacuated, so we stopped our search for Florey once the attack started.” Joleicia explained. “We’re just glad that yo-“

Wess jumped Joleicia into a hug, Joleicia thoroughly surprised by this.

“You angel.” Wess praised. “Of course you were.”

“Well, yeah, we’re gonna be Venators.” Joleicia said. “We can’t just sit by while people are in danger, even if we are missing a teammate.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Wess chuckled, now overwhelmed with joy after being saved.

“Oh, that’s a nasty cut.” Joleicia said, pointing to Wess’ cheek, before remembering what they were doing. “Oh yeah, guys! How’s it going?”

“This thing’s almost down!” Chops assured her. “But we need some back-up!”

“Don’t worry, Wess. We’ve got this place covered. You should meet up with the rest of Team Valiant.” Joleicia encouraged, Wess grabbing her sleeve.

“You’re going to be okay, right?” Wess asked, expecting a sure answer. “This won’t be the only one.”

Joleicia smiled. “Don’t worry about us, silly. We’re the ones who had to save your butt.”

Joleicia focused her sights again, as Wess took the opportunity to navigate around the building and find an alternate exit, staring back up at the support tower once again, a massive crater now in its side.

So soon repaired, so soon ruined once again. She lamented, focusing her attention back on the main building. Sola, you better be back by now.

———

Sola was lost again.

She finally made it to the dorm building, just skirting past the entrance and searching down the halls for Team Valiant’s room in retrieval of their weapons. She did her best to search, but she usually had the others to help guide her back.

“Room 374…Room 374…Room 347…no! 374!” She muttered, rushing down the halls. “Come on! I know it’s near the vending machi…”

Due to her frantic scanning, Sola’s attention drifted. She crossed past another hallway, searching the floor for the right room, before finding a figure gathered on the ground, back to the wall and head huddled to her legs.

She was visibly shaking, jumping whenever a loud noise came from the attack outside. Sola noticed her quickly and made a point to slow down while approaching her.

She stayed huddled, Sola standing over her curiously, before the girl noticed and jumped back in shock.

“Oh, sorry!” Sola professed, jumping back as well. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

The girl still looked terrified, staring directly at Sola, reflexively stretching her hand, as Sola cocked her head.

“Why’re you out in the hall?” Sola asked. “Did you lose your team or something?”

The girl looked back at her, lowering her guard a little, before signing back to Sola.

[I don’t have a team. I’m not a Venator.]

“Oh.” Sola realised. “Why’re you on campus?”

She refused to reply, shying away from Sola again, before more crashing came from outside and sent her shuddering, hiding her head in her hands.

Sola looked around the hallways again, before leaning in further to talk. “I can let you stay in our room, if you want.”

The girl lifted her head, side-glancing Sola.

“I’m pretty sure it’s safer than being out here, and probably quieter.” Sola reasoned. “Since you don’t have a team and all.”

The girl stared back at Sola, trying to figure out her intentions and finding nothing but earnestness. For a supposed Venator, this girl was one of the least threatening people she’d ever seen.

“I just need to find Room 374…” Sola admitted, looking around frantically, before the girl got her attention.

She pointed down the other hallway, as it finally clicked for Sola.

“It was there the whole time? Don’t I feel like a doofus.” Sola realised, the girl getting up to join her. “What’s your name, by the way?”

The girl was apprehensive about being so open but gave it some thought and caved. […Jules.]

“…Jules.” Sola sounded out, laughing a bit. “That’s funny. My team leader’s name is Julia. Though Jules is probably a cooler name. My name’s Sola, by the way.”

Jules blushed a bit, as Sola hurried down the hall, arriving at their door. “Here we are!”

She opened it up, Jules immediately being thrown off by the homely feel of the place. The dorm truly lived up to its name and seemed like nothing more than a living space for a few students. The most threatening piece of decorum was the sword mounted by Wess’ bed, but even that was undercut by the broken fish tank and Team Spectrum posters.

“Hold on, I’ve gotta get our weapons.” Sola said, dashing into the team study. “There’s some leftover cake in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

Jules looked back at the kitchen, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, before feeling like she could take a seat on the couch, while still not knowing what to do with her hands.

This is so weird… She thought to herself, looking around the room again. This can’t be how Venators live.

Jules jumped again as Sola carried out the team’s weapons, nearly toppling over from just how many she was holding.

“I got it!” She cried, seconds before falling, until Jules reached out and grabbed a few, making sure they didn’t fall.

Jules dropped them to the couch, exhausted. [What’re you doing?]

“I need to get these to my team.” Sola explained, lifting up her arm-cannons. “We’ve gotta defend the academy before it gets totally destroyed. You saw the Behemoth Wailing, right?”

[Unfortunately…] Jules replied, still cowering despite herself, as Sola attempted to lift up Julia’s rifle and Wess’ sword and shield at the same time, nearly dropping them again.

“Hold on, I’ll get a bag!” Sola let out, dropping them onto the couch and rushing into the study again, before Jules grabbed her shoulder.

Jules picked up the rifle and slung it on her back, while also grabbing Harley’s Buster Knuckles. Sola blinked for a second, before it connected for her, as she collected Wess’ gear and her arm-cannons.

“You sure you don’t want to stay here?” Sola asked, before both of them were distracted by more of the action outside.

Jules peered out the balcony, before turning to Sola and shaking her head.

“Okay.” Sola agreed, opening the door. “You can come back here if you need somewhere to go. There’s plenty of room. I feel weird promising cake and not delivering on it.”

While she didn’t admit to it, Jules thought about it for a second, as Sola closed the door behind them.

Sola looked around again, Jules turning to her.

[Where are we supposed to go?]

“Uhh…” Sola struggled, before snapping to the left. “This way!”

Jules followed along, as Sola sprinted through the hallways, weapons in tow.

Don’t worry, guys. I’ve got your backs.

———

Essex knew what she had to do.

It had been difficult adjusting to her new setting over the last year. All of a sudden, she wasn’t just defending her clan from Wailing, she was training to be a warrior. She had a team to consider, and not everything was so cleanly solved with her scythe.

But this was something she could handle. Search and rescue.

Protect nearby citizens. Essex repeated to herself. She swung up to the twelfth floor, having already evacuated a couple other students in the lower floors. They were relieved to see her, but she couldn’t hang around any longer than she had, guiding them back to the building entrance and coming back up to continue her search. The attack raged on outside, just behind the main building, some teams and Wailing now splayed out further across the campus grounds.

The teams handled themselves well, Essex recognising Team Beefcake holding off a few, a few from Team Salvation contributing covering fire, and even Team Instinct doing their part. Admittedly, it made her wish she was working closer with the rest of Team Valiant, but she knew the value in what they were doing.

What didn’t sit right, however, was the figure outside of the fights, deliberately trying not to draw the eye.

“Coatsworth?” Essex let out, getting a closer look, before realising they were covered head to toe in a black bodysuit, their identity near impossible to make out.

Even with that, Essex could tell this wasn’t Coatsworth. Just looking at their manoeuvrability and swiftness, nothing about the doddering, clumsy Coatsworth would even be capable of these movements.

This could be a third-year student within costume. Essex rationalised, as another team came around the corner to join the fight, the figure ducking into the shadows to avoid them.

Essex quickly shut that theory down, watching them navigate across campus, always avoiding being anywhere near the fighting.

Essex stepped back down to go and confront them, before staring back up at the next floor, weighing up her options.

I cannot abandon those that might need me. She realised. This is what I can do for them.

She stared back at the figure, evading detection from anyone else.

But if they are aiding in Coatsworth’s plan… Essex thought through. …I will stop the attack all together. Rescue will not be necessary.

Catching them just running out of sight, Essex stared up at the next few floors left to navigate, before quickly heading back down the building, bursting out the entrance in search of the figure.

She last caught them circling through the main courtyard, just in the middle of the main building and support towers, as she headed there in a panic, scanning around for the intruder.

“Where are they…?” She muttered, the open walkway’s surrounding the courtyard too dark from the overcast weather to make anything out.

Essex wandered over to the left walkway, her scythe already out and prominently displayed, as she took her time traversing the yard, careful not to let her guard down.

She closed in on the walkway, cautiously scanning around, glancing back at the main building as a reminder of where to go for help, before she turned around suddenly, a sword now being held against her throat.

Processing what had just happened, Essex now saw the figure in front of her, before she knocked the assailant’s hand away with her elbow, as they lost their grip on the sword. They backed up quickly, as Essex took a swing, just missing them, until both were facing each other again in combative stances.

Essex noticed the figure’s face was covered with a mask and their bodysuit was deliberately indiscernible as to any identifiable traits.

The figure looked her up and down, careful not to lower their guard too, before speaking with a noticeably filtered voice.

“You’re not worth my time.”

With that, they skated around Essex, Essex taking another swing, before the figure landed on top of the scythe’s blade, launching off of it, before retrieving their sword with a tumble and climbing up the walkway’s covering, running across the roofs to the back of the campus.

Essex took a second to recover after the figure threw off her balance, before she spotted them across the roofs, too far to catch now.

Weighing her options again, she decided to head for the main building, pushing down her desire to pursue the assailant for now in favour of getting the assistance she needed.

I will find you…

———

…not matter what.

Julia trudged out from the main building, navigating her way through the car park in search of Coatsworth. By the looks of it, he was still unloading his work into his car, as Julia spotted him just outside the staff exit opening up his trunk.

She mustered up her courage and let it all out.

“C-Coatsworth!!!”

Coatsworth turned his head and watched as Julia marched over.

“Y-you better stop this!”

“Julia Alpine.” He said. “If you’re not defending the academy, I implore you to find a safe plac-“

“Sh-shut up! I’m not gonna hear it!” Julia yelled, too scared to do anything else. “I-I know you caused the attack, so you better s-stop it right now!”

Coatsworth looked baffled, before opening his car again. “I don’t know how you got that impression, but it’s simply untrue. Please, let me drop you off somewhere safe.”

“S-s-stop worming out of this!” Julia cried. “There’s n-no point hiding your intentions! Faller already knows!”

“Faller?” Coatsworth asked, genuinely thrown. “Knows what? Julia, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Is there something I should be privy to?”

Julia’s eyes fluttered. “I-Is there…? What are…”

Julia dismissed the thought and continued pushing. “Y-you’re just lying again! Call off the attack!”

“Julia, I’m not commanding this attack.” Coatsworth reasoned. “What power do you think I hold?”

“B-but…you did it last time.” Julia warbled, trying to hold her ground. “On orientation day…y-you told me to avoid the welcome event and that I’d see why, and then it was attacked…”

Julia stood back, forcing herself into an offensive position. “I-I-I don’t have my weapon, but I can still d-defend this academy.”

Coatsworth displayed his palms. “I think you’re confused. That’s not why I said what I said before the welcome event.”

Julia froze in place, barely prepared for the revelation.

“You seemed like a social recluse, much like myself. Those events are very overwhelming and require plenty of socialising, and I assumed you wouldn’t like it.” Coatsworth said, adjusting his suit. “I wanted to make sure the event didn’t put you off attending the academy.”

“N-no, that’s…” Julia sputtered, trying to recall anything. “…y-you ran away when Harley was fighting Baron instead of helping. Th-that’s suspicious!”

“But I was trying to help. I was looking for a security guard to break up the fight.” Coatsworth said. “I’m not very physically strong, so separating the two would’ve harmed me in the process. Fortunately, Ferris arrived in time to break them up instead.”

Julia shook her head, refusing to take in what she was hearing. Nothing about this lined up for her, and yet it all did, she just refused to believe it. But he was…

He was never…

“Has Ferris told you this? We haven’t gotten along very well in the past, so I’m worried she might have coloured your opinion.” Coatsworth asked, before shaking his head. “Despite being a prominent figure in the academy, I’m…very underdeveloped in my social skills. If this has come off as unsettling, then I want to apologise.”

Julia hadn’t properly taken in his explanation, still piecing together the disparate threads in her head, as Coatsworth grabbed his keys again.

“Julia, we must leave. Please, it’s too dangerous to stay here for long.”

Slowly returning to consciousness, Julia caught the sounds of Wailing and gunfire in the distance and was stunningly reminded of just what was going on.

Coatsworth indicated for her to follow, opening his passenger door to her. She slipped in, as he turned on the ignition.

“We’ll be out of here soon enough. If it’s safe enough, there’s an alternate route behind the academy that leads to the arena. I can drop you off, but I’ll be returning to collect more of my work.”

Julia slowly nodded her head, as Coatsworth pulled out of the car park.

“…sorry for…assuming you were…” Julia let out, curling up into herself. “Everything pointed to…well, I thought it did…and then we found those listening devices…”

“Listening devices?” Coatsworth asked in disbelief, scanning as he headed down the road. “In the academy?”

Julia nodded. “…and then Faller was talking about an outside influence working in the academy…and I jumped to a stupid conclusion…”

Coatsworth continued driving, glancing back at Julia with notable concern.

“…I’m worried you might be onto something.” Coatsworth admitted, turning the corner to avoid a Venator team. “If there are listening devices located on campus, then perhaps you’re right. Someone might have orchestrated or manufactured the attacks for an ulterior motive.”

“But I don’t even know who!” Julia said, kicking the seat. “Oh, sorry…”

“What could they want?” Coatsworth asked, passing near the training grounds. “What could attacking the academy accomplish?”

“Revenge? Destroying Venators? Maybe a total accident?” Julia complained, slinking back into her seat. “Does it even matter? We were all too stupid to even realise it was happening under our noses, and now everything’s going wrong. The academy’s going to be destroyed and I couldn’t stop it…”

“You can’t blame yourself.” Coatsworth reasoned. “You’re a first-year student. There’s only so much that should be asked of you.”

“How about not blaming innocent people of being evil masterminds?” Julia complained, staring out at the academy, still climbing high into the sky. “I mean, what could I do? They’ve done such a good job of cover…ing…”

Julia stopped for a second, pausing mid-sentence and sitting up in her seat again, still staring out at the pristine academy, before undoing her seatbelt.

“Pull over.”

“Julia?” Coatsworth asked, slowly pulling up to the curb. “What is it?”

“I need to go.” Julia said, heading quickly out the door. “You may not have anything to do with this, but I refuse to sit it out when I can still help.”

Coatsworth cocked his head, as Julia leaned in through the window.

“They’re covering something up! Whoever’s behind all this is using the attack to distract all the guards and Venators away from something! That’s why all the action’s at the entrance to the academy! The campus is virtually untouched!”

Coatsworth thought it over, nodding along with her. “It would make sense. An academy of Venators will always be difficult to penetrate, especially with the increased security after the first attack.”

“And it explains the listening devices. Then you know how everyone’s thinking and how Faller and the security are operating. You could just plan around the security patrols.” Julia reasoned, rubbing her chin. “But what could they be doing? Apart from the Weapon Reserve, most of the academy just holds teaching equipment. There’s nothing to steal…”

Coatsworth’s eyes widened, as he grabbed Julia’s attention. “I may know. Last semester, I noticed Ferris in the science department building late at night. She left with certain documents that she was very protective of.”

“Documents?” Julia asked, mumbling to herself and thinking it through. “Maybe they need to steal them back? Or the documents detailed something sensitive?”

She stopped muttering and turned back to Coatsworth in the car, her earlier embarrassment coming back. “…thank you…for the lead. I’m sorry again for…”

Coatsworth raised his hand to stop her. “Assure me you’ll get your team to safety after you’re finished.”

Julia grew a smile and nodded to him. “I promise.”

“Good.” He said, starting up the car again. “Good luck to you.”

Julia looked over to the science department. “You too.”

———

“Anything?”

“No one up here!” Baron shouted back, slamming the door shut. “Twentieth empty room in a row!”

“We’re not leaving any stones unturned!” Harley yelled back. “Come on, we’ve only got five floors left!”

Just then, Harley got a text from Wess asking where she was, Harley replying the sixth floor, as Team Ferocity took a breather by the window.

“Get up, guys.” Harley demanded, Baron flipping her off.

“Make me.”

“Ahh! A Wailing!” Harley cried, with only Edward actually believing her, before getting smacked upside the head by Duke.

“Why didn’t we just evacuate with Spence?” Edward asked, rubbing his head. “We could’ve chilled out at the arena and avoided all this…”

“Chilled?” Baron said, just as Wess came out of the elevator, Harley noticing her wounds and rushing over to her.

“Wess! What happened?” Harley asked, nervously trying to inspect her cut cheek.

“A Wailing broke off an-don’t touch it!” Wess demanded, smacking Harley’s hand away. “…Team Vanguard are taking care of it. Is Sola back with our weapons?”

“Not yet.” Harley admitted. “I also realised that they’re probably too heavy for her anyway.”

Wess froze in place, as the realisation hit her too, causing her to crouch to the ground. “We’re so stupid…”

The elevator dinged again, as Essex re-emerged, out of breath and panicked.

“Oh no, you’re not hurt too, are you?” Harley asked again, as Essex ignored her question.

“There is a bigger prob…” Essex started, before realising Team Ferocity were with them, freezing her up. “…I do not wish to discuss this with…them present.”

Harley and Wess turned to Team Ferocity, before slinking off to the side of the hall to have their own conversation.

“They‘re actually hiding shit.” Baron said, somewhat offended. “What’s so-“

Duke tapped his shoulder, as the team spotted what looked to be Julia running through campus, directly to the science department, drawing Baron’s eye.

“…that crazy…” He said, formulating something in his head, before turning to his team. “George, Henry, continue searching through the building. Duke and Ed, follow.”

The team split up, unbeknownst to Team Valiant, still reacting to Essex’s news.

“They attacked you?” Wess asked.

“And then proceeded in the direction of the science department. I believe something might be present there that they are attempting to retrieve.”

“Well, we’re not going yet.” Harley said, just as Sola turned the corner behind her. “If they’re armed, it’d be stupid to go in bare-handed. Plus, we need to check in with Julia firs-“

“Hey!” Sola cried, running down the hall. “I got them! I got them guys!”

“Oh, thank Reun…” Harley let out, turning to greet her. “It’s about time!”

Sola trotted along, as Jules eventually swung around the corner with her, wary about finally confronting the Venator team Sola insisted on bragging about on the way.

“Who’s this?” Wess asked, Sola handing off her shield and Belvedere.

“Oh, yeah. That’s Jules.” Sola replied, equipping her arm-cannons. “She helped me carry this stuff. And she was really terrified of the all the attacking earlier.”

“Cool.” Harley said, going over to her to pick up her Buster Knuckles. “Thanks for the help, stranger.”

Jules didn’t reply, instead handing off the Buster Knuckles efficiently and quietly, before Essex approached her side, assessing her cautiously.

“Do you possess a sword?”

Jules’ fear shot through her, as she gave Essex a quick and terrified head shake.

Essex looked unconvinced, but removed her hand from her scythe handle, as Harley strapped Julia’s rifle to her back.

“So? Off to the science department?” Harley asked the team, Jules shooting up in surprise.

S-science department?

“We should search for Julia first, right? She was confronting Coatsworth.” Wess argued, rubbing her temple. “She hasn’t texted us, and the attacking is still continuing, so either we were wrong and Coatsworth isn’t working with the assailant, or…”

Wess blanked out at the mere thought of it , before Essex rested an assuring hand on her shoulder.

Sola broke from her train of thought. “I just had a thought. What if it’s a whole organisation?” Sola suggested.

Jules stepped back in shock, starting to panic at Sola’s suggestion, while going mostly unnoticed amongst the rest of the group.

H-how do they know…

“How else could they get so many Wailing to work for them? I doubt only two people could do that.” Sola rationalised, Jules now off to the side, quietly hiding behind the others.

“Yeah, I mean, for all we know, there’s a bunch of folks out there orchestrating this stuff.” Harley pointed out. “But we don’t know Coatsworth isn’t still leading them.”

“This is all starting to sound like gossip. Surely, we can leave the speculation until after the attack is finished.” Wess reasoned. “We find this assailant, find Julia, then retreat to the arena until the attack is resolved.”

“Everyone on board?” Harley asked, getting a nod of approval from everyone, save for Jules, as the team properly equipped themselves and started heading down.

They crowded into the elevator, leaving Jules on her own, quietly standing, until Sola stuck her head out and waved to her with her cannon still on.

“Thank you, Jules! It was fun chatting with you!”

Sola ducked back in, as the elevator disappeared from sight, leaving Jules profoundly lonely in the newfound silence, catching a glimpse of the action going on outside.

Venators…

She stared out at the conflict, the Venators managing to hold their ground, even as the Behemoth continued roaring and swinging from the sidelines, dealing massive blow after massive blow to the academy forces.

You deserve this…I know you do…

She started for the stairwell, before peering out the other window, catching Team Valiant hurrying out the building in search of their leader.

…this won’t change my mind…

She took a few steps down, before stopping suddenly and taking a breather.

There’s just no way…

———

Julia finally made it.

The night had been so chaotic, and the fighting refused to die down. Even being so far away from the academy entrance, Julia still caught every gun shot, every explosion, every cry from the approaching Wailing. She could even catch the outline of the Behemoth Wailing jutting out from behind the main building.

Julia forced herself to look away.

I can’t focus on that. She demanded, re-centring herself and staring up at the science department.

Fortunately, a majority of the academy had been untouched by the attack, only confirming Julia’s hypothesis about the manufactured attack.

She pulled out her tablet quickly, staring back at the imposing building again, before typing out a text to everyone about her location.

It took a second for her to hit send, almost regretting it in her head, before she sighed out and let herself press it.

It’s okay. They’ll be okay…you can trust them to be okay…

She’d reached the entrance to the building, scanning her card to let herself in, before bracing herself and entering, pushing as many nerves as she could down.

Julia went to pull out her rifle, before remembering it wasn’t there, only reaffirming her nerves, and instead started scouring the hallways in search of anything of note. The main floors were mostly lecture halls and classrooms, but Julia didn’t plan on searching them.

“Labs, offices…anywhere else important…” She mumbled, heading up the stairwell.

The top floors housed most of the research labs, used both by students and scientific staff alike, as well as the offices of most of the staff too.

Julia planned to head off through the halls, before catching a small creak coming from the stairwell.

Her nerves already heightened, she gave herself room to run, careful not to intercept any person who might’ve posed a thre-

“Whoa!”

Julia jumped back in panic, as Baron pressed his hand to his chest, struggling to breath.

“B-Baron?” Julia stumbled, standing up in a fury. “Why the hell are you here?!”

“Geez, calm down. You come out of nowhere then berate me with questions.” Baron complained, recovering from his shock, as Duke and Edward followed suite and made themselves known.

“Wha-why aren’t you guys out fighting the Wailing?!” Julia demanded.

“We could say the same to you.” Duke remarked, dragging his ball and chain up the stairs.

“Since you weren’t with your team, and you seemed pretty adamant about coming here, we figured this was where the real action was happening.” Baron reasoned, wandering past Julia. “If the Wailing were the most important part of this, knowing you, you’d be jumping at them the second you got the chance.”

Julia conceded their point, as Baron continued to wander.

“…there may be something dangerous here, or someone.” Julia explained, raising her voice. “Just…be on the lookout for anything suspicious.”

Baron looked back at her, before waving his hand nonchalantly. “Whatever you say.”

Julia and Team Ferocity split up, navigating the outside of the science labs, as Julia peered into each, struggling to find a hair out of place.

“They’re really well kept…” Julia mumbled, entering the main lab, now cautious from the sudden open space.

She knocked around each table, trying to spot any files or objects that looked to be worth stealing.

Everything seemed quiet.

And as you might expect.

“…”

“…”

“…”

All was perfectl-

*SMASH!*

Julia only had a moment to react, before a beaker was knocked down near her, followed by a kick connecting with her chest, knocking her to the ground.

Pain shot through her chest at the sudden action, as a figure cloaked in black vaulted over her and out of the lab, dragging a sword behind them. Julia took a second to recover, before forcing herself up to chase after them, swinging back down the stairs.

Baron turned and caught her running through the hallway, before turning to his team and nodding for them to follow.

Julia sprinted out the front door, panting heavily while searching for the perpetrator. She caught the figure dashing down a nearby alleyway between buildings and continued her pursuit.

“Package retrieved without incident. Attempting exit now.”

Julia caught the tail end of a message, as the figure attempted to leap over the wall blocking the alleyway, before Julia outstretched her arms and slowed them down with her Whil, causing them to trip up as they climbed.

The figure hit the ground, taking a second to recover, as Team Ferocity approached from Julia’s sides.

“Is this the person behind it?” Baron asked, swinging his sword and approaching.

“Maybe. I think I heard them talking to someone…” Julia mentioned, as Duke and Edward stepped out, brandishing weapons. “Guys, don’t hurt them! What if they’re willing to talk to us?”

“Since they ran, that seems unlikely.” Edward pointed out, manipulating his sheet of metal with his Whil.

The figure had recovered from the fall, now holding out their sword, as Baron closed in.

“You better watch it.” Baron boasted, outstretching his sword. “We’re the best there is. Our beef isn’t personal, but attacking my academy deserves a punishment.”

The figure didn’t respond, but merely held out their sword, showing off its blade to Baron.

Baron turned his head to Edward and nodded to the figure, before doing the same to Duke, as both jumped out in front of him toward the assailant.

Edward started by wrapping his metal sheet around the figure’s arms and legs, trapping them together, as Duke swung his ball and chain around, before sending it travelling through the ground with his Whil toward the figure.

The figure stood there unmoving, before the metal around their arms and legs started turning a bright orange, then melted off and puddled on the ground. They turned to face the incoming spiked ball, before their sword also turned orange and cleaved the ball in two, sending half of it flying off into the wall.

Duke dragged his chain and severed ball back and Edward regathered his metal, as Baron took a second to formulate another attack. All Julia could do was sit back and watch as they threw themselves at the assailant.

“They know what they’re doing.” Baron admitted, whispering to Duke and Edward. “I’ll take the lead. You guys back me up where you can but focus on light damage. Don’t let anything touch them for too long.”

With that, Baron charged at the figure, separating his whip sword and lighting it ablaze with his Whil as he ran, swinging it around the figure’s wrist, attempting to rip their sword away.

The figure braced the chain and swung Baron around instead, flinging him off to the side, as Edward launched his metal as darts toward them, the figure avoiding each one.

Meanwhile, Duke started surfing through the ground and around the figure with his Whil, trying to trip them up with his outstretched chain, while also unsettling the ground below their feet and trying to sink them down.

The figure danced around the chain and darts, catching a dart in mid-air and throwing it back at Edward to distract him, before back-flipping, kicking off their feet-covering while in the air, and landing on Duke’s chain with their bare feet, melting it down to nothing.

Having his chain severed, Duke’s momentum carried him into the wall, knocking him out cold, as the figure finally dug out Baron’s sword from their arm and flung it toward Edward, knocking him back to the ground with a gash in his chest.

As the figure slowly turned back to Julia, Baron finally got up again and took a swing, aiming his fist straight at the figure’s head.

They caught his fist before it made impact, then bent it backwards and broke it, causing Baron to scream out in pain, as the figure kicked him back into the wall, knocking him down for good.

“You should be glad I didn’t melt it.”

Finally, the figure turned their sights to Julia, as Julia noted how unfazed they were, barely winded, and as imposing as ever.

They outstretched their sword again, ready and waiting, and it was all Julia could do to just stand there.

The exit was behind her. She could run, maybe even lose them if she ran fast enough, but she couldn’t do that. Not after all this trouble. She couldn’t let them get away with this.

“Well?” They asked, cocking their head inquisitively. “What’re you waiting for?”