Vs The Facility (III)

( 3rd POV )

Meanwhile on Kadoc's side,

Deep down in another levels, the cold seeped into every corner of the facility as the group moved forward, Anastasia's power turning the once sterile and metallic corridors into an icy tomb. Every step they took was met with a satisfying crunch of frozen ground beneath their foots.

The once-pristine hallways of Alkali Lake's infamous research facility had become an arctic wasteland, each corridor lined with statues of fallen enemies encased in crystalline ice.

"Shadow Border, are we close?" Kadoc asked while speaking through his own CID.

His grip on his CID tightened before the holographic screen of his CID (Chaldea Interactive Device) flickered to life above his wrist, revealing the cheerful face of Leonardo da Vinci.

"Harkins' research room is 200 meters ahead." Da Vinci's voice buzzed through it, guiding them through the labyrinthine base.

Beside him, Anastasia's frost continued to spread, encasing the Facility's sterile gray walls in a crystalline glaze. The group pressed forward, their boots crunching over ice-coated debris. As they rounded a corner, another squad of Facility guards lunged into view with their rifles raised.

"Caster!" Kadoc ordered.

Hearing her master command, Anastasia stepped forward calmly, her delicate hands still holding her iconic doll. "Ледяной ветер, замерзай (Ice wind, freeze)."

A torrent of glacial wind erupted from the air around them, engulfing the guards mid-sprint. Their screams died in their throats as they froze solid, their terrified expressions preserved in ice. The emerald-haired girl stared, her lips parted in awe.

Domino whistled. "Damn. Remind me not to piss her off."

After a while, the group almost reach their destination. Domino sauntered forward, her arms casually draped over the holstered firearms she had just scavenged from the guard that Caster had frozen. Her usual air of nonchalance remained unshaken by their surroundings. In contrast, the emerald-haired girl walked stiffly, her tension evident as she navigated the situation.

Finally, Kadoc broke the silence. "Speaking of which, you never told us why you were here specifically," he said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "As far as I know, this facility doesn't just capture people at random."

The green-haired girl clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. "Like I said, I was ambushed," she muttered, her voice taut with anger.

"One moment, I was walking from my hideout, and the next, I was being dragged into a van by men in black armor. They shoved some kind of serum into my arm before I even had the chance to fight back. When I woke up, I was in a cell, surrounded by others like me, mutan—no, Metas." She spat the last word as if it were poison. "I don't know much in detail, but Domino said they were experimenting on us, trying to build some kind of weapons."

As the girl finished her story, the normally detached Domino frowned slightly, twirling a coin between her fingers. "Yeah, sounds about right," she said with a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. "My story isn't much different. I've got a knack for survival, they heard about my tale, and they didn't like that very much. Thought they could cage me up, test me, suck my blood, see if my luck could be bottled and sold. But spoiler alert: it can't. Fufu, too bad for them."

Anastasia regarded them both with a cool gaze, her expression unreadable. "They never change. Human cruelty knows no bounds," she murmured, her voice as cold as the frost she wielded. "They always seek to control what they do not understand. It is a tale as old as time."

The two Metas were slightly taken aback by Anastasia's cold tone and her negative comment about humanity, sensing that there might be a hidden story behind it.

However, their conversation came to an abrupt halt as they arrived before a towering metal door, its surface gleaming under the dim emergency lights. The door was massive, reinforced with layers of titanium plating, designed to withstand brute force and possibly even mutant abilities. It served as the final defense to protect whatever secrets lay beyond.

Da Vinci's voice crackled through Kadoc's CID. "That's the place. The lead scientist, Dr. Adam Harkins should be inside. I'll leave the rest to you, Kadoc."

"Alright, Caste-"

Kadoc turned to Anastasia, but before he could finish, the green-haired girl stepped forward, determination burning in her eyes. "Wait! I can help. Let me," she said, raising her hands toward the door.

Domino raised an eyebrow. "You? What're you gonna do, glare it open?"

The Chaldea's duo also raised their eyebrows in skepticism, feeling the girl was overconfident. Kadoc stepped forwards to stop her.

"Hey! I said no heroi–" But before he could stopped her, something's happen.

A low, metallic groan reverberated through the corridor. The door shuddered, its hinges squealing in protest as an invisible force warped its frame. The girl's hair lifted slightly, static crackling around her fingertips. With a guttural cry, she thrust her palms forward.

BOOM!

The door ripped free of its housing, hurtling inward and smashing into a bank of computer terminals. Alarms blared as sparks rained from the ceiling. Inside the room, a gaunt man in a lab coat—Adam Harkins—scrambled backward, knocking over a chair in his panic.

The scene fell into a stunned silence as everyone witnessed her display of power. They were either too shocked by the sheer magnitude of her abilities or by how eerily similar her powers were to a certain bucket hat mutant.

Panting heavily, the emerald-haired girl looked back and asked, "Hah... Hah... How about that...?"

Da Vinci's hologram reappeared, her eyes wide. "Magnetic manipulation! Fascinating! She's bending ferromagnetic materials at the molecular level!" She said, breaking the silence.

Kadoc stared with complicated eyes at the girl who stood trembling, her chest heaving. "You… Nevermind" he muttered.

Domino grinned. "Kid's full of surprises."

.....

The Facility's central atrium was flickering emergency lights, the air thick with the acrid stench of burnt wiring and spilled chemicals. Ken leaned heavily against a frost-rimed wall, his breath ragged as he pressed a trembling hand to his temple. The throbbing behind his eyes felt like a hot knife twisting deeper with every pulse.

'Too much I'm overusing it,' he thought, gritting his teeth. The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception—those cursed lines of annihilation etched into his vision—had carved through dozens of PROJECT CHOIR clones, but now they threatened to carve into him.

It had only been fifteen minutes since he activated the eyes, but it seemed his current limit was much shorter than he anticipated.

Ken's initial purpose was to test his combat power when going all out. Even with reinforcement spells and other enhancements, his Third Magic ensured that magical energy was never an issue.

However, he hadn't anticipated that his proficiency with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception was so lacking that it would cause his supposedly inexhaustible body to go haywire.

'I shouldn't have tested these eyes here if I had known how troublesome they would be.' Ken muttered to himself inside his mind.

"Master! Behind you!" Mash Kyrielight's voice cut through the haze.

Ken pivoted, as a winged clone lunged, talons gleaming. Instinctively, his eyes flickered—a single red line traced across the clone's neck. His dagger followed the path, and the clone dissolved into ash before it could scream.

"Thanks, Mash," Ken muttered, though his voice lacked its usual steadiness.

Mash stood firm near him, holding her shield that radiating a soft white glow. Her lavender hair was matted with sweat, but her gaze remained unwavering. "Please conserve your strength, Master. Let us handle the rest."

Across the room, Mordred Pendragon roared with laughter as she cleaved through a trio of clones with Clarent, her silver armor splattered with synthetic blood. "Pathetic! These knockoffs wouldn't last a second in a real war! Even a real Griffins is much more tough compared to this chicken!" Her green eyes blazed with manic glee, though a flicker of frustration tightened her jaw.

Ushiwakamaru darted like a shadow between the remaining clones as a clone lunged, wings spread—she vaulted over it, driving her sword through its spine. "Ken-sama! The path ahead is clear!"

Ken nodded, straightening. The clones were thinning, their numbers dwindling under the Servants' assault. But as the last winged figure crumpled, a guttural growl echoed from a darkened corridor. The sound was primal, a predator's snarl that vibrated in the bones.

All eyes turned.

'What the–'

A shadow surged forward—a blur of figure and gleaming steel. X-23, her eyes now much feral and pupils dilated from Harkins' berserk serum, launched herself at Chaldea's group.

But another figure swiftly intercepted her with a shield. X-23's adamantium claws screeched against the surface of Mash's shield, throwing sparks like fireworks in the dim light.

"X-23?!" Mash gasped, bracing against the onslaught. "H-How did she become like this?"

Ken was also taken aback by X-23's sudden attack. According to Da Vinci's information, he had expected her to be imprisoned elsewhere, and their mission was to rescue her. But who would have thought that she would end up attacking them instead?

"Mash!"

Ken's attention was momentarily diverted as he prepared to assist Mash, his kouhai. The sound of footsteps echoed ominously from the same corridor that X-23 had emerged from. His eyes narrowed as he turned to face the source of the noise.

Her smirk was venomous, and her eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. The Facility's chief enforcer cracked her knuckles, the sound echoing ominously in the corridor. Her body shimmered briefly, like a mirage, adding to her intimidating aura.

"Well, well, well," she sneered, her tone mocking. "I thought it was the X-Men causing the trouble, but who would have thought it was the supernova, Chaldea! Not enough playing with The Brotherhood, now you're here to play with us instead."

Ken's eyes narrowed as he assessed the unknown threat. 'Who the fuck is she? Why can't I recognize her, damn it!' he muttered internally, frustration evident in his thoughts.

Kimura's smirk widened as she took in the sight of the Chaldea team and the rest of PROJECT CHOIR. "Fufu, you've made quite a mess," she remarked, her voice dripping with disdain. "But it's time to end it."

"Tsk, another bitch that doesn't know her place." Mordred's irritation was palpable. She snarled, her grip tightening on her weapon as she prepared to charge at Kimura. However, Ushiwakamaru quickly intercepted her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "Focus on finishing the winged chicken! I'll handle the bitch!"

"Fufufu, it was rare to fight a real hero." Kimura laughed, preparing to meet with Ushiwakamaru's attack. "Cute swords, samurai. Let's see if you can make me bleed."

Ushiwakamaru's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her kodachi. "Your arrogance will be your undoing."

Without warning, the Rider lunged, her movements a blur of precision. Her blades carved arcs of silver light, aiming for Kimura's throat and heart. But suddenly the mercenary's body flickered like a mirage—the swords passed harmlessly through her.

'Wha–'

SHINK!

Kimura's fist phased into solidity mid-swing, crashing into Ushiwakamaru's ribs. The Servant gasped, skidding backward, but her smile never wavered. 

'She is not that strong, but her ability... Intangibility… like a wraith. But even wraiths would have died from my slash.' Ushiwaka thought.

"Too slow, girl." Kimura taunted, cracking her neck. "I've gutted people way stronger than you."

Ushiwakamaru steadied herself, her mind sharpening. She solidifies to attack. A momentary weakness. The Rider feinted left, then pivoted, her blade slashing upward. Kimura phased again, laughing as the strike dissipated.

"Predictable."

On the other side of the battlefield, X-23's claws became a storm of relentless, savage strikes that hammered against Mash's shield. Each collision rang out like a bell, and the ground beneath them cracked under the sheer force of the blows. Despite the ferocity of the attack, Mash never wavered. She stood her ground, even her shield remaining unscathed by X-23's adamantium claws.

'She's faster than the reports… and stronger,' Mash thought as she glances at X-23's wild eyes. 'Something is wrong.'

"Laura! Listen to me!" she pleaded, calling X-23 by her real name in an attempt to reach her. Her voice was strained, the urgency of the situation evident in her tone. "We're here to help you!"

But a growl was the only reply. X-23 flipped over the shield, aiming a kick at Mash's head. The Shielder ducked, retaliating with a shield bash that sent X-23 skidding into a wall. The berserker shook off the impact, her healing factor sealing gashes in seconds.

"Laura, please!" Mash calls once again. "We know what they did to you. We're here to stop them and set you free!"

X-23's relentless assault on Mash momentarily faltered as she heard her name. Her eyes, filled with wild fury, flickered with a hint of clarity. But unfortunately, the serum's effects were too strong, and the berserker rage was unleashed once more.

X-23 lunged again, her claws aiming for Mash's throat. The Shielder ducked, retaliating with a shield bash that cracked against X-23's jaw. The berserker's head snapped sideways, bone audibly crunching—but already, her healing factor sealed the wound, tendons knitting back together with a sickening snap.

Mash's muscles burned as she parried, blocked, and redirected X-23's assault. The berserker's claws became a silver blur, each strike aimed with lethal precision.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

X-23 feinted left, then spun into a low sweep. Mash dropped her shield, the claws screeching harmlessly across its surface—but the berserker used the momentum to vault overhead, her foot slamming into Mash's shoulder.

CRACK!

The floor beneath Mash buckled, icy shards spraying upward. Gritting her teeth, Mash channeled mana into her legs and shoved upward, throwing X-23 off balance. The berserker landed in a crouch, her claws gouging the floor as she hissed like a cornered animal.

I can't continue like this… she's adapting. Mash's mind raced. Every move I make, she learns. I need to end this fast without killing her.

Back to Rider side, frustration simmered in Ushiwakamaru's veins. 'This women...' The dishonor of fighting an opponent who refused to engage properly burned hotter than any wound. She leapt backward, putting distance between them. "It's time to get serious!" 

Kimura's laughter echoed through the corridor, her voice dripping with mockery. "Ara~ Did my power frustrate you, Samurai-sama? Fufufu," she taunted, her eyes gleaming with amusement

Ushiwakamaru ignore her taunt as she raised her kodachi and chant her NP incantation.

"This is just one of my legends!

My body dances upon the water's surface like a bird flying through the air.

Dan-No-Ura : Eight-Boat Leap!"

Seven clones of herself materialized in a flash, each mirroring Ushiwakamaru's stance. The ground trembled as the clones surged forward, their blades weaving a storm of destruction. Kimura's smugness vanished as she caught off guard. She phased intangibly, but the clones attacked from all angles, their strikes overlapping.

SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!

A clone's blade grazed Kimura's shoulder as she solidified to counter. Blood bloomed crimson against her uniform. "You—!" she snarled, but another clone slashed at her leg, forcing her to phase again. The rhythm of her intangibility faltered as she was panicking, her focus fraying under the onslaught.

"Impossible…! How!?" Kimura spat, stumbling backward.

Ushiwakamaru's true self lunged, her kodachi aimed for the mercenary's heart. "You rely on petty tricks because you lack a warrior's spirit, bitch!"

Kimura barely phased in time, the blade passing through her chest harmlessly—but the clones didn't relent. They harried her, their attacks syncing like tidal waves, forcing her to flicker in and out of reality. 

Ken leaned against a frosted wall, blood dripping from his eyes as he watched both battles unfold. His Mystic Eyes of Death Perception throbbed behind his eyelids, overused, the lines of annihilation threatening to consume his vision.

'A mini-Berserker and a copycat Obito..." 

He takes a deep breath, calming himself before activating multiple spells being powered by his Third Magic.

Focus. Memory Partition. Separate the variables.

Mash vs. X-23: Berserker's healing factor. Non-lethal takedown required.

Ushiwakamaru vs. Obito's Copycat: Intangibility rhythm—0.3 seconds of solidity per strike.Ushiwakamaru's clones are overwhelming her, but she's adapting.

Environmental factors: Frost weakening structural integrity. Spatial coordinates…

Thought Acceleration. Time slowed.

He watched X-23's claws glance off Mash's Shield, her movements a frenzied loop. Her attacks are escalating. Mash is too gentle with her, she can't hold forever.

Kimura phased through Ushiwakamaru's blade, retaliating with a punch the Rider effortlessly dodged. Her intangibility is a crutch. Bitch's overconfident.

He saw it: a fracture in reality where the floor's frost met a weakened support beam. 'There.'

As Ushiwakamaru's clones drove Kimura toward the atrium's center, and Mash baited X-23 into a corner, Ken raised his palm into the air. "Displacement Magecraft: Labyrinthos Fractalis—"

Blood dripped from his eyes, his Magic Circuits screaming in protest.

"—Activate!"

"Huh!?" Kimura gasped, noticing something is wrong.

The floor beneath X-23 and Kimura suddenly warped, reality folding like origami. A portal yawned open—a bottomless void.

"Gggrrrhh!!!" X-23 lunged at Mash one final time, only to plummet into the abyss.

"Goddam-" Kimura, mid-taunt, followed, her scream cut short as the rift sealed above her.

Another portal opened on the ceiling. Both women fell endlessly, tumbling through the looped dimension—X-23 slashing wildly at nothing, Kimura cursing as her intangibility failed to escape the spatial prison.

"Huft... Huft..."

Ken wiped the blood from his eyes as he deactivated his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. His servants began to regroup around him, including Mordred, who had just finished slashing the last winged clones.

"Senpai, are you okay? Your eyes are bleeding so much..." Mash asked with concern as she helped him to his feet.

Ken managed a weak smile, appreciating Mash's support. "I'll be fine, Mash. Just need a moment to recover," he replied.

Ken's Magic Circuits were functioning perfectly, but his body was utterly exhausted. The Third Magic granted him unlimited mana, but it did nothing for his stamina. The strain of the battle had taken its toll, and he could feel the fatigue weighing heavily on him.

Thankfully, his cursed gift from Gaia and Alaya seemed to be working now, slowly restoring his strength.

Mordred beside him, clapped his back hard enough to stagger him. "Not bad for a Master!" Before she roared with laughter, slamming Clarent into the floor. "Wahahaha! Look at 'em! Like hamsters on a wheel!"

Ushiwakamaru sheathed her blades, breathing heavily. "A… creative solution, Master."

Ken rolled his eyes at their comment. "Mordred… Ushiwakamaru… keep watch on them."

Mordred snorted, "What's left to watch, Master? They're stuck in your little carnival ride." She jabbed a thumb at the portal, where Kimura's muffled curses echoed like distant thunder.

Ken shook his head "The loop won't hold forever. When it collapses, X-23's healing factor will keep her alive—barely. Knock her out. But that woman—" His gaze hardened, locking onto Ushiwakamaru. "Her intangibility has limits. Once she's solid… end her."

Ushiwakamaru's eyes flickered, her grip tightening on her kodachi. "Leave it to me, Ken-sama."

Ken finished instructing both of them, turned his attention to Mash. "Alright Mash, while they are watching them, we need to go. Kadoc's team is waiting for us."

"Okay..." she replied, her voice trailing off as she continued to stare at the portal, her chest heaving with anxiety. "Um... Senpai, will Laura be…?" Mash's voice was filled with concern as she asked about the little berserker.

Ken placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "The rift will hold," he said confidently. "You don't need to worry about her. She's a tough cookie."

Mash nodded, taking comfort in Ken's words. With Ken's assurance, they both immediately left the atrium, their footsteps echoing through the empty space. They descended to the lower levels where Kadoc and his team were located.

.....

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A/N: Please donate your power stones and leave more reviews for my story, I appreciate it and thank you for your support!