Oil and Water

The grassy plain swayed gently in the wind as it stretched beyond the horizon like a sea of green.

The surroundings were dotted with spots of gold as sunlight peeked through the clouds. In sharp contrast to the ominous gloom of the woodland they had just left behind, the air here was filled with nothing but the aroma of dirt and wildflowers. 

Standing at the front of the group, Kazami looked out over the horizon. Tang-Ji stood next to him; her blue, inquisitive eyes revealed a mixture of curiosity and caution.

The two individuals, Junyo and Decker, appeared from behind a large boulder, closing the distance between themselves and the strangers. There was something mysterious about Junyo; his face appeared to lack emotion.

Conversely, Decker stood up tall as if pride were stitched to his spine; he emanated an air of strong self-confidence and a wise-cracking personality that suggested a life spent on the brink.

"Howdy!" Decker called out, his brutish Australian accent cutting through the calm.

"You folks seem like you could use some company looking at how weak you are. Mind if we tag along?"

Junyo corked an eyebrow before jamming his elbow into Decker's ribs. Just as he finished his sentence, Junyo pulled his head down into a tight headlock to keep him from making any more sarcastic remarks.

"I told you to behave, not embarrass the both of us," he whispered. Junyo released him, leaving Decker doubled over, sucking in a sharp gasp as he straightened up.

"Fine then, whatever," he said, rubbing his neck with a glare, failing to appease Junyo. He instinctively shoved his partner to the side before walking up to everyone. 

"Okay, listen, all of you," he raised his voice.

"To be honest with you all, I don't really trust any of you, and to be perfectly clear, I'm only doing this because my friend is too much of a pussy to play alone." Decker gave a disappointed yet playful look back at his partner. 

Junyo frowned, "I'm still here, asshat," he muttered.

"Without me, your dumbass wouldn't have made it this far." Junyo riposted. 

"If we team up and you guys end up being dead weight, I ain't hesitating, not even for a second, to leave all of you behind. You got that?" Decker continued, ignoring his partner's retort. 

"Ugh! This dumb blondie is so annoying." Emiko waved her hand dismissively, flicking her wrist.

"I thought white guys were supposed to be hot and smart. This guy looks and talks like some street punk. Giving me the ick." 

"Heh!" Decker smirked, irritated.

"Funny, coming from the local whore." Decker sneered, his eyes narrowing as he pointed at Emiko.

"Girls like you can be found pretty much anywhere. Acting all high and mighty just because you think your looks are 'cut above' the rest of us." He scoffed, his finger now tracing her kimono. "Your breasts are practically falling out."

Emiko's face twisted in anger as she instinctively covered herself, her eyes flashing a murderous glare at him.

Decker leaned back, smugly continuing, "I absolutely despise girls like you. Ones who'd call guys perverts for even looking in their general direction. Girls who say stuff like, 'We aren't tools or meat for men,' while their actions—" He let out an exaggerated sigh, clearly frustrated, "—completely contradict that statement."

He leaned in, lowering his voice as if imparting some great wisdom.

"Don't act like a tool, and we won't treat you like one. We have eyes for a reason, right?" He paused, grinning. "It's true what they say about how men are wild beasts. Some girls still lay the bait in front of them, and—"

Junyo cringed, swiftly shielding his eyes as Decker's words cut through the tension. "I mean, have you ever seen a wild beast you were absolutely sure wouldn't bite? 'Cause I definitely haven't."

"What the fuck did you just say, asshole?" Emiko clenched her fists and glared at Decker.

She took a step forward, eyes locked on Decker, ready to strike. But before she could close the distance, Ji-Soon's hand shot out, gripping her arm with surprising strength.

His touch was warm, grounding. The heat from her body radiated through him, and he could feel the anger coursing in her veins.

"Hey, just relax," he said softly, but there was an edge to his voice, the kind that only emerged when things were about to go too far.

"He's just trying to get under your skin. Don't give him the satisfaction."

Emiko seethed, her body tense as a coiled spring. "I don't need you to protect me, Ji-Soon," she spat, flicking his hand off her arm with a sharp motion.

"I can handle him myself, thank you!"

She turned to walk away, her steps rapid, but something in the way she moved—stiff, controlled—said she was still trembling with barely-contained rage.

Decker's voice cut through the air, cruel and mocking, "Hmph. Coward, letting someone else fight your battle. I guess I mistook you for an independent type of girl. Looks like you're nothing without a man's help."

Emiko froze mid-step, her back rigid as she stood there for a long, tense moment.

Ji-Soon felt her fury flare up again, almost like a pulse, but this time he stepped in front of her, his body blocking her path.

"You don't have to prove anything to him," Ji-Soon said, his voice firm, but with a soft undertone, almost like he was trying to protect her from herself. "I know you're prideful but don't let an idiot get into your head."

The tension between them hung thick, but Emiko's fists unclenched slowly, her breath coming in shallow, controlled gasps.

She stared at him for a long moment, and finally, her shoulders relaxed.

"Fine," she muttered, turning away, but her voice was softer now, less sharp.

Decker's taunting words were still there, hanging in the air, but Emiko didn't respond. Not this time.

'Jesus fucking Christ! Why am I even friends with this guy?' Junyo thought, sighing deeply.

"Are you done with your pointless argument, dumbass? There are more important things to do than trying to pick a fight with our new alliance."

He turned to Ji-Soon and Emiko.

"Terribly sorry for my friend's lack of social awareness."

"We aren't the problem here. It's your loud-mouthed friend over there who won't mind his own business," Kompto added, expressing his distaste for the group's new addition. 

"What's your deal, diversity hire?" Decker scoffed.

"I wasn't even talking to you. I was having a nice conversation with the whiny 'pick-me' girl over there."

Ji-Soon felt his brow shift in concern.

"I don't need to be a part of the conversation to defend a teammate," Kompto replied.

"Plus, I'm not a diversity hire and definitely not as huge a prick as you." Again, Decker appeared to feel personally attacked.

"Shaddup you. I don't wanna hear backtalk from a dude who's probably weaker than me," Decker grunted. "I'll bet my Leere is way stronger than whatever you have, diversity hire." He said this while smirking. 

"Hey, let's not do that right now." Junyo said, performing a sort of 'breaking up' motion from between the two. "There's no need to argue right now, alright. Especially since–" 

Junyo was sharply cut off by Kompto, who had jumped in. "No. I think showing off each other's Leere is a great idea." Kompto's face shifted to one of extreme annoyance. He had fallen for Decker's provocation.

"Go on then, pretty boy. Show us what you've got."

"Fine, I'll go ahead and start if everyone is still too much of a pussy to talk." Decker grinned as he pointed his thumb towards himself.

"My Leere is called Coiling Devastate. It's a cross between a defensive and offensive type. All you need to know about my Leere is that it's an impenetrable defence that cannot be destroyed." 

He shot a quick, almost dismissive glance at Junyo, signaling it was his turn to speak.

Junyo sighed, then spoke with a hint of reluctance, but the words came out steady.

"As his partner, I guess it's my turn. My Leere's Ethereum Hacker." He flexed his hand, showing off the power glove he wore. "It's a support weapon. I use it to buff us or debuff enemies. Nothing fancy, but it can turn the tide in a fight if I used it wisely."

"Alright," Decker chimed.

"Since we've essentially revealed our lifelines to you, randos, it's your turn, big man."

Decker motioned towards Kompto. "What type of Leere have you got?"

"My monotype utility, Leere, Kaleido Pulse, gives me the ability to go invisible and detonate bombs on contact."

"Hahahaha!" Decker laughed obnoxiously, cutting off Kompto from continuing.

"Of course you use bombs. suitable for a man who lives life on edge like yourself. Plus, who knows when you will need some quick cash? You know, with those skills of yours, you could do more than just play with fireworks.

"I heard that you people got crazy nacks for lockpicking and bombs. You do know explosives are said to be very effective against vults, right?" He gave a devious smirk, casting the obvious racist comment that he made.

"Watch your tongue." Ji-Soon snapped at Decker's comment, and his face began to tighten. 

Decker glanced at Ji-Soon with a wicked glint in his eyes.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve? Just speaking the truth," he mockingly replied, trying his best to taunt the both of them.

Kompto exhaled slowly, choosing to ignore the provocation. He knew that stooping to Decker's level wouldn't solve anything. 

Ji-Soon took a step forward, ready to confront Decker, but Kazami, the voice of reason, intervened in an unexpected way. "Hey, its my turn to tell you guys about my Leere," he said enthusiastically, trying to break the tension in the air.

Reacting to his friend's unnatural way of speaking, Ji-Soon chuckled at Kazami's comment, "C'mon, dude, you sound like a kid trying to show off his new toy."

Ji-Soon shot Decker a warning glare before turning his focus back to Kazami, who was now turning slightly red. 

"It's fine, dude. I get these types of people all the time; it doesn't even bother me anymore. But thanks for standing up for me," Kompto said, pulling Ji-Soon away from Decker.

Decker continued to smile, sensing he'd dodged a confrontation for now.

Raising his hand to eye level, Kazami swiftly clicked his fingers multiple times to get the attention of everyone before conjuring a floating hilt.

"My Leere's called Matrix Shifter," he said, his fingers tracing along the hilt as the shade of the handle and guard shifted before their eyes. The design bent and twisted effortlessly with his touch.

"It's a monotype, focused entirely on offense. I can summon any blade I can imagine." He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the group. "But there's a catch."

He held up a finger, emphasising the point. "First, I need to know the blade's basic structure—I have to have seen it before. And second, I need to be familiar with its abilities. It's not enough just to picture it."

"Hey Kazami," Tang-Ji whispered, "what do you mean by monotype?" 

However, before Kazami could answer her, she was called out by Decker.

"Hey you, quiet girl!" Decker shouted, causing her to slightly flinch. "If you have something to say, speak up," Decker demanded. 

"Hey, lay off, fucker! Let the girl be. Ever consider the fact that she doesn't want to speak to someone who only spews out verbal diarrhoea with every sentence?" Ji-Soon muttered after hesitating to start another fight. 

"Jesus Christ! Ji-Soon, just ignore the bastard. You were the one that told me to calm down, so quit getting tempted by this incel." Emiko spoke out from the back but was ignored completely by Ji-Soon, who looked as if he was about to pop a blood vessel.

"Can we please just get on with the important stuff now?" Junyo continued to try and get everyone on the same track; however, his partner had other plans in mind. 

"Yeah?" His voice dropped, dark and cold.

"I'm the one who's gonna rearrange your face if you keep running that mouth." He glanced around, his eyes narrowing on each person in the group.

"You, your bitchy girlfriend, and whatever this potential hoodlum is... You're all starting to get on my nerves."

He stepped closer, his tone sharp and unyielding. "Honestly, you all need to learn when to shut up and just accept the truth. Stop talking back."

"I am not his girlfriend," she retaliated, but was cut off by Kazami as he swiftly waved his hand in front of her. "Stay out of this, unless you want the situation to get messier." 

"Yeah, girly; stay out of this. Unless you want in on the action," Decker gave another one of his taunts as he stuck out his tongue.

"You're crossing the line, bastard." Ji-Soon was now seething. 

Decker, however, did not back down as he resumed smirking defiantly.

The atmosphere thickened, charged with hostility. Kazami sensed the mounting tension and continued to try and diffuse the situation. He persisted in his attempts to step into the middle of the tumultuous scene.

However, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his gut. He knew Ji-Soon well enough to understand that, once he was provoked, there was no turning back. His best friend had a strong sense of justice and devotion that was almost hard to put out once it was kindled.

"What are you gonna do about it?" Decker sneered, his grin wide and mocking.

"Defend your precious friends? A slutty whore and a literal monkey. Oh, and maybe this black fuck and I can have a threesome with the slut when we get outta here. I know bitches like you love this kind of play. Ji-Soon, was it? What about you? You wanna join in too?"

Decker's laugh came out in manic bursts, like he found his words hilarious.

Emiko's head dropped slowly, her hair falling to cover her face. Behind the curtain of brown strands, her eyes were locked, pupils tiny, as the words cut through her like shards of glass. Her pupils were constricted, and she stood tall, refusing to let this go without a fight. 

Her fist tightened until the skin over her knuckles became bloodless. "I'm going to fucking kill you!" Emiko screeched before charging angrily towards Decker.

However, Ji-Soon reacted before her and bolted towards Decker, becoming a blur of colour. 

As his temper flared up as he lunged at Decker, aiming his fist at the boy's jaw.

In the split second, it almost seemed like he had teleported, and with surgical precision, the punch connected. 

Surprised by this, Decker's body recoiled violently, teetering on the brink of collapse as his legs strained to maintain their balance. His jaw was misaligned and burned with a sharp, coursing pain.

"Not cool, man. Sucker punching me like that. Only pussies would do that," he said calmly, as if not feeling anything.

Decker took a deep breath and forcefully adjusted his jaw back into place with a sharp, sickening crack.

The pain was excruciating, but he suppressed it, his face contorting in a twisted mixture of agony and joy.

"Oh boy, this feeling has got me all excited now," he said, unclenching his teeth. "I love this game; you could never experience something like this in any other game."

The boy shook himself off, adjusting himself into a fighting stance.

"If you're that weak, then you'll die sooner than later. How about I do you a little favour?" He paused momentarily before taking a breath.

"As your new guildmate, I'm going to bury you six feet under before the game does." Decker declared, shooting a bright wave of aura from his body, causing everyone to stumble back onto their feet. 

"No! You're the one that's going to get flatlined." Ji-Soon spat before entering a fighting stance.