A Hopeless Situation

The ebbing flow of time continued without interruption. No matter the events that happened, no matter how important, its significance would fade away in time. A year had already passed since the enforcers failed their mission of slaying the Number 1 claymore. Due to the circumstances, the group understood that after Priscilla gained more experience, they would make another attempt.

A quiet mountain range existed on the south corner of the mainland. Unlike other mountainous regions, this one was covered in beautiful greenery. There were flowers all around. The sweet smell wafted across the entire region, allowing one to feel a unique sense of tranquility.

In the middle of this land was a calm lake. It was extremely clear, allowing one to see through it. The sun beamed right onto the water and lit up the surroundings.

CRUNCH

This peaceful view was ruined by the sound of bones crunching. On the shore of the lake, a young teenage girl could be found huddled over a corpse. Her long, black hair was mixed with dirt and blood as she feasted on its innards.

"It's so good! The lower intestine. The placenta! Ahhhh…it's so…good." She hummed while stuffing her mouth full of flesh.

Once she was finished eating, two figures appeared from the shadows. The silver armor quickly revealed their status as claymores. Both of them sported the iconic platinum blonde hair and silver eyes, unlike the feasting girl. A towel and a pair of clothes could be seen in their hands.

"Captain Isabella, you've dirtied yourself. Come let us clean you up!"

The girl slowly rose to her feet. Blood covered her hands and face. A frown soon tugged at her lips.

"Euphemia…I am no longer a claymore. Not since I…awakened." She said.

The two claymores shook their heads with a smile. Euphemia, the calm looking warrior, used the towel to wipe the blood. She didn't respond at all to Isabella's words. The other claymore set down the pair of clothing.

"You will always be our captain. Just because you turned into a Yoma doesn't change that." The innocent looking claymore spoke.

"Kris. You both don't understand! Even now, I want to slaughter you two and stick my face into your guts. Do you understand how hard it is to hold back?" The girl exclaimed.

When a claymore used too much Yoma power and went beyond their limit, they would become a Yoma. These monsters were more powerful than the norm, and could be referred to as awakened beings. Such powerful beasts tended to lose their sense of self after turning. It was amazing how this girl was able to retain her sense of self even after losing her humanity. Unfortunately, the urge for flesh would never disappear.

"You won't kill us. Even if you did, I wouldn't mind." Kris answered.

"You…"

"Let's wash you up, Captain." Euphemia suggested.

The two claymores brought the teenage girl into the lake and removed her bloody clothes. After becoming an awakened being, Yoma could revert back to how they looked before taking up the claymore. This was the reason she no longer had platinum blonde hair and silver eyes. It actually took so much effort to not feed or kill that she could barely function normally. It was for this reason that her comrades helped her daily.

After a good while, they'd washed and clothed the girl. It was time for them to leave. Whenever Isabella became hungry, they'd have to move locations. The trio could only stay in one place for a few months before she needed to eat again.

"Let's go, Captain. We can't let the Organization find us." Euphemia suggested.

"It would be horrible if they found us!" A voice responded. Kris nodded.

"Yes, it would be terrible-" Kris stopped talking upon realizing that the voice didn't belong to anyone here.

The others had also realized that someone else was here. After looking around, they saw nothing. Fear began to take root as the claymores drew their blades. An ominous wind had spread across the area.

"So terrible. It would be the worst! Don't you think? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?" The voice resounded beside Kris' ear.

Kris was frozen on the spot. A pair of arms had wrapped around her neck from behind. It was done in a loving way. The owner of the voice could be seen resting her head on the innocent looking claymore's shoulder. It was as if they were the best of friends.

"Shit! Who are you?! Get away from her!" Euphemia roared.

Eve ignored the other claymore and focused on Kris. She couldn't help but rub her face against the trembling woman's cheek. She then forced the woman to look at her. When Kris saw her empty eyes, her blood turned cold.

"Your aura is so pitiful. I'd guess that your rank must be somewhere in the forties…right?" Eve hummed.

Kris could only look at her with dread. Even though this creepy woman hadn't unleashed her aura, it still felt as if she could erupt at any time like a volcano. The trio could easily tell that she was definitely a top ranker. Once they saw the emblem on her blade, they would know for sure.

"Bitch! I said, get away!" Euphemia yelled once more.

Eve raised an eyebrow before grinning. Her embrace grew tighter around Kris, which quickly began to hurt. Bones soon made cracking noises. The weak claymore tried her best to escape the crazy woman's grasp, but it was futile.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!" Kris screamed in pain.

At this moment, Isabella's finger sharpened before shooting toward Eve's head with precision. It was like an elastic spear as it stretched with incredible speed. The finger pierced the crazy woman's head, but there was no reaction. The body faded away as if it was never there. It was an afterimage.

CLANG

The sound of a heavy weapon falling resounded across the area. Isabella turned to see Euphemia's body crumpling to the ground. Her severed head rolled across the incline before landing in the water.

"Euphemia!" Both Kris and Isabella cried with sorrow.

The sorrow quickly turned into rage. They looked around once more, searching for the woman. The awakened being didn't understand why she couldn't sense the woman's aura. Not only that, Isabella couldn't keep up with Eve's speed. Her steps were silent as well. Neither of them could figure out where she was.

Suddenly, Isabella's surroundings darkened. Kris' eyes grew wide upon seeing her comrade. The situation was taking a turn for the worse.

"Run!" The weak claymore screamed.

"You heard her. Want to play a game of tag?" Eve said.

The awakened being looked up to see the crazy woman looming over her from behind. Eve looked down at her while tilting her head playfully. The heavy claymore was now in her hands. It was unknown when she had unsheathed it.

"A game…of tag?" The girl repeated.

"That's right. I'll give you a minute to run. After that, I'll come find you! Everytime I find you, I cut a piece of you. What do you think? Please don't say no…I've been very bored recently."

Isabella gave Kris a look, who nodded. This was her chance to escape! With a tearful expression, the girl nodded. The awakened being took a few steps to separate from Eve.

Disgusting cracks and tearing flesh could be heard as she transformed into her true state. Four spider-like limbs appeared which dug into the ground. Her form grew bigger and bigger. A sharp tail sprouted from her tailbone, along with her upper half remaining human. In an instant, she'd launched into the thick forest which covered the mountain range.

"Fufufu…One. Two. Three." Eve started counting.

As she counted, she casually strolled over to Kris. The lower ranked claymore held her weapon with both hands, and charged. Even though she was filled with despair, she fought regardless.

'Captain, I'll give you as much time as I can!' She thought.

The blade cleaved downard in a diagonal path. If it connected, there would be a wound from the shoulder to the hip. Eve deflected it effortlessly, using a single hand on her weapon. The force of her parry was so strong that Kris almost fell to the ground.

"Fifteen. Sixteen."

Realizing that she was doing nothing of significance, the claymore immediately utilized 75% of her Yoma power. Any more and she'd be unable to revert back to human. Her mouth grew wider and her teeth elongated. Her speed and power had increased. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

Eve blocked every attack as if it was nothing. Suddenly, her arm blurred. Kris was unable to see its movement. Before she realized it, her arm was on the ground. Blood spurted out of her shoulder.

"Twenty one. Twenty two."

CLANG CLANG

"Thirty five. Thirty six."

SLASH

A leg fell to the ground. The lack of balance made Kris fall down. She quickly grabbed her severed leg and tried to reconnect it. Eve had other plans.

SLASH

"Forty seven. Forty eight."

"Damn it!" She cried out with self loathing. Why must she be so weak?

The hand keeping her leg in place was sliced off. It fell beside the leg with a spurt of blood. Kris now had only a stump and one leg. She rolled onto her foot and leapt at the psychotic woman once more. The only thing she could do was kick.

Eve grabbed the leg right before it hit her face. She then threw Kris into the lake. The weak claymore could only flail as her body hit the water.

SPLASH

"Fifty one. Fifty two."

Kris' single leg and stump was immediately severed. The woman now had no limbs. She could only die. Eve then stepped on her torso, forcing her under the water. The low ranking claymore was slowly drowning. Bubbles constantly rose to the surface. Her body spasmed constantly.

"Fifty six. Fifty seven. Fifty eight. Fifty nine…Sixty."

As soon as Eve finished counting, her blade pierced the drowning woman's stomach. She then pulled out the large weapon and watched as Kris breathed her last few breaths - or tried to. She was still underwater, after all.

Leaving the woman for dead, the scary woman looked into the distance. Her silver eyes seemed to shine as she searched for the Yoma aura. A frown soon adorned her beautiful face.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh? She only got THIS far? How slow."

Without saying another word, she vanished. There was no noise to accompany her movement. It was as if she was never there in the first place.