The Soundless Step

"Here I go." Priscilla declared.

Immediately, the young fighter accelerated toward Number 1. She appeared behind Teresa and slashed. The top ranking claymore blocked it efficiently, her perception still enough to keep up. They didn't call her Number 1 for nothing.

Ilena and Sophia charged as well, blades cleaving down from above. The combined attacks would be too much of an effort to defend. Understanding this fact, she leapt onto a nearby roof, dodging the entrapment. Unfortunately, the joint attack wasn't over.

"Nnnnyahoo!" Noel screeched from above.

The aggressive woman was upside down in midair. All of the gathered momentum was let loose, her claymore swiping down on Teresa's back. A futile endeavor it was.

CLANG

It was blocked just like the other attacks. Number 1's eyes were still silver, and there wasn't a single scratch on her body yet. The faint smile hadn't moved in the slightest. Multiple attacks were exchanged between Noel and Teresa. Before any openings could be exploited, Sophia cleaved down onto the roof.

Number 1 flipped in an elegant manner, landing back onto the ground. More damage had been etched into the surroundings. The tip of her cape was immediately torn to shreds as the Quick Sword approached. Teresa spun around as fast as she could, matching the oncoming slash with her own.

Their blades were locked in place, arms shaking from the pressure. Ilena and Teresa eyed each other as multiple sword collisions resounded. It was another feat impossible for mortals. Their blades weren't moving, but sword scars were being etched into the ground beside them.

If one was to slow down time, they'd see the two claymores dancing in place, blades missing each other by only a layer of clothing. In normal time, they were stuck in position, their heavy claymores making sparks due to the friction. The scars beneath them would only grow deeper.

Teresa was concretating at an extreme level. The expression on her face hadn't changed at all. Revealing one's true expression was another battle in itself. It alerts the enemy of the situation and circumstances. It showed who carried the momentum. The sheer wind pressure from Teresa and Ilena's clashes almost blew little Clare and the other spectating humans away.

As their high speed sword dance continued, Priscilla made her appearance. An explosive power coursed through the young fighter's body. She'd put a colossal amount of strength in this blow. The ground fractured as she launched toward Number 1 like a missile. A whistling sound could be heard as the heavy sword cut through the air.

Teresa only noticed Priscilla when the blade was already a millimeter from her face. It seemed as if it was the end. One lapse of concentration was all it took.

BOOOM

A crater was formed due to the powerful blow. Smoke and dust billowed into the air, clouding everyone's vision. There was a moment of silence.

"Teresa!" Clare cried out in worry.

The dust finally settled after a few more seconds. What was revealed made Priscilla's blood run cold. Teresa stood calm and steady. Blood could be seen on her blade.

Suddenly, blood spurt out from Ilena's trapezoids and calves. Trapezoids were the space between the neck and shoulder. Number 3 then fell to the ground. She could no longer move due to her tendons being cut. A puddle of blood soon formed around her.

"Miss Ilena!" Priscilla exclaimed in worry.

The beginning of the end was near. Noel charged in once more, only to receive another kick in the stomach. The armored heel of Teresa's foot dug incredibly deep this time. Blood spurted out of Number 5's mouth as she crashed through another building.

Sophia was next. Number 1 accelerated beside her and slashed. A deep line appeared on her stomach, causing blood to pour out. Number 4 immediately held her stomach. If she let go, her intestines would spill out. She was out of the fight. Ilena was helpless as she watched her team get cut down.

Number 3 grit her teeth, ignoring Priscilla's constant calls. The anger grew within Number 2. Priscilla immediately dashed off toward Number 1 once more. She wanted to even the score.

'Damn it. With the four of us, I thought we could somehow close in on Teresa, but…Was I still underestimating Teresa even then?! She has yet to…She has yet to even unleash her Yoma power!' Ilena thought.

There were a few more clangs of steel before it went silent. Each of the enforcers could be found on the ground, riddled with injuries. Priscilla was now on her hands and knees while staring at the floor. Her blade had flown off into the distance.

"Clare, go back to the inn and gather whatever is left. We can't be a further burden on this town. We are leaving." Number 1 spoke.

"Mnn." The little girl hummed before running away. Teresa waited until Clare was gone before turning back.

"Now then…" She muttered while nearing Priscilla.

Fear invaded the young girl's nerves as a shadow darkened her surroundings. Teresa was standing above her. Number 1's eyes were cold. The faint smile had disappeared. Ilena's face became extremely worried.

'No! Shit. She's seen her true potential! Priscilla has what it takes to eventually surpass her. Teresa means to nip this in the bud, here and now!' Ilena thought.

"I-I don't want to die…Save me. Somebody save me! Papa…Please save me, Papa!" Priscilla cried softly.

Teresa raised her claymore. A single stroke was all it would take to end this farce. Tears fell to the ground. The fear of Teresa had taken root deep inside the greenhorn.

SHINK

The sound of Number 1 sheathing her claymore resounded in her ears. Shock immediately adorned both Ilena and Priscilla's expressions. Was she sparing the one person who could beat her?

"Tch. Damn. I've grown soft, if I do say so myself…Clare's face keeps haunting me." Teresa muttered helplessly.

"Teresa! I brought everything." Clare announced her return.

"Everything? It must've been heavy." She answered while patting the girl's head.

"Nope, I'm fine." The little angel assured. Her eyes closed slightly at the head pat.

"Come at me as many times as you want. I'll cut you down, each and every time." Teresa declared to the fallen enforcers.

Hearing her arrogant words, they grit their teeth in frustration. Number 1 and little Clare turned away and began to make their way to the town exit. Before they could even take three steps, a maniacal voice sounded from above.

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Are you sure?"

In an instant, the area turned cold. Teresa's heartbeat increased upon hearing the voice. She could recognize it anywhere! It was a voice that reeked of insanity. Of mental instability. It was Number 0. The unranked claymore.

Number 1 raised her gaze to find the woman sitting on the edge of the roof. It was unknown how long she'd been there. The unranked claymore's platinum blonde hair was extremely curly and stopped at her chin. So curly in fact, that it seemed as if it was wet. Her silver eyes were empty, devoid of any real type of clarity. A mature but scary aura was radiating from her body.

"Whatever do you mean, Eve?" Teresa responded as casually as possible.

She knew how much Eve hated when people made fearful expressions. Number 0 tilted her head, and her cape billowed in the gentle winds. It was much longer than the half capes they all wore. One could easily tell how well the Organization treated her, with the customized armor she was wearing.

"Mmmm…If you leave that girl alive…she'll kill you. You know?"She said.

The fallen enforcers all watched the interaction with bated breaths. They tried to stay as quiet as possible. Not much was known about Number 0. Nothing at all, in fact. It was incredible how Teresa seemed to know her so well. There was only one thing that every claymore understood.

'If you see her, you will instantly know she is Number 0. Those eyes…they tell a story of despair. This invisible pressure. There's no doubt. So her name is Eve, huh?' Ilena thought.

"She can try to kill me, but she will fail. I'll make sure of it." Teresa answered. Eve frowned for a moment.

"I'm beginning to feel disappointed. Is this the so-called 'living for someone else?' You haven't killed a single one of them…I don't get it." Her void-like eyes bored into Number 1.

Clare squeezed Teresa's hand in worry. No words were said but she squeezed back. 'Everything will be okay' was the message.

"Don't worry, Eve. I'll make it up to you."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? How?" Number 0's face lit up with amusement.

"What would you like me to do?"

Eve thought for a moment with her hand on her chin. Her head was tilted to the side as she glanced at Clare. The fear of god assaulted the little girl causing her to secretly tremble. Eventually, the unstable claymore came up with an idea.

"Ooh I know! I want a cake. Not just any cake! You have to bake me one. A birthday cake!" She declared. Teresa raised an eyebrow.

"I am not a great cook. It will take some time for me to improve my skills. Once they are top notch, I'll bake you a huge cake. How's that?"

"That works fine. Fufufu!" Eve giggled happily.

"Well then, come find me in a year." Number 1 spoke before walking away with Clare.

"Bye bye!"

Number 0 waved until the two had disappeared along the horizon. She then stood up and focused on the enforcers, who were healing their wounds. Eve's smile disappeared as she watched them silently.

Ilena, Sophia, Noel, and Priscilla all felt as if a sword was pressed against their necks. One false move and they would die. The mission had failed. Now that Number 0 had made an appearance, there was no way to strike back. They had to retreat.

"...."

Without saying a word, Eve finally looked away. She then took a couple steps in the opposite direction. As soon as they blinked, she was gone. A massive sigh of relief was heard from each of them.

"Fuck that. There's no way I'm fighting that…that THING. What the hell was the Organization thinking?" Noel complained. The other members nodded in agreement.

"Did you notice? Her steps…they didn't make a sound." Sophia commented.

"..." Ilena was quiet.

…

…

…

As Teresa and Clare made their way across the vast plains, the little girl finally spoke.

"Teresa, who was that?" She asked.

Number 1 gave her an incredibly serious look. The little angel immediately knew that whatever Teresa said next would be law. There was no room for disobedience.

"That is Eve…and she is a friend. Make sure to always treat her like one. No matter how scared you feel. No matter how much you want to run. If you ever run into her again, greet her politely. Understand?" She explained. Clare nodded.

"Mnnn."