35Assassin 0.3
Clang! Clang! Clang! - went the sounds of battle between the two killers of men. It was like a harmonious rhythmic beat and they were both the band that made the music and the dancers that immersed themselves within it. Each move seemed choreographed, intentional. Indeed, it was a performance of blades where one wrong step would mean certain death.
Dodge, counter, defend, strike; such were the motions of battle the two born assassins went through. The killer was good, Kevin had to admit despite the man's lack of experience. No, that was wrong. The man had confessed to fighting off other bounty hunters that hoped to take the large price on his head. 'Jack' had experience in fights, however minimal it was compared to Kevin's, but that experience allowed him to keep his pace with the seasoned assassin.
Kevin blocked another strike at his stomach with a quickly materialized knife which he promptly threw at 'Jack's' head as he jumped to the side. 'Jack' of course, blocked the incoming blade with his own and charged at the pale man once more, their blades meeting once again.
Jessica watched on, clutching her wound to stop the blood, hoping that the pale man would save her and bring the serial killer to justice. Her body screamed at her to move, to get away lest she be caught in their battle, but her body remained frozen, still trembling from the fear she had felt from nearly losing her life. All she could do was watch and pray.
Little did the black haired manager know, 'Jack' had already forgotten about her. All he saw was this man, or as his instincts screamed at him, this reaper of death attacking him. The serial killer laughed, ducking under another swipe and retaliating with a thrust which the pale man blocked easily. This was so much fun! Not even the noble bounty hunters were as fun a fight as this! It was with this man and only this man that he felt he could be killed by. It was amazing! Exhilarating! It's been so long since he felt so alive!
'And not that husk of an insane barely living thing that couldn't go a day without killing some poor innocent and tear entire families apart because you can't control your damn urge and disappointing mother everyday and- hahahahaHAHAHA-'
'Jack' almost fell backward as he leaned back to avoid the knife that came close to cutting his throat out, jumping back to avoid falling over. Damn, almost lost focus there. Can't let that happen again. With a growl, he jumped back into the fight, billhook flashing toward the assassin's head.
Kevin blocked the strike easily with Debaser, but the blow forced the blades to come within inches of his face. But that was 'Jack's' goal. Immediately the serial killer pulled back, intending to use the protruding blade on his billhook to behead the assassin, sparks flying as the blades grinded against each other. But Kevin had already foresaw the killer's plan and ducked, avoiding the blade and causing the killer to lose momentum, spun on his heel and delivered a kick into the killer's abdomen. 'Jack' doubled over, spit flying from his mouth as he stumbled back. However, he recovered just in time to stop a downward strike that would have bisected his skull by putting his billhook in its path.
But this, too, was within Kevin's predictions. The moment his attack was blocked, he produced three more knives in his free hand, and with a quick flick of his arm, launched them at the killer's unguarded abdomen.
Where they bounced off with a sound of metal hitting metal.
Kevin didn't have time to be surprised as the serial killer pushed him off and attempted to slice his body in two. Kevin jumped back two steps, brows furrowed as the killer laughed.
"Confused, huh~?" the killer giggled. He tapped his abdomen with his weapon, the sound of metal resonating in the alley way. "I got this from a noble that tried to kill me before~. Wind mage guy, I think. Tried to levitate me. His enchanted armor gave me a bit of trouble too, 'til I realized that he forgot to cover his own head!" 'Jack' laughed. "You know, I never used this thing until today; something in me told me that I needed it. And it was right~."
Kevin frowned. He should have expected the man to be hiding armor under his clothes. But to think that the serial killer managed to get a noble's armor... His titanium knives would easily have penetrated the primitive armor of this world, but magically enhanced armor was a different story. He knew he was going to deal with it one day, just not this soon.
'That wouldn't have happened if you just used a gun,' he heard the Hellion remark mockingly. 'Hell, I would've finished this thing ages ago.'
Kevin scoffed at that, knowing full well that the Hellion would prolong the battle just to satisfy his bloodlust. They were alike in that regard.
It's why Kevin always preferred the cold edge of a knife. Guns were too easy, too simple. Just point and shoot. There was nothing enjoyable about standing back and killing a target from afar. But blades, especially knives, were so much more flexible.
For example, where a gun can only fire a bullet straight ahead, a knife can be thrown in a variety of ways.
Kevin materialized a knife in his free hand and threw it at 'Jack'.
"This again!?" 'Jack' laughed, his billhook already cutting the air to intercept the knife.
Kevin gave an imperceptible smirk as his knife suddenly dipped mid flight in an unnatural angle, the billhook missing completely, and buried itself into the serial killer's leg, causing the man to scream as he was brought down onto a knee. And that was just one among his large repertoire of knife throwing tricks.
"You..." 'Jack' snarled, gritting his teeth in pain. He wanted to take the knife out, but he knew from experience, that is, seeing it happen to other people, that doing so would cause the blood to escape the wound. He laughed, but it was forced. "Nice trick you had there. Didn't think you could make knives do that."
Kevin, taking a page from the Hellion's book of taunts, wagged his finger mockingly as he placed Debaser into its sheathe and materialized over a dozen knives in the now free hand.
From inside his hood, 'Jack's' brow twitched. With a swift throw, Kevin let the knives loose. With a snarl, the serial killer batted the knives out of the air, the sharp noise of steel on steel ringing in the alley. He knocked most of them away, but two knives managed to get past, one impaling his left arm and the other cutting his left shoulder. 'Jack' bit back his scream this time, teeth grinding.
Kevin allowed a tiny smirk on his normally expressionless face. To block those knives at the speed they were thrown... not many individuals could do that, even with training. The silent man was more than impressed. He could only imagine what 'Jack' would be like if he were trained to fight... Kevin shook his head. Such a waste of potential. He would have made an excellent addition to their ranks.
'Jack' forced out another laugh. "Well, looks like that didn't work." He stood up slowly, his injured leg shaking. "As if that was going to work in the first place. You'll need a lot more than just your knife tricks to kill me!" And with that, he charged again, ignoring the pain.
More? Kevin felt his tiny smirk widen. More it is then.
Kevin spread both his long arms wide, over a dozen knives fanned in each hand, stopping the killer in his tracks.
"Just how many of those do you have...?" he shakily whispered, his skin paling under the hood.
Kevin answered with the sound of blades cutting through air.
"No, no, no, no, no, NO!" Was all the serial killer could yell as the barrage of knives sped toward him, the blades glinting with the desire for blood. Once again, 'Jack' was on the defense, his billhook ready to intercept however many knives he could. But he was unprepared for what happened next.
The blades curved to the side and ground, hitting the walls and floor, and ricocheting off. What was a straightforward attack had turned into an assault from all sides, like the silver claws of a pack of beasts converging hungrily on their prey.
There was no way to stop all of the blades, not from so many directions simultaneously, and no time to dodge them. 'Jack' could do only one thing; protect the vitals. A quick slash stopped some of the knives flying aiming his head, a few managing to cut apart the hood covering it. His torso would be fine, thanks to the armor. But his arms and legs...
Steel impaled flesh, a scream of unbridled pain following. Knives stuck out of 'Jack's' limbs like a macabre pincushion, soaking his skin and clothes with blood. Jessica almost threw up at the sight, quickly turning away, but the image had already been burned into her mind. Kevin didn't even bat an eye, already far used to the sight and more. He pulled Debaser out of its sheathe and dropped into a familiar stance. This fight wasn't over just yet.
'Jack' screamed again, his voice strained, his breathing labored. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, and it hurt to stay awake. Only anger and sheer force of will kept the serial killer from passing out right there.
"Damn you..." he spat out, pain evident in his voice. He took a step forward and winced from the pain shooting up from his leg. But he pressed on, raising his knife again, ignoring the pain the movement caused. "Even nobles haven't made me hurt so much. Who the hell are you!?"
No response as always.
"Tch. It doesn't matter, especially when you're going to die!" He dashed forward, billhook furiously slashing at the assassin who blocked and dodged. Pain was disregarded, buried under pure adrenaline. His attacks were getting sloppier, but the strength and speed behind them was increasing. "Die! Die! Die!" 'Jack' screamed among the clanging of steel.
Such ferocity, such need to kill! This bloodlust was almost comparable to the Hellion's but it was unrestrained like a wild animal's! And that's not all; there was desperation in these attacks. No, not the kind where a man was on his last legs, fighting for his life, but a desperate need to murder. They both were born to kill, but 'Jack' also had a desire to kill, as if taking life was like food and water. He was given a blessing and a curse; made to be a danger to everyone, including himself.
Kevin pitied him. But the man must still pay for his crimes.
The serial killer made another swipe at him, but this time, the assassin parried the attack and countered with a thrust at the head as the hooded man stumbled. But the hooded man, his instincts in full control of his actions, tilted his head to the side, barely avoiding the knife. However, his already torn hood was damaged further, the blade of Kevin's knife cutting a long line across its side, the bottom part of his hood falling away to reveal the serial killer's jaw. Snarling, 'Jack' regained his footing and attempted another slash. But like the last one, it was easily parried.
But 'Jack' smiled.
Kevin's senses suddenly screamed at him to move and not one to dismiss his instincts, he complied instantly, leaning backward and narrowly avoiding a glinting edge of steel hovering inches from his throat. One of Kevin's knives.
Blood spurted down the serial killer's leg from a thin wound where a knife should have been. To go so far to kill!
'Jack's smile turned predatory as he took a step forward, intent on driving the knife into his enemy's jugular, but Kevin grabbed his hand before it could move, forced it to the side, and delivered a front kick to the killer's chest, slamming him against the wall.
But 'Jack' only giggled lowly, his giggling slowly getting louder and louder until it was full blown laughter. He threw his head back, his hood falling from his head, and laughed at the moons and sky and stars. His pitch becoming higher and higher uncaring of the blood dripping from his body, of the assassin who could kill him at this very moment, and of the terrified girl covering her ears, trying to make herself as small as possible. Bloodlust ebbed from him in waves, washing over the alley like a blanket.
'What the hell,' Kevin heard the Hellion say, a statement he too would be uttering if he could speak. He felt the others reflecting the same sentiment. What was wrong with this man? First the uncontrollable need to kill and now this?
And then the laughter abruptly stopped. 'Jack' straightened his posture and looked straight at Kevin, giving the assassin a good look at his face for the first time.
'Young' would be the first word to describe 'Jack'; peach skin, beardless, full lips, high cheek bones, blue eyes all framed by messy, snow white hair. He didn't look like he was past his twenties. He would have been quite handsome, almost feminine, if not for the deep black rings around his shaking, bloodshot eyes as though they hadn't seen sleep in ages and that vicious, inhuman smile plastered on his face.
"The laughter. The laughing wants you dead. Can you hear it? It wants to kill~"
The killer giggled, his skin pulsing into splotched shades of red and black, the whites of his eyes turning dark and his pupils yellow and glowing before they returned to normal.
Kevin's eyes narrowed. This was beyond wrong now. Something happened to this man to make him this way, something beyond the boundaries of humanity. Someone or something changed him, forced him to be this way. It amplified his desire to kill and made him insane.
And then the serial killer blurred and jumped above Kevin, billhook coming down on the assassin's head. Kevin, surprised at 'Jack's' newfound speed, had barely enough time to block the strike, and when the blades connected, the assassin nearly lost the grip on his knife from the strength behind the attack.
The killer's skin pulsed colors again as he laughed, pushing down on his weapon, nearly driving the assassin onto a knee, forcing the man to hold back the attack with both hands.
'Such strength...!' Kevin heard Mask exclaim, 'To think that there was someone here capable of challenging us!'
'Didja see the way he changed colors!?' Con said excitedly, jumping on his seat, 'that was so freaky and awesome!'
'Hey Four-Eyes,' the Hellion grunted, 'You look like you're having trouble. You still sure you don't want to let me have go at this guy?' Kevin could feel the smirk on the man's face, but as always, he did not, could not, respond vocally, only rolling his eyes and mentally giving him the finger as an answer. The Hellion laughed.
Louise, who had been sitting silently on a plush sofa while sipping a cup of tea, spoke up, 'Kevin, Master Harman asks that you get a sample of 'Jack's' blood. He wants to study this phenomenon. A vial should suffice.'
Blood for the Master? Kevin nodded.
Summoning up a wave of strength, Kevin pushed back the 'Jack's' weapon. The serial killer was visibly surprised and redoubled his efforts, whatever it was that was augmenting his strength pulsing rapidly but it was no use. The tides turned and now it was the serial killer being brought down on his knee, the assassin bearing down on him. Using his advantage, Kevin's left hand darted to the killer's arm and tore out a handful of the knives impaled into the limb. That only served to make the killer angrier, his strength and bloodlust taking on new heights as the red and black skin became fuller. With an angry yell, he kicked off with his feet and catapulted the pale assassin off with his arms. But Kevin more than welcomed this, using the momentum to flip himself in the air and land on the wall, embedding Debaser into the stone to keep himself from falling.
"Get down here and let me kill you!" yelled 'Jack'.
Kevin brought the knives he retrieved to his face, examining them as he ignored the killer's yells. Five blood covered knives should be enough for a vial. A quick thought, and the knives disappeared, reappearing on Louise' table.
'... I said I wanted a vial, Kevin.' The girl deadpanned, staring at the bloody knives. 'And one of them landed on my scone.' She added, poking at the ruined pastry. The Hellion and the Punk laughed. Kevin just shrugged. It's not like he carried around vials wherever he went. Louise sighed. 'Nevertheless, good job. We'll have them analyzed when you finish here.'
Kevin nodded again as he observed 'Jack'. The serial killer's skin was pulsing less now, but the red and black was becoming dominant. 'Jack's' strength increased the more prominent that skin became and soon it will take over. He must finish this before that happens.
It was time to end this.
Yanking Debaser from the stone, Kevin fell and landed lithely, greeting the billhook coming at his stomach with his blade. Kevin gritted his teeth; 'Jack' was far stronger than before now.
"What's wrong? You're getting weaker!" 'Jack' taunted, cackling madly.
Kevin parried the attack and countered with a quick punch to the killer's face. The killer staggered back but recovered quickly to block the knife speeding at his head. At that instant, Kevin was in front of him, silver already slicing through the air, seeking blood. But air was all it cut through as 'Jack' leaned back just in time to avoid it, his upper body now parallel to the ground. The assassin's attack did not stop there, however; instead of following through the slicing action, Kevin stopped his arm, angled his knife, the tip facing 'Jack', and thrust.
The knife would hit the enchanted armor, but 'Jack's' instincts screamed that it would not be enough so he quickly spun his body, pushing off the floor with his feet to gain momentum, and rolled away, the knife barely scratching the side of his armor. However, this maneuver made 'Jack' vulnerable and Kevin was more than eager to capitalize on this. Materializing a set of knives with his free hand, he set them loose on the killer who managed to avoid them by rolling faster and further away.
Which was Kevin's intent.
'Jack' stopped rolling when he knew he was safe and swiftly got onto his feet and was already sprinting back to the pale man's position, but by then it was already too late.
Six knives were taken from 'Jack' and five were sent to Louise. The last was kept to fuel Kevin's ultimate trick. He held the last knife close to his glasses and let them absorb the blood until the knife was spotless. A small offering, but it was just enough.
Kevin discarded the knife, placed his hand on his glasses, and took them off...
...and vanished.
'Jack' stopped immediately and for a few seconds stared, dumbfounded. Was the pale man a mage? No, he didn't have a catalyst for spells and neither did he incant anything. All he did was take off his glasses. Was that it then? Were those glasses magicked to make him vanish?
Whatever the case, 'Jack's' instincts were flaring and screaming at him. He was only fighting one man, but it felt like he was surrounded on all sides and against a man like the pale assassin, he might as well be. He turned to the left, and then to the right, and back again, his eyes darting every which way.
"Come out!" 'Jack' yelled, his fear evident. But only deathly silence followed. Sweat ran down the sides of his face. He was scared. For the first time in a long while he was scared. Is this what his victims felt before their deaths? How funny. So damn funny!
Something long forgotten within him was crying.
And then his body and mind screamed louder and louder. Danger was everywhere! Coming closer! Closer! But where!? 'Jack' slashed at the air at random directions, as if they would strike the assassin. No. No! He won't die! Not here! There were still so many to kill! This void, this painful emptiness, it needed to be appeased. The laughter said kill and kill he would! So many many more to kill~!
'... No. This is the end, Carlisle.'
'Jack's' instincts stopped screaming.
Then the flash of a knife snaked in from behind 'Jack' and found his throat.
And just like that, the fight was finally over.
'Jack' let out a slight noise as he stared at the steel embedded in his neck in confusion, as if disbelieving what had just happened. Then Kevin removed the blade and he felt the blood rush down his neck.
'My... my blood?' 'Jack' thought, bringing a hand to his throat, feeling the blood on his fingers. 'I'm going to... die? So this is what it feels like... it's so warm.'
'I can't hear the laughter anymore...'
'It's... nice.'
He fell onto the cobblestone path, body facing the star-filled sky. The light of the moons illuminated the alleyway allowing the serial killer to truly see the man who finally stopped him. 'Jack' felt his killer's eyes meet his own despite being obscured by the dark shades the tall man wore. There was no animosity between them anymore, no feelings of righteous anger, vengeance, or hate even though 'Jack' knew he deserved every bit of it.
Kevin kneeled next to the dying man who seemed so different now. His bloodshot eyes seemed so clear, so peaceful, his skin turned back to its peach color. When Kevin's eyes met with 'Jack's' he knew right then and there that 'Jack' did not want any of this. 'Jack' was a natural born assassin, but those were not the eyes of a killer. Bloodshot as they were, the light of insanity had vanished like it was never there, revealing only pure, sad orbs.
Slowly and deliberately the pale man took the hand that still clung to the billhook and removed it from the killer's grasp. Kevin showed it to him, placed it away, and slowly shook his head.
'There's no need for this anymore,' the gesture seemed to say.
And then he nodded. 'You're free now.'
Tears welled within 'Jack's' eyes, stinging the dry, sleepless orbs, as he finally found peace.
'Jack's' life flashed before his eyes. He saw his lovely mother, bless her soul. He saw his bastard father. He hated his father. Father deserved to die. He wanted to kill him. But mother said killing was wrong. And he loved his mother so he listened. But it hurt to not kill, so he killed wild game in the forest.
Mother protected him from father. Father wanted to use him. But she died, no, she was murdered. She was just a lowly whore, his father said. No one would care. He wanted to kill Father. But mother said don't kill. So he didn't.
He remembered the screams. The dungeons, the blood, those poor girls and all the people that came in to satisfy themselves. His father's menacing smile. His father's laughter. His sadness and hate intensifying every day, every hour, every second.
But Mother said don't kill. And kill he won't.
Then he saw the man with an angelic smile.
He saw his father trampled by his own horses as he watched with a smile; his first human victim. The only kill he ever felt true joy committing.
'Ha.'
And then emptiness, a gaping hole painfully etched into his soul that tortured him for many nights. Nothing he did even marginally filled it. He thought back to his father, his death. So as a test, he killed another; a homeless man he found wandering around his house. He felt the hole fill.
'Ha ha ha.'
But the void returned, so he killed some more. A woman. Then a man. Then a kid. Oh, Founder, he killed a kid. How many kids? Why why why.
But the emptiness came back again and again, so killed again and again. Killing became a medicine that soothed the pain, then an addictive drug, and then a natural psychological twitch. Killing people became a daily chore.
The cycle continued. The bodies piled up. Enough blood to fill a river.
But still so empty. So sad. So full of regret.
And laughter.
'Hahahahahaha~'
So much laughter. Urging him to kill.
So full of hate hate hate hate hate HATE-
'HahahaHAHAHAHA- Shut up!'
'Stop laughing! Why am I laughing!?'
'It's not funny!'
'End it!'
'Please!'
'Mother, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'
'I can't stop! It hurts!'
'Someone end it!' his torn soul cried and begged every day. One day, he hoped, someone would stop him and end his rampage and sorrow.
And his prayers were finally answered.
"Are... you happy... mother?" the killer breathed.
The tears fell from his eyes, both in joy and regret, mixing with the blood that slowly gushed out of his throat and mouth, taking with it his strength and life. Finally the laughter, that curse, was gone leaving only blissful silence. How long had it been since he had such peace of mind?
'Jack' gave a lost, blurry look at the murderer and savior. Many people have been avenged and many more saved because of the pale man and 'Jack' could not have been happier. Now he can go face the punishment he so rightfully deserved.
'Jack' mouthed out two words to his killer, two simple words that released the weight of his world.
'Thank you.'
And Kevin received them with a mourning, respectful nod.
On that night, the serial killer 'Jack the Ripper', died at the hands of Four-Eyes.
It was also on that warm night, that 'Jack' truly smiled for the first time in years.
This chapter was as fun as it was tough to write. Fight scenes are tough to pin down sometimes. As always, please leave some comments or critiques.