Fallen Star

Chapter 22

"Hiro, calm down!" Empyrean floated in front of me, spreading her arms out wide. "You're acting too rashly! We need to think this through and formulate a plan."

"Out of the way, Empyrean," I growled. She seemed scared, but she wouldn't budge.

"No. This is only going to lead to disaster, Hiro," she insisted, coming closer. "Fighting right now won't solve anything."

"Yes, it will. It'll let my family's spirits finally rest in peace."

I shoved her aside and though she grabbed my shoulder, it was a feeble plea for mercy and I completely ignored her. I safely put away Shino's pendant in the pocket closest to my heart. Don't worry, Shino, I'll avenge you soon enough. My plan was to just rush past Emyr and beat up that scientist bastard before he got too far away. Emyr glared at me with venom in his eyes and came forward. I smacked him away with the blunt side of Argenti's blade. When he tried striking me again, I parried him and forcibly switched our positions before breaking away and hitting the ground running. The scientist had ducked into a hallway to the left.

"No, you don't!"

I jumped to the side to narrowly avoid getting my foot lobbed off as Emyr dived for my ankles with his blade. Scowling, I grabbed a small wrench from the depths of one of my pockets and threw it at Emyr's face. It landed square in his forehead and as he roared in pain, I got back to balance and made my getaway.

"Get back here!"

His voice was garbled, perhaps by dripping blood, but they fell on deaf ears nonetheless as I descended the hallway. The scientist bastard was just within reach. If I put the pedal to the metal, I could reach him and make him pay. He couldn't have gotten that far. I was one of the Five Lights, the greatest group of Hunters Omega had ever seen. I would catch up to and tear this twisted head a new one. He was going to pay for what he'd done. Experimenting on the Lights with the one thing we fought so hard against, selling us out to Alpha when all we'd ever done was help, not to mention pretending to be an Omega so he could deceive us all! He was not getting away with this. Behind me, I could hear fast-moving footsteps; Emyr was at my heel, causing me to click my tongue in annoyance.

"Hiro." Empyrean was suddenly beside me; in the whole confusion of everything, I'd nearly forgotten she was there. "No matter how you look at it, this is a bad idea. Are you sure𑁋"

"If you want to go get the Memory Key on the top floor, then you can damn well go get it yourself!" I barked at her. "I only care about the scientist. If you're gonna keep yapping in my ear, then scram!"

"I..." Empyrean began wringing her hands. "I can't just leave you! Not to fend for yourself against Emyr! He has corrupted Sanctus powers! But... The Key..."

"Make up your damn mind, lady!"

Empyrean opened her mouth to reply but was forced up towards the ceiling as Emyr finally caught up to me and lunged at her. He then tried socking me but I barely managed to dodge.

"I don't have time to deal with you!" I barked.

"You don't have a choice," Emyr hissed back.

He struck again, this time forcing me to take a step back. Now Emyr was the only person standing between me and the scientist, and he was blocking my way. In this narrow corridor, I couldn't just slip past him and continue on; it was so linear he'd catch up in no time and we'd continue this stupid little dance. If I wanted vengeance, I had to take him down here and now. Empyrean drifted backward, frightened and hesitant. I took a step forward.

There were no words to be exchanged between me and Emyr. We just pounced.

It was a straightforward battle as we thrust and parried. Our space was so limited neither of us could afford to make wide, sweeping slashes unless we wanted our swords buried in the wall. But Emyr had the advantage; with his weird powers, he could parry and deflect my strikes with his right hand and attack with his left. He had more space to dodge back at the stadium, so there was no point in using a shield since it required more concentration and perhaps energy while adding weight. He was smart so he knew when to put the effort into using a shield over relying on pure grit, though he was good enough to do both.

Emyr was a tough foe, there was no denying that.

But I was wasting time, and this was starting to drag on. Emyr was toying with me; he would stall me out until the scientist could safely escape and then finish me off so his victory would be complete. He wouldn't give me any satisfaction. He wanted to crush me completely.

He'd force me to lose my hope, lose my chance, and feel like a failure who was unable to carry on the legacy of the Five Lights of Omega. This bastard... There was no way in hell I was going to give him that chance.

How was I supposed to break this impasse!? I was never going to make any headway at this rate! That scientist was getting farther and farther away, carrying the dignity of the Lights with him. Well...

I recalled a certain small vial within the depths of my jacket, in the inner pockets. In busting drug dealers, we often took samples for ourselves to safely deliver to trusted researchers. Shino wanted them studied so we could be prepared for anything thrown our way. I was a stingy person; being a free-wandering Hunter did that to you. I hardly ever threw away anything, so if my guess was correct, I was carrying something very dangerous and very powerful on my persona. I was warned against ever using it... It was something that I'd fought against and seen the effects of. But I needed that power! I had to triumph over Emyr! I had to reach that scientist! The Lights would never be peacefully laid to rest otherwise! I couldn't beat Emyr like this! I had to do anything.

I had to come out on top.

I had to win.

No matter what.

I wouldn't lose to this bastard, the last obstacle standing in the way between me and justice. Shino's pendant felt heavy against my chest but I didn't care. I could handle desecrating myself but I wouldn't stand for desecration against my family. I was an improper heir from the start so what did it matter now!? I'd never live up! I'd already given up any hope for a bright future! Shino's will would never come to fruition because I would never be able to carry it out the way he'd intended! His last wishes were for me to go to Alpha City and live. That would never happen. If I was already a failure, then why not just throw myself to the darkness?

If that was what it took to lay Shino, Jayden, Madison, and Chase to peaceful rest, then so be it.

"I never would have ever considered this, but you're really getting on my nerves," I told Emyr with a breathy laugh. "You're so, so stuck-up, with all your secrets and your stupid eyes! You sick bastard, you stuck-up prick! If you're so keen on Malefics, then why don't I give you a taste of your own medicine!?"

I fished into my jacket and took out a vial. It revealed a syringe with the bottle itself scrawled over in red ink, finishing with a big "X." The vial was filled with a putrid black liquid, thick and viscous. Emyr's eyes widened.

"You wouldn't..."

"Hiro!" Empyrean was aghast. "Please, think this through!"

"I hate to break it to you, Emyr, but I'm not above fighting dirty. And I'm not above doing whatever it takes to win, especially if it's something I'm serious about. I'll slap you down by any means necessary... The Lights will be brought to justice."

The syringe speared my neck. As a drop of the liquid fell down to the floor and my vision became clouded.

"Hiro!" I barely heard Empyrean scream.