You Must Choose

Their blades danced in the heat of battle. The sparks from their clashing blades lit up the darkening skies. Neither of the three were holding back. Power for power, speed for speed, slash for slash.

"Keep up!" Andrew yelled, hacking his sword to Devin who barely blocked it.

"I'm exhausted," Devin muttered. "Let me rest please."

"That's what they all say," Andrei said who came from behind him.

Devin pushed the black-haired twin with a kick, turning back to meet the white-haired twin's attack. Devin could not thoroughly block the impact. The shock made him fall to his knees, his Reverence ceased its activation.

"I-I…" Devin mumbled before his consciousness dwindled.

Andrei caught him before his face could meet the ground. The older boy chuckled and returned his sword in its scabbard.

"Let's call it a day," Andrew said. "He's still quite far."

"But he could almost match us," Andrei grinned. "I just hope he'll surpass us soon."

Andrew sighed and stared at Devin, "He needs to."

–

The morning came and the smell of food wafted in the air. Devin awoke and his eyes widened, realizing that he wasn't in his room.

"Oh, I forgot," Devin whispered. He went out the room and followed the smell and sound of the frying bacon. The scent was making his stomach gurgle in hunger.

"Good morning, Little Curls," Andrei greeted. He served the bacon on a white ceramic plate. "You look famished."

"That's part of the training. You have to exhaust everything." Andrew placed a sunny-side egg with two yolks with a curved line that was made of ketchup. "Enjoy, Little Curls."

Devin smiled and nodded, "Thank you!"

After breakfast, the three rested for a few minutes before they trained again. This time, Devin has to stay conscious even if his energy is depleted. He must unlock the next stage of activation.

"Is Martin sure that we can stay here for days?" Devin asked. "I mean, he might be toying with us. He's… weird after all."

A crack appeared in the space beside them. The three brandished their swords and was about to attack when they saw that it was from the purgatory.

"See? Not even two days and he's going to massacre us," Andrei gasped.

"Do not engage yet," Andrew said.

A man walked out from the crack in the space. His black suit and long slick-backed hair made the three relax their shoulders. His eyes widened at the three who had their swords pointing at him.

"I come in peace."

"Leonardo?" Devin called out. "What are you doing here?"

"Martin sent me," Leonardo replied. "He said I will join your training."

"What." Andrew returned his sword and clapped. "But Andrei and I got that covered though. Does he not trust us?"

"It's a Martin thing," Leonardo said. "But don't worry. Martin had infused enough Exorcist power so that your blades could not harm me enough to kill me."

"Even when we destroy your hearts?" Andrei joked, flashing to Leonardo's side only to be punched in the guts by the taller man.

"If you could, yes," Leonardo grinned. "But you two are still quite far."

"Wait," Devin said. "You… the second time I was at the Purgatory, why were you in my window? You said you'll eat me!"

Leonardo snorted and laughed. "I was just messing with you. I escaped the lab because I smelled someone… familiar. The twins were chasing me by the orders of Martin."

"What did you smell?" Devin asked.

"Both–"

The twins appeared on either side of Leonardo. Brandishing their swords, they struck it to Leonardo who avoided both attacks. The latter held the blades like they were nothing. Not even flinching when his skin was burning without a sight of fire.

"Enough talking," Andrew said. "Let's fight!"

"Okay," Leonardo said. An aura as black as the night coated his skin. "Show no mercy."

"Wait!" Devin yelled when the three was about to fight. "I should be the one training here. Not you three."

The three looked at him and stopped. They looked at each other before chuckling.

"Right," Andrew said. "Drei, rock-paper-scissors, shoot!"

"Shoot!" Andrei cursed when he lost. "Fine. I'll sit this one out."

He walked to the side and watched the three get ready. It wasn't really necessary for an Exorcist to unlock the stages with a Stained Soul opponent but it would be rude to decline Leonardo's offer. He was ordered to do it anyway.

Besides, with their current power level, the lion could massacre the three if they pissed him off. The twins thought it would be wise not to do that to him.

"Let's start." Andrew said.

"Bring Out…"

"Andrei!"

"Revelation!"

"Release me from your shackles, Martin!"

Leonardo went all out. White chains from nowhere started breaking. He was shifting to his beast form and use it to battle the two.

Devin noticed that there were white streaks of lines in Leonardo's mane. He assumed that this was because of what Martin put on him. His chant included Martin's name too.

The three clashed their weapons, two swords and a claw. The gigantic lion was fast and agile like the two. His massive size was a problem handling by itself. Adding his speed, they could say that he's overpowering the Exorcists.

"Martin went all out, huh?" Andrei asked and continued watching the ongoing fight. He was focusing on Devin who was having a hard time on the battle.

The upcoming round was composed of three-way battle. If he wants to win the round, he must master fighting with two opponents.

As the fight progressed, Devin felt his limit nearing him. His movements started to get sloppy and his actions were starting to get messy.

"What's the matter Little Curls?" Andrew asked. He appeared behind Devin, "Out of energy?"

"No!" Devin yelled. He turned his body to block the attack. His sword clashing with the other and created a blast of white sparks.

"Good," Leonardo said. He opened his large muzzle and attempted to bite the two.

Devin and Andrew used their swords to keep the lion's muzzle open. Leonardo's jaw was suspended. He tried to force it close but it was useless. 

"Ark!" Andrew yelled. Leonardo opened his mouth wider to remove the swords. He retreated, fearing the incoming force of one of the twin's attack.

'I never saw him use his Ark before.' Devin thought.

"Psyche!" Andrew winked at Leonardo and kicked Devin.

The smaller boy was blown a couple of meters back, meeting the ground and rolling on it. He used his sword as a cane to stand but a claw was already incoming.

"It's no use," he whispered and let his consciousness fall. The lion's paw stopped mid-air. He sighed and reverted back to his human form.

"He's still too far," Leonardo said. "Are you sure this is going to work?"

"He's determined to," Andrew said. "We can't stop him if he's like that."

"Such a hard-headed boy," Andrei said when he got to them. "Ever since Brightburn was breached, he was obsessed with getting stronger. It's bothering me a bit."

"And you…" the twins looked at Leonardo.

Andrei took a sharp breath, "You didn't come here to train with us, didn't you?"

"What does Martin want with us?" Andrew added. "Is he in trouble or something or wait, is Devin in trouble?"

"No," Leonardo said. "I'm merely curious as to why a small and frail human could possess such powers. Its aura alone would send shivers down to even one of the strongest Stained Soul like me."

"He's not a regular Exorcist," Andrew said. "I think you know at least that much."

"I'm not afraid of his Exorcist powers," Leonardo said and sighed. "I'm barely affected by it. With it alone, Martin is more menacing. But that dark aura hiding inside it. It's something I don't quite understand."

"Nobody does," Andrei said. He looked at the slightly snoring Devin. "But we can sure hope that it won't take over."

"Tell me," Leonardo said. "Is he part of the first Windsor Project?"

–

Devin awoke in the same marble platform. He had the same dream for the third time. As usual, the two copies of him with different set of colors were playing chess.

This time, the game was in a tie. Each side had almost the same number of pieces left. But he thought it was too early to conclude anything. After all, they looked like they were only starting.

"Can you really not hear me?" Devin asked, waving his hands in front of the two.

He tried breaking the chess pieces apart but his hand only went through it. Like it was one of Rodney's holograms.

Thinking that everything was, he touched the two other Devins but they had mass. Their skin had the same texture as his but they held one single expression. One that's not comfortable.

"Why do I keep coming back here?" Devin asked.

No one answered.

"Silent treatment?"

He circled the platform and tried to get out but there was an invisible forcefield inside. He couldn't possibly go through it even if he tried.

Just when he was about to give up, he saw the two figures move. The white got nearer the black's base. He was wondering how slow these two were.

Devin waited for a few more minutes until a strong gust of wind made him smile.

"Finally," he said. Closing his eyes to feel the wind through, Devin found himself in a barely lit room. "Where am I?"

He looked around and was greeted with two glowing eyes.

One was black and the other was white.

"You. Must. Choose."