WHERE IT HURTS THE MOST

Raizel was taken aback by the sight of battle-ready women, a rarity in his experiences. Yet, his sharp senses immediately picked up on their obvious distress, their eyes betraying their fear and desperation. The women bore significant injuries, and one of them could barely stand without aid.

As the woman on the left cautiously stepped forward. He couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards them, even though he was far more powerful. With empathy and care, he approached the women, curious about their dire circumstances and what could have forced them to flee for their lives. Raizel was determined to help these brave warriors in any way he could.

Rubia spoke up first, "My name is Rubia and the one behind me is Ming Yue. We are a part of one of the most powerful yet dangerous groups in the world. That's it."

Raizel's expression remained calm as he replied, "Rubia and Ming Yue? They're quite peculiar names if you ask me."

Rubia's temper flared and she snapped back, "Shut it!" as she lunged at Raizel.

With his lightning-fast reflexes, Raizel easily dodged Rubia's attack, causing her to stumble and fall flat on her face.

Raizel looked down at Rubia and said, "Young lady, I never meant to offend you. That aside, my name is Raizel. Raizel O'Hara."

Rubia and Ming Yue exchanged surprised glances before turning back to Raizel in awe.

'You'll make a good test subject. Once we hand you over and get back to retrieve the coffin… we might just be free from this accursed job', Rubia hugged Ming Yue in joy.

Rubia's exclamation caught Raizel off guard, as he had no idea of the predicament the two women were in. But as Rubia continued speaking, Raizel began to piece together the gravity of the situation.

Raizel was caught off guard by Rubia's sudden exclamation, but he quickly realized that the two women were in a perilous situation but Ming Yue's expression was serious, her eyes conveying the gravity of their situation. She knew the dangers that lay ahead and warned Raizel that he needed to leave the area immediately. Despite his immense power, Raizel sensed that these women were not to be underestimated, and he was keen to discover the source of their distress.

Raizel was taken aback by Ming Yue's warning and looked at her with confusion. He had never encountered a situation like this before.

But Rubia was quick to interject, urging Ming Yue to reconsider. She reminded her of their reasons for embarking on this dangerous mission in the first place - to regain their freedom and lead a normal life. Rubia implored Ming Yue to think of their loved ones who were being held captive by the authorities.

Raizel stood there, taking in the gravity of the situation. He realized that he had stumbled into something much larger than himself, and that his mere presence could be a threat to the safety of these two women.

The breeze wafted softly, bringing a serene aura of calm and poise. Ming Yue posed a penetrating query to Rubia, her voice laced with intensity, "Is this truly what you desire? Sacrificing another being's life to fulfil our desires? I cannot endorse such a wicked act. Consider your mother, Rubia. Do you wish to bring her back by trading the life of another?" Ming Yue's words held a profound philosophical point, one that left a deep impact on Raizel as well.

Rubia's eyes were brimming with tears as she responded, "Ming Yue, it's been six long years since I last felt my mother's embrace. What am I supposed to do? Wait endlessly for a dream that seems so close yet so far away? How much longer must I endure before I can see my family again? How much more must I suffer?"

Ming Yue's expression softened as she heard Rubia's plea. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. "I understand your pain, Rubia. I truly do. But we cannot resort to such extreme measures. Life is a precious thing, and we cannot simply take it away for our own benefit. We must find another way."

Raizel listened to their conversation, his keen senses picking up every word. He knew that he had stumbled upon a difficult situation, one that required a delicate approach. He stepped forward and spoke, his voice carrying a sense of wisdom and authority. "I understand your plight, Rubia. But taking another life is not the answer. There is always another way, and I will help you find it."

Rubia looked up at Raizel, her eyes filled with hope. "You will help us?"

Raizel nodded. "I will do everything in my power to help you find a solution. But we must act quickly. Time is running out."

Raizel, renowned for his formidable strength and unwavering composure, found himself unexpectedly moved by Rubia's words. Beneath the steely exterior of Raizel lay a wellspring of empathy and compassion, stirred by the heartfelt yearning in Rubia's voice. For Raizel, who had lived through countless battles and faced adversaries beyond mortal reckoning, it was a reminder of the importance of family and the pain of being separated from loved ones.

Raizel smiled,"I expect you have arrived at a sound decision?"

Rubia's tone turned serious as she spoke, "We were debating on what to do with you, Raizel. Whether to turn you in or help you escape this place. But we've come to a decision."

Ming Yue added, "We've decided to help you. But it won't be easy. We're going up against some very powerful people and organizations."

Raizel's face remained calm, but his eyes betrayed his surprise. "I see. And why would you help me?"

Rubia looked at Raizel with determination in her eyes. "We believe in what is right and the right cause to fight. If you were to help us, perhaps we can talk things over?."

Raizel nodded, understanding their motives. "I see. Then let us work together to achieve our goals."

"If you want to know what we are now, you need to take a look into our past...", said Rubia.

Ming Yue's eyes narrowed, conveying a sense of foreboding as she prepared to recount their dangerous affiliation. "To understand the gravity of our situation, we must first delve into the murky origins of this tale. It began when darkness sought to overcome the purity of light..."

"We are members of the most notorious criminal organization in the world, the QUANTA. Their operations are shrouded in secrecy, with nary a whisper escaping beyond their walls. To carry out their nefarious assignments or missions, they assign personnel to specific ranks based on the difficulty of the task at hand," added Rubia, her tone serious and laden with apprehension.

Rubia noticed that Raizel was getting nowhere and spoke up, "Ming Yue, Raizel is not from our world. He has no knowledge of our customs or terminologies."

Ming Yue took a deep breath and composed herself, "I apologize, Raizel. It's just that the QUANTA is infamous in our world, and it's hard to believe that anyone wouldn't know about it."

Raizel nodded, "I understand. Please continue with your explanation."

Ming Yue nodded and continued, "So, the QUANTA assigns missions to its personnel based on a specific rank, ranging from E to S+. The higher the rank, the more difficult the mission. Our current mission is an S+ rank mission, which means it's the most difficult mission the QUANTA can offer."

Raizel listened intently, trying to understand the complex workings of the criminal organization.

"And I assume that this is not one of your assigned duties, is it?", Raizel raised an eye.

Rubia and Ming Yue pursed their lips, nodding in affirmative.

Raizel's instincts kicked in as he detected an underlying tension between the two women. His sharp mind quickly deduced that there was more to Rubia and Ming Yue than what they let on. He felt an irresistible urge to uncover the secrets they were hiding, for he knew that it could change the course of his journey. With a calm and collected demeanour, Raizel probed them for more information, determined to unravel the mystery that lay ahead.

Raizel's ancient eyes glimmered with curiosity as he gazed at the two women before him. "What sort of quests do your people embark on?" he inquired; his voice laced with intrigue. "And now that you mention it, I detect a peculiarity about you two. It's as though there are two distinct auras within you, one human and the other something otherworldly. Would you care to elaborate?"

Ming Yue's lips curved upwards in a gesture of appreciation, as she acknowledged Raizel's keen perception. "Indeed, you are astute. We are not run-of-the-mill humans. Instead, we are the result of genetic modifications that have been conducted covertly through the employment of pioneering technology. These modifications have proven to be successful, as evidenced by our present form."

Rubia and Ming Yue lowered their heads, overcome with remorse and sorrow as they began to recount the reasons behind their actions.

Rubia and Ming Yue hung their heads in shame, their eyes heavy with the weight of their confession. "We had no choice but to join QUANTA," Rubia began, her voice choked with emotion. "My mother is dying, and we needed to find a way to pay for her treatment. The medical bills are astronomical, and without the money, I would lose her forever."

Ming Yue nodded solemnly; her expression pained. "I also had to join to afford high school. The tuition fees in our area are exorbitant, and I have a little brother to take care of. After our parents took their own lives, I had to shoulder the burden of supporting us. I thought it was the only way to keep our heads above water."

Their voices trailed off as the weight of their situation sunk in. They both regretted their actions, but they saw no other way out of their predicament.

As Raizel watched Rubia and Ming Yue, he was struck by the fragility of the human spirit. Even in this futuristic world of advanced technology, humanity still struggled to find meaning and purpose. Raize couldn't help but wonder if this was the cost of progress, if the price of advancement was the loss of the very essence that made us human. As he gazed at the stars, he was reminded that no matter how far science takes us, the vastness of the universe humbled us all. In this fleeting moment of sorrow, Raizel realized that even in the face of overwhelming odds, hope remained. These two girls, burdened by the weight of their struggles, continued to dream and reach for the stars, inspiring Raizel to do the same.

Raizel approached Rubia and Ming Yue, his eyes filled with compassion. "Why would you do that?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Rubia fell to her knees and begged for Raizel's help, while Ming Yue looked on with a pained expression. "We only want to live normal lives," Rubia pleaded. "For my mother, for Ming Yue...if not for me, at least for them...I beg you for your strength!"

Raizel smiled gently. He was moved by their selflessness and willingness to put others first. "Obviously there's no need for begging... not between us," he said reassuringly. "And one more thing, Raizel is enough. There's no need to refer to me by my title."

Rubia and Ming Yue were taken aback by Raizel's kindness and willingness to help. They exchanged a glance, silently communicating their gratitude. Ming Yue nodded and turned to Raizel. "Thank you," she said softly. "We won't forget this favour."

Rubia's heart sank as she sensed the pulse readings of the two bodies being held in the sky. Her worst fears were confirmed - their friends 23 and 95 were dead. Ming Yue's hands shook as she pointed up at the hovering figure.

"Who the hell is that?" she hissed.

Raizel's eyes narrowed as he observed the figure with keen interest. "We have some uninvited guests," he said calmly.

Ming Yue's fists clenched as she took a step forward. "We need to avenge them!" she declared; her voice thick with emotion.

But Raizel held up a hand to stop her. "Not yet," he said firmly. "Right now, our priority is to make sure you stay alive and stay together. We need to find a way out of here. In the state you are in, I doubt you'll be able to fight at all."

Rubia nodded, grateful for Raizel's level-headedness. She knew that their chances of survival were slim without a plan.

As they turned to leave, the figure in the sky suddenly descended and landed in front of them. Rubia gasped as she recognized the man's face - it was one of the feared A rankers from the infamous QUANTA.

The entity regarded them with a sneer, his gaze icy and merciless. "You three shall serve as fine bait," he spat. "Our master has been longing for some fresh entertainment."

Rubia's blood boiled with a mix of anger and fear. They must resist, no matter the consequences.

Ming Yue tensed, poised to strike. "Let's do this," she growled.

However, Raizel was not one to recklessly enter battle without assessing his opponents' capabilities.

He turned to his companions and stated, "We shall not engage until we have assessed the situation and determined the most advantageous course of action."