Hysteria

Jet black hair, crimson eyes and a smile that fills the hearts of many with terror. Her pale skin almost luminescent as she got to her feet, her body almost like a broken doll.

"Oh Vex... quite the mistake you've made. Hehehe."

Melody trembled, mostly from joy... but her fear was real. Barely able to move, she could only watch. Kat's eyes were wide, unable to fully comprehend what was happening anymore.

"Damn. Why must an experiment be successful when I don't want it to be?! I'll put you out of your misery soon enough, just let me take my pr-"

His voice cut off, a large chunk of metal ripping through his extended arm. Kat fell back onto her feet, her eyes never leaving her savior.

"I see. So this is what happens to the host body? Fascinating... but you're a real bother."

"I'm a bother? You killed me to get what I want."

Flashing forward, she avoided Vex and landed directly in front of Kat. She smiled wide, her teeth sharp and shiny. The smile faded when she saw the mark on Kat's neck, and the fear in her eyes.

"Kat..."

Leaning forward, she kissed Kat's forehead and finally acknowledged the message that appeared before her.

[You have entered Hysteria Mode.

-Extreme emotion.

-Death]

"So I died again? Vex, oh Vex. Hehehe."

Her giggles rippled through the air, inducing a strange wave of terror in the area. Snapping her wrist, numerous chunks of metal appeared around her body. Every piece was devoid of color, almost seeming to be a puzzle.

"This power... you don't fear it?"

"Why would I fear something so... small and weak?"

Kat reached out, grabbing her by her black dress.

"Mina, Baby... look at me. This isn't you!"

She looked down, her hand cupping Kat's face. She knelt and leaned towards her ear.

"I'll protect you now. Hehehe."

Kat felt a chill through her body, but that chill could not destroy the burning warmth in her heart.

"You're still in there... in control!"

Mina vanished from sight, a sudden cacophony of metal shards raining from the sky.

"[Requiem of Black Steel!] Such a fun name for this [Hysteria Skill!]"

"Hysteria? Is that what my trophy calls my experiments? I've dubbed it... Core Corruption."

Mina laughed, floating over the battlefield. Her face was in her hands, peeking between her fingers.

"Core Corruption?! You broke my fucking core! [Hysteria] just feels right! And it's not just because my Kat chose it!"

Kat noticeably turned away when Mina claimed her as her own, but she didn't seem displeased.

The shards of metal vanished, forming back beside Mina as her Sword Body. Every piece hovered near each other, unwilling to stick back together.

"[Rhapsody of Black Steel!]"

Mina raised her hand, the metal circling in on itself at a high speed. Swinging her hand down, the mass of metal fell down onto Vex.

"Hehehe. [Solo of Black Steel.]"

Mina appeared behind Vex just as the metal dispersed. One massive shard was sent straight through his back, piercing through his chest. Her eyes alert, Mina didn't miss a single beat.

"[Requiem of Black Steel!]"

The metal rained around her, Vex's body fading in a puff of smoke.

"So you noticed? To think you're so aware in your current situation. *sigh* If only the Flame Guardian was as aware as you. I would have truly let them have some fun! Too bad, doncha think?"

Kat turned towards Vex's voice, her eyes filled with rage.

"You really did attack one of my Guardians!?"

"Four of them. Ha. Surprised you didn't know. The last two were kinda... hidden. Annoying."

Kat gritted her teeth, holding her tongue.

'The Light Guardian is still hidden, but I never found a Dark Guardian. The font... it's unprotected.'

Her eyes wandered over to Mina, the girl still floating over the battlefield.

"Is she..."

Kat looked closer, finally noticing a pair of translucent wings flapping around Mina. They were in rythym, yet silent. Mina saw Kat staring and gave her a playful wink.

"So Vex, mind showing yourself?"

Mina spun in the air, her wings concealing her body just as Vex materialised behind her. His blade couldn't pierce them, a loud metallic clang splitting the caves silence.

"You're annoying, girl. I just want to take what's mine and leave. I had her killed so I could take her here after all! I hid your memories, even making you more willing to sleep with your boy toy just to calm her down... yet here we are. You still pure, Dyna still devoted. I'm sick of it! Your relationship does not exist!"

"[Rhapsody of Black Steel!]"

The metal shards wrapped around Mina, encasing her in a defensive barrier of blades. She forced her way towards Vex, noticing a barrier erected around himself as well.

"Calling the names of your attacks? How primitive."

Mina shrugged, her eyes glancing at the skills descriptions.

[Hysteria-

Requiem of Black Steel- Rain your broken Sword Body upon your enemies. Must call out.

Rhapsody of Black Steel- Condense your broken Sword Body into a controllable sphere. Must call out.

Solo of Black Steel- Take a large piece of your broken Sword Body, teleport behind the closest enemy and pierce them. Must whisper.

Wings of Black Steel- A pair of wings, made from your broken Sword Body, grant you flight and defense. Passive.

Void of Black Steel- The tiniest molecules left behind by your broken Sword Body fly through the air around you. These miniscule fragments grant unnatural awareness in that domain, as well as the ability to manipulate Black Steel anywhere within. Passive.

Symphony of Black Steel- Your ultimate attack. Must call out.]

Mina smirked, giggling to herself as she stared at Vex. Directly behind him, many shard of Black Steel began to flash towards his body.

SHICK

"GAGH! Dammit!"

Vex fell to the ground, a gash on his side. Just as his feet met the floor, he vanished once again. Mina turned in time, but he caught her closing wings.

"Not this time."

Ripping them open, he kicked Mina straight into the ground. A large crater was left behind as she got to her feet. Blood trickled down her forehead, dripping to the floor.

"My forehead? Huh... rocks are sharp."

Flapping her wings, Mina attempted to take off. Her attempt was a failure as a blade found its way back into her chest. She looked down, her eyes staring blankly.

"Hehehe... guess I got ahead of myself."

Her body began to fade, countless shards of metal raining down on the ground. Kat burst forward, spin kicking Vex away from Mina. Tears slid down her face as she caught her, helping her to lay down.

"Mina, Baby..."

Mina smiled up at Kat.

"I'm sorry, Kat. Hehehe... I tried, but he was just a little better."

Kat brushed the black hairs from Mina's face, leaning down and kissing her cheeks, her lips and her forehead.

"It's alright. You fought hard and looked beautiful while you did it!"

Kat was holding back her tears to the best of her abilities, but Mina continued to fade. At the last second, she smiled once more. Her usual smile, the one that can bring down and army, sent forth a burst of warmth. Kat felt her throat healing, her eyes bolting towards Melody as she got back to her feet. When she looked back down, Vex's blade clattered to the floor.

"Mina!"

--

Thank you,

JScott and croix!