Better Safe... II

The cut would've been clean if it weren't for an invisible force of resistance around them, the blade seemed to flow differently than intended away from them, before Zero could figure out what was happening killing intent came barreling from behind. A quick swivel showed a crimson fist that was only blockable by mere seconds, the sickening thud against Zero's forearm sent them sliding away from Mia and Toshi.

The blow is devastating, full of hatred and rage that has been finely condensed into power by the pressure to protect her Mistress and Master. Zero felt and heard the crunch, the arm wasn't ruined but was definitely not taking another blow.

"Almost snapped the ulna and a hairline fracture down the radius, impressive." Like a taunting spirit, Delta circled Zero with a grin.

Zero ignores the comment with a clenched fist, the crimson cloak stiffens and tightens around the injured arm forcing it to remain clenched. "So you'll use the cloak, but not any of us? Seems a bit... hypocritical?" Delta blinks out of existence and reappears behind Sia giving her bunny ears.

"I think Mothers Mold would work well with our friend here." Delta suggested as he kept taunting the unsuspecting twin.

"The cloak is basically infused with my skin and muscle, it's as much me as everything und - who are you rambling to." The conversation was cut short by a swift kick from Sia sending Zero barreling through another stall.

"Thanks for not killing my sister, I'll try to end this quick for that kindness." Sia walked over to the rubble believing she caught Zero off guard. Seizing the opportunity Zero leaped from the rubble connecting a punch to Sia's face as she was stepping closer. No give was found in the connecting blow, but Zero didn't waver a flurry of blows followed after the first and all met with the same resistance.

This resistance wasn't from hitting Sia, it felt like every hit was catching slippery air, Sia cut the chorus of blows by grabbing Zero's arms. Sia held Zero's arms out at length lifting them with them, inches off the ground, Zero looked up at the floating sister watching the wings beat at a blinding pace.

"She's protecting you?" Zero looked back at the trapped limbs realizing what was happening. Zero could feel that Sia was vibrating at an alarming rate, every inch of her body was vibrating fiercely.

"Very good. Sister Tia's mods allow her to manipulate pure ether whatever she targets moves how she feels it should." Sia stated proudly looking at her sister.

"That explains how you almost destroyed my arm." The bones were close to healed in Zero's arm but Sia's grip wasn't helping. With a quick toss in the air, Sia prepared an upward kick, and quickly Zero used the blow as a launching pad for Tia. The air-born guardian looked unamused by the efforts to reach her, Zero unsheathes the bright orange blade slicing at Tia as they passed each other.

The momentum from the kick wore off and Zero enjoyed a slow descent back to earth, accompanied by a surprised Tia, her left wing had been cleanly severed in two, and now in a free fall she was too dumbfounded to re-orientate, Zero landed and watched as Sia caught her sister.

"How?!" Tia screamed reaching back at her missing wing.

"This blade is outfitted with a cannibal core her name is Gula, I've never seen a mod attribute used to vibrate someone else using Ether, so I had to give it a try...

Zero's blade started to glow with a sun like hue, heat waves distorting the atmosphere around it.

...but it would seem the conduit goes through hell, and without both wings, your mod can't handle the output."

Sia looks down at her sister, the situation couldn't continue like this or they and their masters would be killed. She moved to the nearest stall and sat her sister down against it, then took position between Zero and their targets.

Tia wanted to argue against Sia's decision to fight alone, but realize how futile it would be, without her other wing she was useless and Nia hadn't returned from the rooftop.

"So you want to perish with your masters? I'll honorably oblige." Zero took a low stance raising the shimmering blade to eye level, Sia stepped forward readying herself, and a lunging swipe at blinding speed crosses Sia's chest. The cut connected, but it wasn't deep enough to end the fight. Crimson molten liquid slowly dripped from Sia's chest, a second blow a horizontal sweep catches Sias's forearms leaving an impression on the metal plates.

Not pausing Zero prepares an ascending blow that is met with Sia's foot, Zero was astonished by the sudden stop, the force used was enough to sever the leg Zero was sure of that. Sia lowered her foot to the ground, Zero's blade easing its way into the soil. Zero looked over their shoulder at Tia one wing flapping as hard as it possibly can. A furious blow to the side of Zero's head loosens the grip on Gula, even though slow many more blows shook Zeros' core.

Dodging heavy hits Zero goes into a counter aiming for the mid-section of Sia's body. It was now a drag-out bare-knuckle brawl, each person exchanging devastating blows. Sia leans in for a heavy swing towards her opponent's head, Zero slips it landing an answering blow to her jaw disorienting Sia and dropping her to one knee. Zero realizing the opening prepared a series of blows that seemed to slightly slip around Sia's head. Again Tia began using her wing to slightly obscure Zeros' movements, making what would be devastating blows to Sia's head just slight grazing.

A furious roar erupted from within Zero, grabbing the still disoriented Sia by the sides of her head.

"Can't stop me from pulling her in." With a swift movement, Zero brought Sia's head down to connect with her knee a crushing sound rings out as she is forced to stand. Continuing the flow of violence Zero grabs Sia's arm and crushed it with their knee and elbow, Sia staggers back cradling one arm with the other.

"So she's stronger than you, just not as skilled..." Delta appeared looking Sia over as if he were a cat watching a wounded bird.

"Gonna end it there?" Delta said sucking his teeth at the wounded twin.

A low guttural growl comes from Zero as they stomp over to Sia, raising a leg to kick in the kneecap of the staggered bodyguard, Zero slips missing it completely losing their balance a reminder that they had two opponents and not one. Zero recovered balanced and charged after Tia who turned to try and climb the debris of the broken stall. A tug of her wing pulled her tumbling to the ground a foot stomped into her back as her wing was pulled taut.

The sound of fabric tearing was drowned out by the screams of Tia, strong arms wrapped around Zeros' midsection, Sia tried gripping Zero to pull them away from Tia but was swiftly met with a bash to her nose by the back of Zeros' head. The ripping continued until the last wing was freed from Tias' back, Zero turned on Sia immediately who put her hand out trying to dissuade her attacker. A swift grab of the wrist and spin snap the metal connections in her elbow leaving her unable to lift herself from the shambles she sat in.

Zero made their way to the sword stuck in the soil pulling it from its earthy sheath, a slight stumble then composure as Zero starts towards the targets. Two hands gripped Zeros' ankle tightly stopping her stride without hesitation a spin of the sword in hand Zero planted the blade firmly through the hands of Tia, trapping her in place.

The march of death continued as Zero closed in and towered over the heap of a couple on the ground.

"I was going to make it quick, but your triplets made it a little hard for me."

"Please, do you know who I am?" Zero cocks their head in confusion.

"Delta target profile."

"Oh so now you need me?" The snide A.I. appeared in front of everyone, Zero rolled their eyes at the comment and waited impatiently.

"Target: Toshi Yamada

Age: 28

Status: immanent

Client: Kai Yamada"

"Second target?"

"Target: Mia Yashida

Age: prolonged

Status: pending

Client: Ryu Yashida"

Mias' eyes widened at the name of her and her lovers' fathers being named as clients. Defeat etched into her face for a moment then was replaced by extreme rage that delighted Zero to their core.