Welcome, Sin Wielder Of Cruelty

CHAPTER TWO: Welcome, Sin Wielder of Cruelty

—"Dammit, when I said we needed excitement to spice things up, I hadn't had this in mind. Me and my big mouth..."

Quinn leaped between buildings, his agile form navigated over the town's rooftops with ease. As he neared the square, the chilling aftermath of a brutish child's slaughter came into view. Several bodies were found guillotined and bathed in blood, sending hundreds to flee in horror. The gorey display compelled Quinn to pick up on his pace, determined to confront the danger ahead.

"Ahh~I love this so much..." Serenity let out a cold empty laugh, poising with the hands of a prima ballerina.

Her swirling chains taking lead, splicing more bodies off their heads. It was a bloody dance over red puddles of corpses, on her toes like a performer before a grand stage and a dead audience. "The screams are the opera, your agony is my symphony, and my sin is the conductor!

I just LOVE THIS! This...sonata of pain~" she wonderously awed, her flushed face pointing sky-high. "And I know 'She' is pleased too~Mother loves the sight of Cruelty. I will do ANYTHING to apease Mother."

"Dammit! Paige, where the heck are you?! We're in serious trouble here!" Quinn cracked over his contactor, his voice rattled with panic from the ongoing chaos. He could partially hear clustered muffles of people running and screaming from Paige's location.

<<"I called backup to help evacuate the civilians. But they're taking a while to arrive! You're going to have to deal with the threat on your own for a bit!">>

"Me? On my own?! I thought we were a team here, jeez!" Quinn arguably scoffed before clutching onto his musket, squatting on the building rooftop with the closest distance to the disaster. Throughout his life, he's handled bandits, tussled thieves, and even beaten dark monsters. But never Sin Wielders. He's never handled with a bludgeoning cultist before.

"Blanca would've been real helpful right now. Fine, I'll do it myself. I better get more Ground-Boar after this." With his Arcane Weapon ready, he let out the first five rounds at one go. Only for the young girl to poof away in a cloud of red mist. Quinn brusquely swore. "She can use Teleportation? Well, that's just great. Now I have to do even more work."

—"Hey, you...you interrupted my dance."

Quinn's senses spiked and felt Serenity's presence from behind. Before he could react, chains crashed from above with incredible speed, the barbed ends were hungry for blood.

But they missed, with Quinn escaping to another building top. If he hadn't moved at the last second, he would've been minced like butcher's meat. "Phew. That was close. I would've been dead there."

With her candied-apple and the black energy radiating around her small body, Quinn turned to face the pigtailed-girl in the red dress. He took aim with his musket once again. "Oh? You're gonna shoot me, Mister Gun Paladin?" Serenity pouted and fluttered her large lashes cutely. She moved towards Quinn, taking small steps and letting him aim right at her forehead. Quinn held the trigger tightly. "But you wouldn't hurt a harmless little girl like me, would you?"

"Harmless? Yeah, right. And I was told Sin Wielders don't usually emerge this early." Quinn cocked back his gun and aimed. "But I'm a little bit curious, what kind of Sin are you supposed to be? Any chance you're friends with Pride, perhaps? Greed? Sloth?"

The young girl laughed a high-pitched chuckle. "You're really funny, Mister."

"Meaning...?" He made a funny face.

"That is to say, I don't feel like killing you right now. So let's play." Quinn's finger tightened on the trigger, and a barrage of bullets shot toward Serenity. However, she effortlessly danced and twirled about, evading each shot with grace.

"A swan song of bullets? How delightful! You'll do nicely!" Serenity giggled as the bullets missed their mark, creating an intricate pattern of destruction around her. "But nice try, weakling~"

The vile little girl made swift sidesteps from the bullets as they whizzed by. Lashing out another assault on the paladin, Quinn evaded them each time. The relentless barrage rained and eventually resulting in a barbed chain lacerating the back of his torso.

'Dammit! She got me...' He gritted in pain as the barbed chain left a deep and bloody gash. The injury seemed to only fuel his anger.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mister Paladin! I tend to get a bit intense sometimes..." the little girl giggled, her fake angelic facade now taking on a mischievous edge. "But it makes the game...all the much fun. The more hits I give you, the weaker you get."

She moved fast, her armored limbs flying through the air as she unleashed a torrent of furious blows. Quinn could only dodge and weave, but her movements were even more nimble than before. "When one's life is on the line, you get to see their true nature in battle. Don't you think?~" she asked.

"Uh...yeah. I'm not playing into your sick delusions, kid." Quinn accelerated toward the Sin Wielder, deftly avoiding the sweeping motions of her chains, all the while searching for a vulnerable point. He maintained his focus, zigzagging through the chains with his perceptive skills as a trained paladin. With only his sharp but droopy brown eyes; he fired again with his enchanted musket, aiming for the Sin Wielder's hands to disrupt her chain's puppeteered movements.

"Uh uh uh~" the girl playfully wagged her finger, catching the unsuspecting paladin off-guard. The chains swiftly coiled around her, forming a protective cage. Quinn found himself perilously close to being impaled by the pointed ends as they expanded, resembling a threatened pufferfish.

"Nuts. This kid's reflexes are quicker than I thought," Quinn uttered.

The battle intensified between his calculated shots and her unpredictable chains, creating a tense dance upon the town rooftops. Quinn seemed to have the advantage at that second. But not for long.

Suddenly, the spikes began to shoot through the air like porcupine quills, directly homing in on the lone paladin.

"Crap!" in a split-second decision, Quinn quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly barrage of spikes. He winced as his jacket sleeve was clearly sliced off, revealing his bare arm that he almost lost, now marked with a flesh wound. He could feel his arm slowly going numb. Serenity nonchalantly unraveled her chains out again, licking her candied-apple with another taunt out of her fake innocence.

"Oh, look at you! I just absolutely adore the color of your blood! I wonder how good it would look on a dress. Red is my favorite color, you know," she remarked, a disturbing fascination in her eyes.

"Really, I hadn't noticed." With his slowly numbing arm as a slight disadvantage, Quinn skillfully loaded more rounds and fired again. The little girl effortlessly swatted the bullets away with her chains. Surprisingly, it vexed them by a scratch. And after a while, he's noticed the similar scratches were on the chains closest to Serenity than the ones outwardly snaking her.

Quinn realized and knew what he had to do.

"Alright Mister, I had fun...but I think it's time that I—" As soon as she turned back, he vanished from her line of sight. "Hey now, where did you go? Cowering already?"

The malicious child looked around, until something came speeding by. A bullet grazed past her shoulder. "Ow! What the—"

"You know, kid..." Quinn's voice sounded nearby, but he remained unscented. "Your chains are pretty powerful and all, but you're not invincible it comes against Arcane Weapons. I should tell you though, I throw the best bullets around."

"What are you talking about? I'm still stronger than you! You're the one taking damage while I haven't even broken a single sweat!" The girl whipped her head back and instinctively commanded her chains after him.

"Every Paladin carries an Arcane Weapon, which has the ability to emanate a strong aura to pierce through any nasty magic. Monsters included. But you see, it's the Paladin themself that makes the weapon stronger. So my guns aren't just ordinary Arcane Weapons around me. The same goes for the bullets...which means..." Quinn leapt into the air, skillfully drawing a pistol from one of his underarm holsters. Gracefully suspended over the town, he aimed directly for the Sin Wielder.

"...you're weak against a Gunslinger Paladin, like me."

*Bang!*

The bullet rocketed off in a magnificent display of a spectral blast, which made a sharp direct bullseye through the narrow blindspot - and aimed right for the head.

Serenity, headshot, collapsed with a heavy thud upon the rooftop tiles.

Quinn landed back down, blowing the smoke out of his pistol before stashing it away. The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the victorious gunslinger and the fallen adversary.

As the adrenaline rush began to wear off, Quinn finally took a moment to breathe. The numbness in his wounded arm was now spreading, and he realized the gravity of his situation. The Sin Wielder's attacks had inflicted greater damage than he had initially thought.

"Huh. Was she really a Sin Wielder? I know they're deadly liches of mass destruction, but still...I kinda expected something bigger." The gunslinger paladin observed Serenity's motionless body from a distance, noting the lingering red aura still present. Her barbed chains remained active, floating ominously around her. It left Quinn pondering the enigmatic nature. Then narrowed his eyes and realized immediately...

The child's body suddenly stirred.

It wasn't over. "That's not good..."

"...YOU." A deep, two-toned growl resonated. Quinn watched in horror as the Sin Wielder's head slowly lifted, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. "You think...you've won, Paladin?"

The dangerous aura became more discordant, resembling roaring storm clouds. Serenity's body ascended as if resurrected, her ghostly face healing over where the bullet struck, Quinn's enchanted bullet began dissipating into rotted ash. Her eyesockets shedded streaks of black ink, while her topaz gaze gleamed ominously like a black cat staring menacingly in the night.

"The game...is never...over!" Her shriek sent shockwaves through the air that could shatter any near glass. The blackness continued oozing from out her eyes like wet mascara, laying cracks across her skin as if some demonic possession was unfolding.

"I AM THE SIN WIELDER OF CRUELTY: Serenity Maleviola! 15th Sinister of The Yellow Butterfly! No one DARES harm me without every drop of their blood tapped down from their worthless sacks of flesh." As her declaration echoed the frightful town, Serenity's childish tone completely melted away and embraced the dark powers within, setting the stage for a more deadly act.

"And I for one, can't wait...to dance over your bloody remains, Mister Gun Paladin. I'll keep your skull as a souvenir."

"Sorry, but I like my blood and organs right where they are. In my body." Quinn acted, shooting out more bullets and dangerously charging ahead.

"Very well then. Prepare to meet your end," Serenity, fueled by her overpowering bloodlust, unleashed a torrent of dark energy and causing the surroundings to tremble. The barbed chains, now charged with an intensified malevolence, swirled around her with newfound vigor.

"Dammit, her speed is insane!" Quinn, realizing the situation, readied himself for a battle of heightened proportions.The fight continued on the rooftops, with Quinn slowly losing the advantage. The chains were suddenly catching up with alarming speed and double the destruction.

"No use running, Mister Gun Paladin!" The little girl taunted. "With my sin, you'll die in just a second!"

'Her chains are too rapid! I gotta do something!—' He surmised, until one chain lassoed one of his legs in a tight tug, the barbed spikes sinking deep into his skin liked a beast bite. Serenity began swinging overhead like a cowgirl, forcing Quinn to twirl around like a ragdoll.

"Round, and round, and round you go~ Where you end up? Nobody knows~" She launched Quinn right into the Emerald Legacy, his back making direct contact against the hard trunk before collapsing to the ground near the beloved statue. The sound of bones being grated could be heard.

"AAH!"

"Yay! That was fun! Let's do that again!" The battle took a dire turn as Serenity reveled.

—"QUINN!" Paige finally arrived to the square, only witnessing evidence of the disaster to the festival.

She caught the deadly chains orbiting effortlessly around the sinister presence. With only quick thinking, Paige cat-pounced from the side of the buildings and into the air, unsheathing her blade toward the chains. Her eyes startled to see the assailant was so young. "A child Sin Wielder? Not good..."

"Oh, another person to play with, how fun..." The sinistress unleashed another swarm of her chains, but Paige's blade easily broke through and severed them from Serenity's control. The tremendous aura emanating from her Arcane Weapon helped it cut through the restraints with ease, glimmering brightly in the night.

As a talented Swordstress Paladin, Paige was clearly the stronger opponent.

"My toy...you broke my toy..." Yellow eyes widened with shock as Serenity's expression returned back to her petulant child personality! "No...no. No! No! No! No! NO! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT! SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD!"

Paige tightened her grip on the arcane-charged longsword. "Sorry, but playtime's over. By the order of the Crestwood Paladin Guild, surrender yourself, Cultist!"

With lightning speed, the swordstress tore apart Serenity's chains that stood in her way. Without a single will from her, they all fell to the ground like severed lizard tails. Serenity backed away when she had only two barbed chains left to her will, but Paige quickly narrowed the gap. A swift knee kick to the back stunned the young Sin Wielder, causing her to lose balance and collapse into the bloodied streets under a small crater.

"Ouchie..." Serenity winced. Trying to get back up, the tip of Paige's blade was pointed at her face, and the swordstress towered over her.

"It's over."

"No fair...no fair, no fair! No fair! NO FAIR! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE STRONGEST HERE! YOU CHEATED! THIS IS NO FUN! WAAHHH! I DON'T WANNA PLAY THIS GAME ANYMORE—eek!" She yelped as the blade bridged closer to her eye by a slight inch - much that she couldn't blink without hurting herself.

"For someone to be this powerful, I'm not convinced that only a child came all the way here from the Forsaken Lands, on their own accord." Paige questioned, her glasses refracting her cold stare and pointed her blade even closer. "Now talk. Where are the rest of your allies hiding? Who sent you here?"

"Hmph! I'm not telling!" She jabbed a tongue at her.

"Then you must be here to take the Saint Verdana statue!"

"Pfft! Me? Take that hideous old thing? Please. Like I care. I only wish to spread my love for the gospel."

"By decapitating dozens of people? What sort of gospel is this? Is this your sick way of just saying 'hello'?"

Defeated, Serenity glared at Paige for a moment before her demeanor changed. "You Arcadians are as clueless as ever. You've only scratched the surface of what lies beyond the Mannite. For you see;

All souls are welcome into the 42nd World! Heed into Her whispers, for Her gospel is absolute, and all rejoice in the hours of death!

As one of Her avatars, CRUELTY is Her way of eternal love, the cries of agony apease Her. And I shall gladly give Her the satisfaction She solely yearns. Heed this; Arcadia!

The Will of Our Immortal Mother shall be heard!"

"And, there's the crazy cultist preach I was waiting for." Paige rebuked, but Serenity let out another haunting giggle.

"It's only a matter of time until stone starts to bleed, and the universe shall start to know that creation was its greatest fault! All life was bound to end!" With that cryptic proclamation, Serenity held her hands up in a ballet pose and clasped herself in a hug, forcing the chains to enclose her like a cocoon. The chains began to shrink away and a dark red smoke enveloped her, teleporting her away and leaving only an echoing laughter.

As the mist dissipated, Paige scanned her surroundings cautiously, but Serenity was long gone. "Dammit! She got away."

She turned back at the harvest festival, which was now left in a red ruin, headless corpses and blood everywhere. She peered back at her two teammates, who were both knocked out and losing blood. "Quinn! Dame Blanca! Are you alright?!"

As she rushed over to them, a band of Iron-rank Paladins arrived to the scene, only to witness the horror too late. Their faces slightly distraught with sickened looks.

"What happened to this place..." One said.

"Call...call in the local healers, and alert the Guildmeister! A Sin Wielder was just here. Scout for any more survivors." Paige shakingly took order, drifting them away from the grimly sight.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Are you alright, Miss Simmons?" Another paladin hesitantly approached.

"I'm fine. But Dame Blanca and Quinn Lockewood are the ones who need medical attention."

"Right away," they acted accordingly and marched away.

"Ugh...this sucks," the gunslinger paladin was still conscious but gradually fading away, catching the voices from a party of paladins coming to aid him. He leaned his head against the tree and to the statue right next to him. He was never as close to the statue like this before, most folk only touch her hand and ask for a wish. But he could practically touch her stony leg with his wounded hand. The view of the square was an awful red mess, but his eyes once again, were fixed on her.

Knowing he did his part in saving her, Quinn passively sighed.

"You're welcome, Ver...dana..." But it wasn't long until he went out cold.

***

Edited: 25/May/24

【Glossary: №1】

—Sin Wielder: a powerful cultist that utilizes a sin fueled from a chaotic magic called 'Void Energy'.

—Arcane Weapon: a tool operated only by Paladins. It can be various types, from long distance to close quarters combat types. They depend on the will of the user to deliver damage to the target.

—Arcane Energy: a power that combats against Void Energy. Ancient philosophers believed it to be as the 5th element along with Fire, Water, Earth and Air. It is another word for 'QUINTESSENCE'.