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This Chapter will be subject to future changes!
I apologize to those who have made it thus far,
but I plan to rewrite this chapter in the future
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Virtues lie here...
Where streams hold blood...
When the night is absent...
And disappear under the surface...
"So what do you think Talulah?'
"Kaiser Rye is still alive even though he had a sword through his abdomen.'
"Are you surprised this happened?'
"I knew this would happen.'
"And this is certainly not his first."
I was utterly baffled by Kaiser Rye's escape from death. His Arts are far more complex without his control. I saw Crownslayer drive a machete through him; I saw the pool of blood beneath him; I saw his dying breaths. And yet, he is still alive.
His tenacity is still supporting him despite his flaws, like a soldier fighting without an arm.
When will he just die?
He has already caused enough stress for me.
I shielded my eyes with my hand when Kaiser Rye's body glowed a bright white. He was lying on the ground struggling to stand up. Crownslayer was sent flying by the blast, but she was still in ample condition to fight.
The ground had a small crater encrusted with Originium crystals. Rye was lying in the center of it with bloody, tattered clothes. He climbed out of it only to meet my glare. His head looked upwards to the sky, then he looked at me with presumably squinted eyes.
I was standing on top of a flat roof observing the scene as Crownslayer charged at him. Rye had his shield with him, and he blocked her attack before it could land. The sounds of metal reverberated through the area as a beam of black interrupted their scuffle.
I leaned forward to get a glimpse of the new figure that entered. A small Cautus in an oversized jacket was capable of stopping Crownslayer's assault. Some other person stood beside her wearing the same black outfit, but he had a mask on concealing his identity.
Interesting...
As I stare at the new contestants I realized that the Cautus was familiar. She was the same one that managed to stop my Arts from incinerating her little circus troupe.
"You should go now Talulah."
Koshchei doesn't make the calls here. I continued to watch the battle as the little Cautus used her Black Arts to stop Crownslayer, but she underestimated an assassin and almost paid the price.
Rye used his Arts to divert her attention and the two of them engaged in close-quarter combat once again. But this time he had support from the little Cautus as he fought. He never launched an offensive attack however; instead, he just kept using his Arts to deter Crownslayer's efforts.
Seeing that this little foray is getting nowhere, I decided to end it.
I pulled out my earpiece and dialed it and put it in my ear. I pressed a button and spoke, "Crownslayer, retreat. You'll deal with him next time."
I looked down at Crownslayer, who seemed to have received my message, and used her Smoke Arts to cover her retreat. I used this opportunity to leave the area. There is no need to intervene into one's matters unless you could gain some sort of advantage from it.
And then I started my descent and headed towards my soldiers.
"Kaiser Rye is a formidable opponent with his Arts. Without it, he is just a mere child who doesn't know how to use a fork."
Even Koshchei enjoys ridiculing him.
"He isn't capable of winning a fair fight." I remarked while I walk down an endless staircase.
"He usually turns the tide of battle in his favor."
He executes his plans poorly. He is often forced to improvise...
"But he does that pretty well doesn't he?"
Until you break his guard...
BLEEP!*
I press a button on my earpiece which was still lodged in my ear.
"Is it Crownslayer?" I asked.
"Yes it is." The assassin replied. "Kaiser Rye has backup. By the looks of it they look like sitting ducks."
"Don't attack them." I say while I finish my descent on the stairs.
"I am able to make quick work of the man with the rabbit if you want." She proposed as I exit the building and entered a clearing full of dead soldiers.
"Leave them. You can kill them in the future, but not-" I recommend.
"Wait..." Crownslayer whispered as I hear the yells of a male individual.
"What is it?" I inquired as I walked down the street.
"Kaiser Rye left the rabbit and the other person." She informed.
"Where is he headed?"
"In your direction."
Are you serious?
I closed the call and continued walking down the street ignoring the beeps of the earpiece.
"He's coming." Koshchei warned.
If he was smart would just leave...
"The two of us know that he won't."
I closed my eyes as I let out a groan. I lift my head up towards the sky as I breathe in the surrounding air. It reeked off rotting flesh, sweat, blood and dirty air.
Then I heard the sound of footsteps hitting cracked pavement. Then their volume increased ever so slightly until they finally stopped.
Why is he here?
I took a deep breath before opening my eyes.
"Hi Talulah."
Go away...
"It's been a while."
Just go...
"How have you been?"
I turn around to see Kaiser Rye standing there with a forced smile. He was way too close for comfort. I can tell that he's speechless right now given his tense countenance.
His appearance was anticipated given his quick battle with Crownslayer: blood stained his clothes, rips lined his body, scarf torn to shreds. I could see an Originium crystal slowly eroding the side of his neck stationed right under his current ones. His horns were missing, tail gone; his fervor disappeared when he lost them.
And he still has the determination from all those years ago.
I restrain my hostile emotions and plant my sword in the ground. I used my left hand to charge my Arts and sent an invisible flame throughout the area.
"Are you just going to stand there?" I asked as he was startled by my question. In the corner of my eye I saw the Cautus from before.
He closed his eyes before looking at me straight in the eye. "Talulah... Why are you doing this?"
"Explain." I replied as I see the Cautus yell out a faint order.
"Why are you here in Chernobog in the first place?" He started as I clench my Oripathy-ridden hands for a moment before releasing them.
The surrounding buildings and vehicles were slowly melting as he stood there unfazed. The Cautus and the other person were bickering with one another before the man with the mask forcefully pulled her away.
"That is none of your business." I state as he stood still. The surrounding air grew warmer by the second, but I wasn't bothered by it.
"By the looks of it, it will soon be everyone's business." He responds in an impartial tone. "Why are you here in Chernobog? We never discussed anything about taking over a city."
I let out a wry laugh. "You have long been exiled from the Reunion. You wouldn't have known."
"But I do know that dozens of soldiers are dying out here." He asserted.
"You're still worried about the soldiers?" I mused. "The most loyal ones have long died."
"I know its been a year or two but - seriously, why are you doing this?" If he keeps on prying into the subject, he'll start to break apart.
"I'm just checking off my to-do list." I frowned as the buildings around us were turning into a molten mess; the sky was darkening as dark clouds loomed above us.
"Calm down Talulah." Rye pleaded in a moderate voice. "I'm going to ask again-"
"Do you really think that you can talk some sense into me?" I interrupted as I flex the fingers on my right hand.
"I-" Hesitation took hold of him.
"I'm going to be a little lenient today. Scram before you slowly burn up." I pointed at him signaling him to go.
"You know I'm not leaving." He acknowledged.
Of course you aren't...
"Very well." I state as I send a flame towards him.
He blocks it perfectly, and slowly it vanishes before him.
"Hey, we can still talk this through." He insists as I stifle a laugh.
"Not every problem can be solved by mere words." I asserted.
I swing my sword in an upwards arc causing the ground to erupt beneath him. Flames blasted through the surface as molten rock fly in the air. As usual, he dodged before he could get hit.
"Just think about the Infected protests before all of this started." I say as I swing my sword downward sending another eruption.
"There was a chance for the Empire to stop persecuting them." Rye retaliates as he dodged to his left. Then he started running.
Is he really approaching me?
"There is no way the Ursus Empire will listen to their grievances." I brushed off his reply as I block a beam of white with my sword.
And he really has the cojones to attack me... Even Patriot knows not to mess with me...
"But someone has to listen." Rye replied as he charged at me. "Maybe someday they'll make some changes."
"Even if they did, the Infected still won't be better off." I chuckled as I ran towards him and swung my sword.
My blade pushed against his flimsy shield while I used my free hand to ignite our surroundings. Nearby cars burst into flames as searing hot chunks of metal danced around us.
"They're not any better in the Reunion now." Rye was struggling to maintain his stance.
He used both arms to block my attack. I pulled my sword back and swung it at him multiple times.
I used my Arts to scorch him, but he always managed to protect himself. I resorted to close-range combat. I swung my sword at him occasionally switching to my Arts.
He used his shield to block most of them until it shattered before him. I swung my sword at him again, but he caught it with one hand while he was using his Arts.
"I just need to show the world that we are indeed people." I said while I release my sword from his grip and fired a spell at him.
He used his Arts to shield himself, but I sent overwhelming power at him. He was slowly being pushed back. His shoes dug into the ground; his clothes were smoldering.
He started grunting in pain as his Arts weakened. I was slowly depleting the remaining energy he had. Soon he will be nothing more than a pile of ashes.
"Are you still going to resist?" I questioned as he used his Arts to counter mine. A white light was slowly glowing brighter than my expectations. I still bombarded him with my flames as he was slowly reeling back.
"I am." Rye asserted as he used his Arts to hold his stance.
I sensed an incoming explosion while smoke slowly rise high into the air. I stabbed my sword into the ground.
BOOM!*
A warm, yet hostile breeze flew past me as I used my Arts to counteract his. I have already stood my ground and closed my eyes when his blinding explosion occurred. When I opened my eyes Rye wasn't there. A trail of decolorized stone laid in his wake.
So he left as usual...
"His Arts saved him, but it will hamper his ability to use them next time."
I didn't ask for you Koshchei.
"My apologies my dear Talulah."
Kaiser Rye saved himself with his Arts once again. I didn't get to see him writhe in agony. What a shame.
I turn around and walked away; past the molten buildings, burning vehicles; under dark blanket looming above me.
Time to check in on my commanders...
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Amiya and the Doctor frantically returned to the site of the battle. The Doctor insisted on leaving Kaiser Rye behind despite Amiya's protests.
"Come on!" Amiya urged as they saw a bloody arm sticking out of a pile of rubble.
"God have mercy." The Doctor uttered as they rushed over to him.
They had to remove slabs of concrete off of him as they slowly uncovered a battered Kaiser Rye. His clothes were ripped beyond repair, blood coated his face as Amiya put her hands to her mouth with a gasp.
"Let's get him out." The Doctor suggested as they removed more debris before freeing Rye from his stone restraints.
"Is he alive?" Amiya asked as she put two fingers to his ripped wrist.
The Doctor put two fingers under his jaw. "He's still alive. His breaths are rather slow."
They turned their attention to his body. The Doctor ripped his shirt a little bit to expose the bare skin underneath. Thin, black Originium crystals protruded from the skin on Rye's throat. All of them seemed to have fallen off leaving dark, grimy residue behind. His chest had dry blood staining him.
"His Originium crystals have suffered a messy removal." The Doctor affirmed. "Amiya send a message to Dr. Kals'tit. We will need another bed ready when we get back to the HQ."
"Understood." Amiya grabbed her phone and dialed Kals'tit's number.
The Doctor lifted Rye's body off the ground and assessed his wounds while Amiya called Kals'tit. The ends of his pants were charred remnants of the past cloth. His shoes were scorched along with his shins; blisters invaded the already damaged skin. Small rivulets of blood blackened his shin all the way to his feet.
"Dr. Kals'tit is waiting for us." Amiya informed as she put her phone away to support Rye's body.
"Second-degree burns, slash wounds, Oripathy residue, blood loss." The Doctor mumbled to himself before he opened up his first aid kit hanging from his side.
He pulled out a bandage roll and wrapped it around Rye's shins and chest. Then he carried him on his back.
"Come on Amiya, let's go." The Doctor said as the two of them hurried to their incursion point.
It took them around thirty minutes navigating through the city in order for them to finally reach Kals'tit's position. Projekt Red greeted them when they arrived.
Kals'tit was injecting morphine into a soldier.
"Get the wounded in the truck now." Kals'tit ordered the medics around while pointing her fingers. "Wrap some bandages on that soldier. Give him a morphine injection. Apply a tourniquet on her leg. Staunch his bleeding."
The Doctor placed Kaiser Rye on the ground. "Dr. Kals'tit we found Kaiser Rye. He's still alive."
Kals'tit glanced at the unconscious body on the ground. She tightened a tourniquet on the soldier's arm before letting a medic carry her to the medical truck.
"How is he alive?" Kals'tit went over to check Rye's wounds. "He has slash wounds, burns and grime all over him."
"He picked a fight with the Reunion leader Talulah." The Doctor explained as gasps were returned.
Kals'tit frowned from the answer as she ordered a soldier to carry him to the truck.
"This wouldn't have happened if I was allowed to help him." Amiya had a saddened expression on her face.
"You could've gotten killed Amiya." The Doctor reprimands while he put a soldier's arm over his shoulder and started carrying him into the truck.
"You're own safety is important." Kals'tit agreed while she takes Amiya's hands and observed her rings. "It's a good thing that you didn't exert too much power. Your rings are still intact except for one crack on your first."
"Yeah." Amiya uttered.
"Why did Kaiser Rye pick a fight with Talulah? She's the Reunion leader." Kals'tit asked.
"I don't know." Amiya shrugged her shoulders.
"If he was smart he would've ran away." Kals'tit motioned for Amiya to follow her. Two trucks were stationed at the edge of the city and waited outside one of them.
"But he still went against Talulah and he's alive." Amiya states.
"He is incredibly lucky to be alive. We lost more than half of our soldiers."
"Hey!" The Doctor showed his head outside of a truck door. "We should get going. Half of these guys have necrosis and it's threatening to spread."
"Amiya go into the first truck. We'll continue this discussion after we treat these soldiers." Kals'tit ordered.
"OK."
Amiya boarded the first truck as Kals'tit entered the second one. Both of the vehicles hastily drove out of the city.
---------------------------
All of the wounded soldiers were rushed to the medical ward. The medics and nurses inside Rhodes Island promptly inserted IV tubes, unwrapped bandages, and prepared medical equipment for the surgeons. Those who succumbed to their wounds had to be sent to a crematory incinerator.
Apprehension filled the ward as the Doctor and Dr. Kals'tit both put on clean lab coats before commencing treatment.
Amiya was told to take command in the Control Room where Superintendent Ch'en waited.
"Seems like the Reunion dealt a heavy blow to Rhodes Island." Ch'en remarked as Amiya put on a serious face.
"We lost more than half of our soldiers. The rest of them are in the medical ward." Amiya states as she ordered an operator to file a casualty report.
"Where is Kaiser Rye? I still have an interrogation to commence." Ch'en asked.
"He's in the medical ward as well." Amiya answered in a grim voice.
"Mister Wei stills needs him to complete the terms on his contract." Ch'en muttered.
"Unfortunately Mister Wei will have to wait." Amiya said as an L.G.D Guard informed Ch'en about something.
Ch'en crossed her arms. "Did Kaiser Rye turn on you?"
"No, he didn't." Amiya replied.
"That's strange. He helped the Reunion escape Lungmen the last time he was on a mission."
"I still have the file your officers gave me." Amiya states as she ordered an operator to hand her said file. "We just have to add a few notes in it."
"Leave his affiliation blank for now." Ch'en states as she takes out her phone to respond to an incoming message. "I'll need it after Kaiser Rye recovers."
"We can talk about this later." Amiya suggested as she took out a pen and scribbled on Kaiser Rye's file. "Right now the Reunion stronghold in Chernobog is dangerously close to Lungmen and I have to ask Dr. Kals'tit for the total number of Reunion squad leaders in the area."
"We did find a variety of Reunion thugs over there. I didn't find one of their leaders. Did you?" Ch'en asked.
"Me and the Doctor found one of their squad leaders." Amiya answered as she handed the file to Ch'en who gave it to an L.G.D officer. "Along with their leader Talulah."
Ch'en's pupils dilated. A question nagged at her. "You two found Talulah?"
"Well Kaiser Rye found her first, and he fought her." Amiya says in a low voice. "He managed to survive her onslaught."
"His Arts must have saved him."
"We'll have to ask him about it later." Amiya suggested as she continued to give orders to the operators in the Control Room.
Eight Hours Later...
Inside the medical ward only a few patients remained. The Doctor called multiple medics who have Healing Arts to speed up the process. Rhodes Island had to bid farewell to one unlucky soldier who couldn't battle his wounds.
"Keep on monitoring him Ansel. Start changing his bandages." The Doctor ordered to a pink-haired Cautus as he drew blood from Rye's arm into a test tube.
"Understood." Ansel nodded his head as he stood over Kaiser Rye on the medical bed; he removed his latex gloves and opened up a cabinet for a bandage roll.
The Doctor replaced a depleted IV bag with a new one and connected it to an IV tube. Then he took pressed on a monitor in order to check the Rye's breathing.
The Doctor looked at Ansel one last time. "I have to give this test tube to Dr. Kals'tit. Keep your gloves on and remember to change them if necessary."
"Yessir." Ansel complied.
"Tell him that Ch'en from Lungmen needs him after he's done resting." The Doctor moved a curtain aside and left.
Kaiser Rye murmured in his medical gown while Ansel checked his vitals. He slipped on a pair of latex gloves and checked the bandages on Rye's legs and chest. Most of the blisters caused by the second-degree burns have disappeared, but there was exposed tissue under the current bandage.
Ansel adjusted his face mask and began removing the bandages. He applied some antibiotic ointment over the burns before wrapping them with a new set of sterile gauze bandages.
"Ah-Ow! Ow!"
Ansel's ears twitched as he finished wrapping the bandages on Kaiser Rye.
"Agh!" Rye released a strained gasp as he slowly regained consciousness.
"How convenient. Good evening Rye." Ansel greeted as he threw away his sullied gloves.
Rye tried to move his arm, but an IV tube restricted him from doing so. "How long was I out for?"
"You were out for eight hours. I was tasked to take over your treatment." Ansel explained as he tapped on a monitor.
Rye held out his hand and tried to use his Arts, but only a faint white light emitted from his fingers.
"Easy there. You don't want to overexert yourself." Ansel recommended.
"I can barely feel my legs." Rye looked down at the bandages covering his shins.
"You have second-degree burns, and you lost a lot of blood. I had to go to Warfarin for a blood bag."
"So you had to give me a blood transfusion?"
"Yeah, I just changed your bandages so you should be fine for the next couple of hours."
"What time is it?" Rye asked as he lifted up his arm with the IV tube stuck in it.
"It's a little past nine-thirty."
"I was out for that long?" Rye was amazed by his answer.
"You were incredibly lucky. I thought you weren't going to make it." Ansel replied honestly. "You came in with burns, cuts and a whole lot of dirt."
"Uh..." Rye ran two fingers on his throat and discovered some residue on him. "Wait, why are you treating me? You not Infected."
"I have gloves on and I'm taking the necessary precautions." Ansel answered.
"Oh, okay." Rye tried to get up. "Ow."
"Hey! I said take it easy." Ansel reprimanded.
"I don't want to stay on this bed all night." Rye mumbled to himself as he stretched his fingers hoping that his Arts would shine.
"You'll have to rest if you want to get out of here early."
"You usually don't work this late." Rye pointed out.
"I'm still an intern and I assist with surgeries and other medical procedures. The Doctor wanted me to take over because I was in Dr. Kals'tit's lab. And this is just another test for me."
"How are you doing on the written ones?" Rye asked.
"I've been doing pretty well, but I will need a few more years until I can finally get my Medical Degree." Ansel said through his face mask.
Rye chuckled. "At least you have a chance of getting a degree. I pretty much flunked most of my classes back when I was in school."
"Did you study before your tests?" Ansel asked.
"I did, but I'm not the best test taker. My hands gets sweaty every time." Rye had a bead of sweat trailing down his head.
"How did you become a medical assistant?" Ansel questioned as he looked at a file about him.
"I forged some papers." Rye gave a smug grin.
"Forged?" Ansel repeated.
"Yeah." Rye laughed.
"How did you get forged papers?"
"I worked in the black market. Found a new job opportunity and my boss asked someone to make me a fake resume."
"Does the Doctor know about this?" Ansel straightened his glasses.
"No, but Kals'tit does." Rye mentioned.
"Somehow the treatment you filed in for Oripathy works. Did you just experiment with random chemicals?"
"Pretty much." Rye nodded.
"I never expected you to be a black market dealer."
"I was also a bounty hunter/mercenary."
Ansel pointed to Rye's ring finger on his left hand. "Are you also a husband?"
Rye looked showed his ring. "Yes I am."
"Who are you married to?" Ansel asked.
"I can't tell you. My wife will kill the two of us." Rye let out a laugh while he tried suppressing his grim emotions.
Literally...
"I never saw you wear that when I first met you." Ansel walked over to the other side of the bed and squeezed the IV bag.
"I don't even know if I did -Agck! Ow!" Rye tried moving his legs only for it to fall back down.
"Hey! What did I just say?" Ansel scolded.
"Yeesh! Are you afraid that you'll fail your test or something?" Rye countered.
"Exactly."
"Oh." Rye shut his mouth, but refused to comply.
"Let me check your report again." Ansel walked back to a stand to pick up Rye's report.
His ears sprang into the air before falling right back down.
"What?" Rye asked.
"Your Cell and Originium Assimilation is fifty-eight percent!" Ansel states as he looks at Rye.
"Yeah, so."
"You have a very severe infection. Normally you wouldn't be able to do anything with that level." Ansel placed the report down. "Most people will explode at that rate."
"I only know that Oripathy got my neck and throat."
"Normally your brain would be impaired." Ansel proclaimed. "But you seem to be perfectly fine if nobody saw your crystals."
"I have some black marks on my collarbone and my hips. Other than that I'm fine." Rye had a strange thought pop into his head. "Did the Doctor take any blood from me? My arm feels a little light."
"He did. He should've given it to Dr. Kals'tit by now."
"He should've asked me first." Rye grumbled.
"It was Dr. Kals'tit who wanted your blood. You can't argue with her."
"Are you sure about that?" Rye smiled.
"Don't do anything stupid. I have to deal with enough shenanigans with Cardigan." Ansel sighed.
"At least you don't get abused by Red. She's vicious."
"That's why I stay away from her at all times." Ansel shivered at the name.
"Yeah I know that because you didn't help me when I got crushed!" Rye exclaimed.
"I needed to ensure my safety. You need to ensure yours."
"Whatever."
"One more thing! Superintendent Ch'en from Lungmen wants to speak with you once you're done recuperating." Ansel added.
"Un - fucking -believable." Rye cursed.
"Watch your profanity."
Rye covered his face with his hand.
"Sorry."
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(A/N): Well this is taking longer than expected because I have to sort out the timeline for this!
- The flashbacks will officially start AFTER chapter 27
- Chapter 25 and 26 will take place in present time
- Chapter 27 to (my guess is up to Chapter 32) is all flashbacks
-- About Talulah's first year as the Reunion leader. (Just a warning this is the first wave of flashbacks)
Yes I said it "FIRST WAVE"
- Second wave will have to wait after Chapter 9090980737284832 - It's not coming anytime soon.
- Sorry for the late upload. I spent all of my sanity upgrading Projekt Red and Exusiai in Arknights and I need to stop using the two of them. My Exusiai already has 200 trust and she's not even E2 yet!
- Thank you for reading I've seen a lot of new people these past few days! Please be patient for the next Chapter.
- BTW! Ch'en, Meteorite, Specter, Blue Poison and Shining are in the next banner. I'll try ten rolls before continuing to save up for the 1 year anniversary.
- Bye!