The muscles against the leg of Paura's new body flex with an intensity that sends shockwaves throughout the area, and bracing himself for their release, Captivant turns his head to Ai and smiles before he lunges, meeting Paura, who does the same. And through the hideout, they both move at high speed, covering every single inch of the area as their blows knock into one another again, and again.
Φ This world is unfair, not even in the slightest. There are many born with so much that they get to have because someone in the past died for them, and squander it all the time while there are so many born with nothing, with no way to push there lvies forward without moving through hell and back.
I once thought I understood that pain, that suffering, that loneliness, but it wasn't so. I am loved, I am cared for, I am remembered, not in ways I always wanted to, but in ways that have benefited me. My actions have sent ripples across the world, leaving such a well of hatred to be sprung against my existence, and even in all of that, I still have people who love me.
My mother and father look at me with nothing more than love, my master would go so far to try and help scum like me, the woman I betrayed still has tears left in her eyes for me, I have been given so much in this world that inever should've be allowed to have, and in the face of all of that I can only thank god, I can only thank him for blessing me so, not because I am greater, or superioty, just because I happened to fall under his mercy.
This life I was given was saved but those I looked down upon, it was saved by those who rejected the very life I chose to live, it was only due to there blessing and kindness I continue to move forward and I shall continue to move forward, I won't ever look down on this life given to me again, I won't ever try and be the type of person who views himself as greater than anyone else.
I hate being sheep; more than anything else, I hate being part of the flock of stupidity, and in truth that flock doesn't exist because of the devil, because of the world, or even because of the rules of man, but the evil you see in everyone is due to the same instinct seen in everyone,m due to our humanity.
Those who let there humanity consume them will without a doubt fall into tevil, and I won't follow said path any longer, so even if it just for a couple of moments longer, please using the feelings I've gotten from the rest of the world, from the history of those who refused to let there humanity consume them, please aid me in this moment to save the inheritor of your will.
Φ He moves with the reflexes of Jabari, and the speed of Qīnglóng as his demonic blade rips into Paura over and over again, yet as each strike breaks the body, the energy that forms the mass of flesh recovers in mere moments.
"DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME!" Paura says, slamming his fist into Captivant and sending him spiralling towards the bookcase.
Moving closer, he slams his fist over towards Captivant, who deflects the blows over and over again, as he says, "THIS IS THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, THE POWER OF THE SUFFERING THEY'VE ENDURED FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE."
His attacks become more rapid as Captivant's eyes move around the room. "You don't understand, do you? You don't understand the suffering these people have endured to allow justice to thrive, yet today all of that suffering is given value. I tortured their bodies, destroyed their minds, and defiled their principles all to get them to produce this much negative emotions, all for the sake that one day these traitors, debtors, criminals, and liars now are redeemed as the blood of the fallen evil that lies in front of me. TODAY I GIVE SUBSTANCE TO THEIR PAIN, TODAY, I GIVE LOVE TO THEIR HATRED, TODAY, I BIRTH VICTORY FROM THEIR SUFFERING!"
Captivant releases a surge of blood from his blade that shoots out at high pressure, forcing Paura's body back, and then quickly lunges towards a mass of books, but is met by Paura's giant fist heading towards his body, causing him to jump back over and over again to dodge the strike.
"YOU THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU GET TO ANOTHER BOOK! DON'T MAKE ME LAU-."
As a fourth book flies upwards around Captivant, the man turns his head and sees Ai standing behind Captivant, holding a book in her hand as she says, "Those two volumes can end this, probably."
"I'll trust in you then!"
Angered, he chairs forward, and from the fourth book, Captivant says, "Tales of Warwick, grant me your strength.
Around his body, a giant cannon appears, causing Captivant to say, "Enjoy the force of Molstoria Navy's Tempest Cannon."
From the cannon, a green energy builds before blasting out over and over again towards Paura, leaving large explosions throughout the room that rupture everywhere, blowing the room apart and causing it to shake right down to its foundation, scattering dust everywhere.
Yet through the dust, Paura swings his fist, scattering all of the dust within the room and revealing his body completely shattered, with the only thing remaining being a couple of giant arms coming out of his human body.
He turns his head all around, looking for both of them as he screams, "COME OUT OF HERE, YOU COWAR-."
Through his back, the demon sword bursts, and turning his head, he sees a mirage fade and Captivant holding Ai as the fifth book glows, and says, "The memoirs of Chronicle Nimbus, the group who could never truly be perfectly perceived by the world. A group of untouchables, don't you think?"
Blood spews from Paura's mouth as he falls to the ground, with the rest of the bodies falling with him, and as he does, all of the books around Captivant fall to the ground as he falls to his knees.
Φ It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!
It feels worse than anything I've ever experienced. Like every single cell in my body is raging against itself, yet the pain doesn't fully feel physical. Is this the blowback of pushing your Regalia to its limit? It feels like my soul fundamentally has been struck over and over again in whatever way causes and inflicts the most pain onto my body.
If I have to experience this for even a bit longer, my mind might go crazy. I can't deal with all of this! I need to pass out.
As Ai's body slams into the floor next to mine, my mind forces itself awake. She is injured; the blood loss across her body is far too much, and if this continues, I don't know how someone with her frame will continue to move on. I need to put an end to her pain right now, but my body can barely move.
Φ Captivant tries to move his body forward, yet in his efforts all that remains is his flesh slammed up against the floor as his muscles betray his mind. SO he slowly shimmies his body over towards her as he says, "Don't die yet, I need you to keep living. Or else this world will never be the same, so come on, Ai, get up!"
As his words move through the room, another voice slams into his ears as a kick slams into his side, sending his limp body flying over hers and landing him on his back. Turning his head, he sees with wounds across his body Acorno standing with a little dagger in his hand.
In that moment, his mind understands the situation, and he says, "You? You were the one who sold me ou-."
Acrono's fist slams into Captivant's face as he says, "SHUT UP!"
Trembling, Acrono says, "W-Who are you to even talk to me? Do you think just because you managed to beat Paura, you are safe? I am the one in control here."
He places his foot on Ai's neck, then says, "You are no different than my doll in this moment, and you need to understand that."
With sweat running down his face, Captivant says, "If you have a problem with me, take it out on me like a man instead of going after her!"
Calming his shaking fist, Acrono smiles and says, "Who cares about that? Do you think people only ever take out their wrath on those who deserve it? When was the last time you saw someone pick a fight with Dumitra?
It's never against those who deserve it or can handle it; it's against people like me. People who look strange, people who talk softly, people whose kindness is treated as a free object, people who can barely stand up for themselves, people who are small and ugly like me! When I am home, when I was at school, when I was at parties, when I was at work, hell, even when I was dating, people always chose me as the person who gets the short end of the stick! I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS GETS STEPPED ON!"
He presses the knife against the skin of the barely conscious woman, and seeing this, Captivant says, "I am sorry; you didn't deserve any of what I said or did to you. I was angry, and I was taking it out on you. I allowed the hate I felt for myself to be thrown onto you, but I should never have been like that, please if you have rage in your heart that you can't handle, I will handle it with you, so please let her go."
With his fist tightening around the knife, he says, "Do you think I don't know that already? I already know why scum like you do the things they do; it's because they knew that my time wasn't as valuable as others, my scorn didn't matter.
I've had to have the empathy to understand all of you people like you because without it I am not even allowed to be recognised as a human. But now it does; the hatred you felt you could throw at me will have consequences! It will be turned against scum like you by targeting what you hold most dear!"
The knife moves closer to Ai's neck as a cold chill rushes down Acrono's spine, and seeing the figure behind him, Captivant shouts, "SIEGRUND, STOP!"
Acrono's hand trembles as Siegrund's blade moves right next to his neck. "Captivant, he was moments away from killing her."
Staring at Siegrund, Captivant says, "Step back and toss your blade over to me."
"Are you insane?"
"Maybe, but right now, more than anything, I need you to do this for me, Siegrund. Toss your blade over here and move away."
Looking into his pupil's eyes, he follows the instructions given to him, and Acorno, feeling the fear of death move throughout his body, breathes in and out again and again as he faces Captivant, who says, "Now, even if just for a little moment, let's listen and talk to each other."