Exodia 222: Float like a Butterfly (5)

"Where are you taking me?!"

"Nowhere, really. I just want to be alone."

Once Anastasia got to the stairwell of the southern wing, she threw Peitho onto the stairs and slowly descended.

"Now, I'm not interested in fighting."

The face of Anastasia's helmet folded backwards, revealing her face. Her hair flowed outwards.

"I just want to know who you're targetting and why."

"..."

Peitho smiled when looking at Anastasia, however, her situation was not what she wanted.

(I'm so dead...)

She was not a fighter. She could materialise a few weapons but that spell had a cool down. Peitho was a passive fighter. In other words, she fought with sentences using the ability of Hypnotic Suggestion. She could influence people's actions with questions. If the target were aware of the Hypnotic Suggestion, it would have less of an effect. Even an Emperor can succumb to Hypnotic Suggestion but it would be less effective than on a regular Streia.

However, Peitho's true nature rests in her curse. She can fall in love but cannot be loved. Those who love are dead. It does not matter what type of love it is. Sexual, mutual, and emotional. If another person loves her, they will die, which is to her advantage.

All of her targets have been killed as she uses this curse to her advantage. Anastasia is a female. Although it is not impossible for Peitho to charm a female, Anastasia is clearly more powerful than her. The punch that perturbed Albatross and her complex armour made it clear to Peitho. The power difference was not something she could easily close.

The best solution she could think of currently was stalling.

"So, you want to know about our objective?"

"That's exactly what I'm asking. I'm tired of being targeted."

"The White Ankh's journey is one of justice. We, who follow Anubis, eradicate all evil from the Earth, cleansing it."

(Revealing our goal won't affect its progress. I need time.)

"If the SSB or the ISO won't do what's needed to be done, then we will. Many hide behind the hierarchy and aren't punished. We do that for you all. You should be on our side!"

"I've heard enough of this bullshit. I haven't done anything bad yet I'm a target. You're simply targeting nobles, aren't you?"

Peitho's eyebrow twitched.

(I'm so fucked.)

·———·

"Where did you get that sword?!"

Kuroha rushed at Albatross, swinging at him, barely grazing him. He was quick on his feet and leaned backwards at the last second, dodging each blow.

"I'm not obliged to tell—"

"You're not paying attention."

She swept his feet and caught him off balance. She rose upwards and launched her fist at him.

"!"

The fist she swung phased through Albatross, almost like he was not there, to begin with. As he finished phasing, he spun, ready to chop Kuroha's head off from behind.

Lightning struck at Albatross' feet. He leapt backwards and it trailed after him. Once he gained stable footing, the katana transfigured into a scythe. He spun it along his finger, repelling the lightning.

"Get yourself together, Kuroha!"

Yuuki shouted at her.

"Yeah... Sorry."

She was in shock. That technique he used was shockingly familiar to her. It belonged to...

"Kuroha! Stop spacing out!"

"Right!"

For now, she got rid of all of her suspicions and focused on the man in front of her.

The bracelets on her wrists expanded and covered her forearms, forming gauntlets. She equipped the Nightstalkers.

"Shadow Realm."

Shadows expanded outwards from Albatross' feet like swamp water, chasing after the duo. Kuroha slammed the ground and increased the amount of Nyx's power from 25 to 30 percent.

Her eyes sinisterly glowed crimson.

The swamp-like shadow leaked into the floor below them. Kuroha grabbed Yuuki and vaulted over the swamp towards the man.

"Yuuki, use Tempest."

"Huh?! You sure?!"

"I can handle it."

He was reluctant but noticed that they were descending fast.

"Tch! Fine! Tempest!"

Electricity, of a larger scale, combed the room, shocking Albatross and tensing him up slightly. It also created gashes within the swamp that was not big enough for a foothold.

"I'll pray you make it!"

She threw Yuuki to the opposite side of the corridor, which was unaffected by the swamp. Her forearm sparked with purple lightning as she got near Albatross.

The scythe transformed into gauntlets. Albatross' arm was cloaked in fire as their fists met with one another.

From the shockwave, the swamp dissipated and Yuuki stumbled slightly. When the two were getting ready for another attack...

"You're going to get hurt."

Someone pulled Kuroha out of the way—Albatross' gauntlet transformed into a spear and fired upwards at where Kuroha was previously. The attack was instant. It would have wounded Kuroha if she was in the way.

"Thanks... Wait, you are?"

"Uhm... You can call me Justice!"

He was Rin in disguise. Justice was just a name he derived from dignity. He simply thought of possible connotations.

Along the way, Rin and Kafka separated as they sensed the Ankh's presence from multiple directions. Rin specifically followed Albatross' presence to go after him.

"Well, I thank you, but I've got this handled."

(I've underestimated him too much. I can finish this in an instant if I increase Nyx's concentration within me.)

"It's you..."

For the first time, Albatross smiled. His smile was not genuine but rather insidious and maniacal. The spear returned to him and turned into daggers.

"I've been dying to meet you again. My blemish."

"Yeah, I've also... no, that's not right. Okay, look, I wasn't dying to meet you but I did want to see you again."

Rin assumed a fighting stance as Albatross walked—more like stumbled—towards him. It was as if his personality and behaviour flipped.

"I'll kill you!"

He charged in without any thought of how the battle could go. He stabbed at Rin, missing every strike as the man swiftly dodged.

Albatross went in for another stab. Rin leaned backwards; the masked man extended the tip of the dagger using magic.

"Woah!"

Rin's feet left the ground and he dropped, barely dodging the attack.

(He's off balance.)

Albatross switched Erebus into a scythe and struck down at him. Rin jumped off of his hands and kicked Albatross in the face, breaking his mask.

"I'd like to see your face."

"What?!"

Kuroha's eyes opened wide as she stared at Albatross. He attempted to cover his face but his hand was not big enough.

"I'll fucking kill you for this!"

It was a familiar face, one that she had not seen for 3 years. The man looked slightly older but she could tell. It was him.

"Shoya?"

Kuroha called out.

Both Rin and Albatross glanced at Kuroha as she called out a name.

"You know him?"

Rin asked.

"Yeah... He's my friend. One that died 3 years ago..."

"I don't know who you are and I've never met you in my life."

Albatross said plainly.

His tone made it seem like he was not telling a lie, but that was yet to be determined.

Rin winced.

"Well, this just got complicated."