Valmer strode toward the Whisperkin, his boots crunching over the debris-littered pavement, each step deliberate, radiating a quiet confidence. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his rosary beads, the silver cross glinting faintly under the storm-heavy sky. The school's shattered facade loomed behind the Geminis, the building was a grotesque gallery.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something," Valmer said, his voice steady, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he twirled the rosary between his fingers, the beads clicking softly. He took another step, his eyes locked on the Whisperkin.
The Whisperkin tilted its head, its featureless face twisting with curiosity. "Oh, am I?" it rasped, its voice a chilling scrape, like nails on bone. "Tell me, human, what did I misunderstand?" The Titnice, perched on the rooftop, its snow-white body small and deceptively childlike, glanced briefly at the horizon, its black eyes indifferent to the unfolding scene.
The Dark Seraph moved first, its massive black wings snapping open with a sharp rustle. It launched downward, aiming at Valmer like a meteor, its blue hair streaming behind it as the air whistled with its terrifying speed. The Yoka melted into the shadow of a rusted school bus nearby, its blue markings fading as it prepared to strike. Kai gripped his twin swords tighter, the dragon tattoo on his chest visible through his half-zipped jacket, while Kenshi's katana gleamed, his eyes narrowing. Yuna raised her hands, fingers tracing the air as if weaving a spell, and Ariel clenched her fists, her golden hair swaying as she braced herself.
Valmer's voice rose, unshaken, his rosary beads now still in his hand. "I alone am enough to take all you lost souls down." The Titnice's head turned, its black eyes fixing on him, a flicker of interest breaking its apathy. Before the Dark Seraph or Yoka could strike, Valmer's voice boomed, laced with divine authority. "Isaiah 45:23: All knees shall bow before the Most High God."
A wave of invisible force rippled outward, heavy and unyielding. The Dark Seraph plummeted, its wings useless, crashing knees-first into the pavement with a bone-jarring crack, concrete splintering beneath it. The Yoka emerged from the bus's shadow, only to collapse, its knees shattering the ground, blue markings flickering wildly. The Whisperkin, Mistibeast, Ragumon, and Rocksborne followed, their bodies forced down, gravel crunching under their weight. The Titnice, smallest of them all, knelt on the rooftop, its snow-white skin stark against the dark tiles, black eyes narrowed but unmoving.
Valmer spun the rosary around his finger, his smirk widening as he shouted, "Attack now! The effect lasts one minute!" He stepped back, planting his feet wide, his coat flapping in the wind as he scanned the Geminis, beads dangling loosely from his hand.
[System Notice]
Valmer Valgrace van Ruvoch has activated the skill [Divine Command (Submission)].
FP (Fate Points) Used: 1,500
FP (Fate Points) Remaining: 19,500
Effect: Immobilizes enemies of lower rank for 1 minute.
Kenshi surged forward, a blur of motion, his katana raised high, the skull tattoo on his temple stark against his pale skin. His amber eyes burned with unrestrained fury, his black coat trailing like a shadow. "This is for my daughter," he roared, slashing his blade toward the Dark Seraph's neck, aiming to sever its head in one clean stroke. Kai charged the Yoka, his twin swords angled for a double strike, his boots kicking up dust as he closed the distance, his chest heaving with controlled breaths.
"Looks like this hunt will be easier than I thought," Yuna said, her hands still raised, a faint glow gathering around her fingers as she prepared a light spell, her eyes darting between the Geminis. Ariel stood frozen, her fists trembling at her sides, her golden hair framing her tear-streaked face as she watched, heart pounding with hope and dread.
"Watch out!" Ariel screamed, her voice piercing the chaos as she saw the Whisperkin's head twitch, a faint smirk curling its featureless face, as if mocking their effort.
A sudden force slammed into Kenshi mid-strike, like an invisible hammer. His katana missed the Dark Seraph, and he was hurled backward, air rushing past him. Valmer reacted instantly, dropping his rosary into his pocket and lunging to catch Kenshi, his arms bracing against his weight. They skidded across the pavement, Valmer's boots scraping, leaving shallow gouges in the ground as he slowed their slide. Kai fared no better—before his swords could connect with the Yoka, the same force smashed into him, sending him crashing into the school bus's rusted frame. Metal groaned under the impact, the bus rocking slightly as Kai slumped, swords clattering to the ground, his hand clutching his ribs.
All eyes turned to the source. The Titnice stood beside the Dark Seraph, its small, snow-white body radiating a quiet menace, black eyes glinting with cold disdain. The other Geminis remained kneeling, bound by Valmer's skill, but the Titnice was upright, unaffected. It stepped forward, its movements fluid, almost casual, as if it had merely swatted flies. "I stayed back because I thought you could handle this," it said, its voice a soft, chilling contrast to its childlike form. "But to struggle against these weaklings? Disappointing. I'll overlook this, Whisperkin, but if it happens again, it won't be the humans who kill you."
Valmer helped Kenshi to his feet, his hand steady on the older man's arm. "You alright?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes flicking to the Titnice. Kenshi nodded curtly, retrieving his katana, his rage now a cold, focused blade. Kai staggered upright, wincing as he retrieved his swords, his dragon tattoo stark against his chest as he rolled his shoulders, glaring at the Titnice.
Kai's chest heaved as he glared at Valmer, his twin swords still clenched tightly in his fists. He stepped forward, kicking a piece of rubble aside, the clatter echoing in the tense silence. "Hey, Valmer, you said one minute," he growled, his voice thick with fury. "How's that bastard standing? That mistake could've killed me."
Valmer's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to the Titnice in front of him, its snow-white form small but menacing, black eyes glinting with indifference. He looped his rosary beads around his neck, the silver cross settling against his chest as he brushed a hand through his messy brown hair. "The full effect of Submission works on enemies weaker than me," he said, his tone clipped, reluctant to admit the truth. "That thing broke free in five seconds. It's that much stronger." He shoved his hands into his coat pockets, his gaze steady but grim.
Kenshi opened his mouth to respond, his eyes narrowing, but the Titnice's voice cut through, sharp and cold. "Tell me, Whisperkin, why are you kneeling?" it asked, its small frame leaning forward, black eyes fixed on the Whisperkin who pretended to be kneeling.
The Whisperkin's form swayed, its eyeless face tilting as if amused, though it remained crouched, claws scraping the pavement. "Whatever do you mean, I wonder?" it rasped, its voice a feigned whimper, mocking innocence.
The Titnice's black eyes narrowed, its voice dropping to a dangerous edge. "I know the skill had no effect on you. Why didn't you act?" It shifted, its white skin catching the dim light, its childlike body radiating a quiet fury.
Kenshi's head snapped toward Valmer, his katana still drawn, its blade gleaming faintly. "It didn't affect the Whisperkin?" he asked, his voice low, laced with suspicion. Valmer's face remained expressionless, his lips pressed into a thin line as he adjusted the rosary around his neck, avoiding Kenshi's gaze.
The Whisperkin rose slowly, its long limbs unfolding with a wet crack, claws dragging across the ground. "You've got two things wrong," it hissed, addressing the Titnice, its face twisting into a smirk. "First, the skill did affect me—for two seconds. Second, I knew you'd step in. You can't stand the thought of returning to the Tower mocked for losing your pack." It turned its head toward Ariel, its eyeless gaze seeming to pierce her, and she flinched, her fingers twisting the hem of her dress.
"The real question," the Whisperkin continued, one claw tapping its temple, "is why you didn't kill them when you attacked."
The Titnice's expression didn't change, its black eyes unreadable. "Does it matter when I kill them? They'll die either way." With a single, fluid leap, it returned to its perch on the rooftop, landing silently, its small frame blending into the shadows of the broken tiles. It gazed at the horizon, disinterested, as if the humans below were already forgotten.
Valmer stepped closer to Kenshi, his voice low, urgent, as he brushed a hand over his rosary. "Kenshi, they're toying with us. We go all out now, or we're done." He glanced at the other Geminis, who were beginning to stir, their bodies twitching as the effects of his skill faded. The Dark Seraph stretched its massive black wings, its blue haired-body shimmering as it shook off the lingering stiffness. The Yoka's shadow-clad form rippled, blue markings flaring faintly. The Mistibeast, Ragumon, and Rocksborne shifted on the rooftop, their indifference chilling, as if Valmer's skill had been a minor inconvenience.
Ariel took a shaky step forward, her golden hair catching the dim light, her tear-streaked cheeks set with determination as she wiped her face with her sleeve. "I'll help too," she said, her voice quiet but firm, looking at Valmer.
Valmer's eyes softened, his hand pausing on his rosary as he studied her. "Are you sure, Ariel?" he asked, stepping closer, his coat swaying as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Ariel nodded, her jaw tight, her blue eyes burning with defiance.
"Then stay with me. Offer assistance only," Valmer said, his voice steady as he turned to the others, his boots scuffing the pavement. "Ariel and I will take the Yoka." He pointed at the shadow-clad Gemini, its blue markings pulsing faintly as it melded with the shadows of the school bus.
Kai joined them, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward. "Kenshi, you're with me," he said, pointing a blade at the Dark Seraph, who was now fully recovered, its wings flexing with a soft rustle. "We're taking the bird."
Yuna moved to the rear, her hands raised, fingers tracing the air as a faint glow gathered around them, her black crop top shifting as she adjusted her stance. "I'll support from back here," she said, her voice calm but sharp, her eyes darting between the Geminis, ready to unleash a spell.
Celine remained hidden across the street, crouched behind a crumbled wall, her red hair spilling over her shoulders as she pressed a hand to her cheek, her hazel eyes wide with fear and guilt.