Spiral Knights - The Dark Blade/Hunter's Edge

The Dark Blade/Hunter's Edge

52 replies [Last post]

Sun, 05/03/2015 - 22:45

Tehepicwin

Chapter 1: Vanguard Lotus
----------
AN: The Dark Blade is done at Chapter 14! However, the second part, also on this thread has begun!
----------
A short, Magic-wearing knight stood on the other side of Kora's desk. Kora told her, "Lotus...I'm sorry. I'll pull you off duty, if you really want me to."

Lotus, in a dull, emotionless voice, replied, "Kora, put me in another squad."

"But Lotus...you've seen...a lot. You watched your childhood friend burn to death. You watched your second squad get shoved onto a shock pad. In fact, all five of your past squads died since you soloed that shadow lair. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Loturia..."

"Don't say my real name, ever. Put me in a new squad."
-----
Rhendon shouted, "WHAT!"

Kora repeated, "Yes, her last five squads all died. And I want you and Desna to help her recover. It's just one small mission in a Deconstruction Zone! It's not like you have much to do, anyway! We cleared out almost half of the Clockworks, so there are few missions for you to do!"

"Fine, Kora. What skills does she have?"

"I've heard that she uses an Acheron and a Blitz Needle. Apparently, she is quite remarkable."

"Mission rewards?"

"Two eternal orbs and a Heavy Deconstructor recipe."

"Fantastic. I already have over a hundred orbs that I can't use, and now I can get a completely useless weapon. I'll do it anyway, but how about Desna?"

"She agreed as well. Good luck on your mission."
-----
A day later, Rhendon, Desna, and Lotus rode the elevator down to a depth 20 Deconstruction Zone. Rhendon, immediately upon starting a conversation with Lotus, regretted going on the mission.

First, Lotus was EXTREMELY anti-social. She would only speak in short sentences, and would rarely use more than one at a time. Second, and more significantly, Lotus had a rather dark side. It was as if part of the void followed her, plaguing her mind with a strange sadism.

Rhendon said, "Lotus, you don't have to tell me, but what was it like, your squads dying?"

She replied, "Surprisingly little." Lotus kept all emotion out of her voice.

"Why? I mean, we, I mean Kora, is concerned about you, and it's been driving me nuts lately. Why don't you feel anything?"

"They took what I had."

"Explain please?"

"..."

"Hello?"

"No."

Rhendon gave up. Lotus was one weird knight. He looked over at Desna, looking at her expectantly. Desna whispered in his ear, "Let's go along with the mission. Knights stick with knights, and I was looking forward to crafting a Heavy Deconstructor anyway."
-----
Ten minutes later...

The squad of three was smashing through the gremlins with incredible ease. Rhendon, armed with his own Blitz Needle, could effortlessly gun down any number of gremlins. Eventually, it turned into a competition between the three to see who could kill the most.

However, the trio became cocky and managed to corner themselves into a corner filled with treasure boxes. Rhendon noticed a slight change in Lotus's posture, but turned his attention to the horde of gremlins advancing towards them.

While the gremlins were weak, they became smarter as time went on. Sometime after the crash, the gremlins finally learned to use guns. The trio was being suppressed by a large amount of Catalyzer-wielding gremlins.

Desna yelled, "Lotus, shoot them!"

Lotus charged up her Blitz Needle and stood up. She looked at the gremlins...

...and unloaded the charge into Desna's face, killing her instantly.

Rhendon shouted, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO!? YOU JUST MURDERED HER!" Rhendon took aim with his own Blitz Needle, but he was too stunned from the turn of events. Before he knew it, Lotus jumped on top of him. She struck his legs with her Acheron until they broke, then grabbed him with surprising strength. She threw him into the horde of gremlins, who mercilessly beat him using Thwack Hammers. The distraction provided ample time for her to raid the treasure boxes, charge her Acheron, and wipe out the gremlins. Before backup could arrive, Lotus grabbed the unconscious but alive Rhendon and rushed towards the elevator.
-----
On the way up, Lotus counted her loot. Only six Shining Fire Crystals. What a waste of time.

She also thought of a story. The elevator was temporarily out of power. Yes! Desna was killed and taken away by the gremlins. Perfect! Rhendon bravely fought, but died from his injuries while on the elevator. Genius! Lotus tried to save Rhendon, but suffered a broken leg while rescuing him. Beautiful!

Lotus smashed her leg with her Acheron, but felt no pain. After all, she had done it five times before.

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 05:30

Spirals-Ore

Badass psycho detected! Hurry up and get that phaselock ready!

That was... dark. Never seen spiralknight universe in a dark psychopathic view, until i have seen this FF. Who the heck would puncture her squadmate with a mini-minigun? I am not the usual guy to comment on a FanFic, but i can't help it on this one. You continuing this? it is pretty darn insane up to this point. Keep up the good ol' murder galore going!

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 06:20

Immrlonely

you cant hurt me, this isnt

you cant hurt me, this isnt lockdown. plus, i have jelly armour. PIERCING RESISTANT MAX over 9000

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 06:22

Immrlonely

great story

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 10:46

Liminori

Oh demn!

.o.

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 15:17

Sho-Marufuji

I'm now trying to imagine how

I'm now trying to imagine how it'd would look to unload a Blitz Needle onto a person's face.

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 15:40

Tehepicwin

Chapter 2: Discovery

AN: Thanks for the comments so far! It really means a lot.

I'm planning to end this fic in one of three ways:

1)When I get too bored to write(unfavourable)

2)Lotus dies

3)Lotus accomplishes her mission

In this chapter, what her mission is will be discussed. Enjoy!
----------
Lotus hauled the Valestone to her segregated room inside the lab. When Lotus came back from the last mission, Kora forbade her from going on any more. Not because Lotus killed her squadmates, but because Kora thought that Lotus was a bad luck charm. No one could possibly kill others with that much ingenuity.

Now that Lotus was inside her modest workshop, she could conduct her examinations. Her job, as a newly reassigned Geo-Knight, was to grade the qualities of the minerals and give them back to the knights. However, Lotus was much more clever than to simply do that.

First, Lotus would conduct her normal experiments. Then, she would chip off a millimetre from all sides of the aforementioned mineral, which eventually added up. Using a special chemical reaction with acids, Lotus could turn the minerals into crystal energy. The crystal energy, in turn, could be used to make Shining Fire Crystals.

It really was no problem for a genius like herself. All crystals would go towards a single goal. A single hope.

Her sanity.

Lotus remembered how she got herself into this mess.
-----
A short, Chaos-wearing knight bent over, panting heavily. She just single-handedly wiped out an Unknown Passage.

For an expert such as herself, especially armed with the two most powerful items in the Spiral Arsenal, the beings of the Shadow Lair were pathetic. The Acheron tore apart the icy slimes, and the Blitz Needle took care of pretty much everything else.

Lotus loved the Clockworks. Others were afraid, but to Lotus, they were simply incompetent. There were riches to find, with the Clockworks being the key.

Lotus often wondered why she was so greedy at times. Mostly, she attributed it to her Chaos gear, since the magical properties of Chaos were known to put knights "on edge." Anyway, that's how Lotus found herself soloing the Shadow Lair: To uncover any new, possibly arcane, treasures.

She looked into the corner and saw something very, very strange. Every single time a monster died, their gear would vanish with it. However...

...the gremlin's Dark Blade stayed. Why? Lotus didn't know, but she HAD to research it. Lotus often dabbled in Chaotic Science, so getting into the lab, even not as a Geo-Knight, was easy. The others were used to seeing her there. She even had her own special workshop. Thus, after going through the Sanctuary, Lotus smuggled the Dark Blade without showing it to the loot-checking machine. What if they took it away?
-----
It wasn't possible.

Lotus immediately noted the weapon as Normal/Elemental, since the properties seemed the same. After heavily exposing the weapon to Wolver fibers, it was clear that this was not actually the case. The Wolver fibers were weak to this Normal/Elemental weapon! How could this be possible?

Lotus, being an absolute genius, knew that Wolvers were weak to piercing damage. This led her to the conclusion that the Dark Blade could actually do ALL kinds of damage automatically, depending on its target. Sometime around here, Lotus felt like someone was watching her. She attributed it to her Chaos gear.

She decided to shove the weapon inside an Alchemy Machine to see what would happen. Apparently, its power was only at four stars. This meant that using the mathematical formula for increasing the power of gear, she could easily write a recipe for a five star version! What would that be like?

Next, it was time for forge analysis. Bad, incredibly bad news. Since the weapon was infested with unknown elements, it would take extra fire crystals to completely remove the undesirable atomic structures inside the weapon.

Just how many fire crystals?

Over two thousand.

It was pretty much impossible.

Lotus fell onto the floor, screaming. A vision of a glowing, red eye flashed.

A deep voice said, "Loturia, Loturia. Forge the weapon..."

She screamed, "AHHHHHHHHHHHH! WHY? GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

"Show them the power of the Swarm, or be taken by it yourself..."

"NOOOOOOOOOO! PLEASE, NO!"

"Take off the Chaos, slow down insanity..."

Lotus immediately obliged, flinging her cloak and hood off. She quickly took out her spare Magic gear and put it on. Right after, she shook and convulsed on the floor.

The voice said, "You may be able to accomplish it this year. Before the Clockworks are stripped bare..."

Lotus vomited.

The voice continued, "Start tomorrow, do all you can..."

Lotus felt like her skull split in half, and vomited again, this time longer and more violently.

The voice whispered, "Accomplish your mission."

Finally, the pain stopped. Lotus was fine, with her Magic gear probably saving her mind.

However, she still felt strange. Like, really strange. Lotus tried to ignore the feeling, and looked up tomorrow's missions.
-----
After one hour, Lotus found a mission. One alongside her childhood friend. Lotus tried to remember her friend's name, but her mind drew a blank. It started with "Sh."

Unfortunately, at this point, Lotus's supervisor, Reg, barged into her lab. He said, "So, you would like to-Wait, what's that weapon?"

Lotus tried to cover it up, and lied, "I'm trying to find ways to accessorize weapons."

"That's clearly a lie, Lotus! I'm going to have to give this to more experienced scientists." Reg grabbed the Dark Blade and prepared to walk out of the room.

This just wouldn't do for Lotus! He just denounced her abilities! He just insulted her future project! Her future greatness! The power of the Swarm!

Lotus quickly jumped up and swiftly twisted Reg's neck.

How would she dispose of the body? There were a few acids around the lab, so it would be a cake walk. Lotus would craft the five star weapon, no matter what it took. No matter how many people had to die, no matter what it would cost her.

She would craft the five star Dark Blade.

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 15:45

Rachio

SHO

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 18:35

Tehepicwin

Chapter 3: Mutilation

Feron walked into the Geo-Knight's lab. The Geo-Knight said, "Yeah, you have to see this. Tell me, what do you see?"

Feron looked at the picture of Rhendon's broken legs, and answered, "Blunt force, same kind of energy from a Thwack Hammer."

"Well, not quite. Look closely, I'm sure you will recognize it."

"Wait a minute. The pressure from a Thwack Hammer would create more spread-out fractures. It's more like the strikes from a..."

"Sword handle."

"Are you suggesting that Vanguard Lotus, one of our best knights, killed her squad? And the first five as well?"

"I can't say for sure, but it looks bad for her right now. I'll examine the bodies of her first five squads, too."

Feron was still skeptical. Couldn't a gremlin have done a pommel strike? Feron asked, "Each leg broke with only one strike each. How could anyone be precise and strong enough to break a leg with ONLY ONE hit?"

The Geo-Knight shrugged. He said, "I don't know, but I will find out, once and for all, who killed so many people. Let's perform the autopsies together."
-----
Lotus was unhappy.

Sure, there were the constant seizures, but this demotion to Geo-Knight duty was unbearable. Even as the smartest knight in the Spiral Order, Lotus could only make one crystallized energy piece a day.

In other words, she would be able to heat the Dark Blade in many, many years.

At the beginning, Lotus could rapidly gain fire crystals with a clever, repeatable process. She would go on a mission, find treasure boxes, and kill the other knights to take what would be their crystals. She would make up a story, injure herself, and then use a healing capsule to heal once in Haven. The other knights never really claimed the fire crystals, but Lotus didn't care. The fire crystals were destined to heat the Dark Blade, so by even grabbing them, the knights were stealing what was rightfully hers.

Then, she could truly sleep, knowing 100% that she was sane.

Lotus once again had a seizure on the floor of her lab. The voice said, "Feron and a Geo-Knight are examining the dead. They will find you guilty. The Dark Blade will go unheated. You know what to do."

Picking herself off the floor and wiping the vomit from her face, Lotus geared up.
-----
The Geo-Knight was almost certain that Lotus was guilty. After examining ten bodies late into the evening, after all others went to bed, he found that all of the deaths had a human-like touch. The shock pad deaths, even, had examinable traces of shock vials used to paralyze.

He would still need to work some more, though, in order to be certain. Feron felt the same.

However, the Geo-Knight was thirsty, so he headed over to the break room where there was a water cooler. He stepped inside the room.
-----
Lotus's Acheron hit the Geo-Knight straight down the centre of his skull. A whole hour of waiting behind a vending machine finally paid off!

The scum deserved it. How dare he try to stop Lotus? How dare he even think about defiling the Swarm?

Lotus knew a lot about the human anatomy, so chopping the body into manageable pieces was no problem. She had a lot of experience. Lotus put the body parts into her Geo-Knight bag, and went to dissolve it using her acids.
-----
Feron was tired of waiting. Where had that Geo-Knight gone? Well, Feron needed to eat, since the last meal he had was at noon. He barely felt the need to eat since learning about how Lotus could have possibly been a serial murderer.

Feron wrote down a note for the Geo-Knight, in case he came back later. It read, "Went to eat dinner. Continue examinations tomorrow."

Feron hated to wait, but it was necessary to do so in this situation. He walked into the hallway, where there was an incredible number of lockers used by Geo-Knights.
-----
Sleep vials were too good. The first one knocked Feron out, which let Lotus tie and gag him with ease. However, Feron woke back up within seconds, and Lotus hated dealing with struggling people. She took out a second vial and poured it directly on Feron's gag, letting some directly into his body. A sleep vial, when drunk, is much more potent. Feron should be knocked out for at least thirty hours. That wasn't necessary, because Lotus quickly severed his limbs and bandaged them, leaving him helpless anyway. Lotus suddenly had an overwhelming desire to taste Feron's blood, and she did. Lotus hid Feron's body inside her locker.

The next day, Lotus used her Geo-Knight status to receive one-week access to a hauling cart. That night, she put Feron's unconscious body into the cart and hid it under her Chaos gear. Sure enough, no one stopped her as she took Feron into her lab. Lotus tied Feron to the wall of her lab's closet.

Tomorrow was going to be a VERY fun day.

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 19:10

Spirals-Ore

i... don't... know.... what... to..... say

Dang, that was even more creppy than last time. So she is swarm infested? or at least manipulated right? The dark blade thingy must be pretty twisted. Anyway great story, looking forward to the next chapter

Tue, 05/05/2015 - 00:21

#10

Immrlonely

*speechless*

TOO GOOD. Is this a flashback or … ?

Tue, 05/05/2015 - 16:01

#11

Tehepicwin

Chapter 4: Obstacles

Brad was at Knight rank, and he was a loser.

Every other knight at his age of 20 was already a Knight Elite, some even being a Defender. The fact that he was much weaker and wimpier than every other guy made matters even worse. Today, Brad was eating his lunch inside the cafeteria, which was beside the Guild Halls. However, something caught his eye.

Of all things, a girl.

She was a short girl wearing Magic-gear, with her hood concealing her long, blonde hair and her deep blue eyes. She brought her face right up to her Workpad, seemingly doing calculations and writing formulas.

Brad walked up to her and greeted, "Um...hello. You can call me, um, Brad. So, uh, what's your name?"

The knight remained silent.

"Hello?"

She answered, "Call me Lotus."

"So, Lotus, uh, what are ya doing there?"

Lotus maintained silence.

"Okay, you don't have to an-"

"I'm almost done figuring out how to bypass the 'untradables' system."

Brad was shocked. Was that possible? Brad asked her how she could do it, but Lotus refused to answer. Lotus's anti-social behaviour slightly irritated Brad. However, he wasn't going to lie to himself. He found her...mysterious, almost sexy.

Brad said, "So, um, why are you trying to bypass the system?"

Lotus immediately glared at Brad, as if expecting him to do something mean. Brad could relate to that. She answered, "So I can sell my Pith Helm and my Flak Jacket."

"And why would you want to do that?"

"Buy energy, heat items." After saying that, Lotus stared even deeper into Brad's eyes.

"Heating? Well, you know, if you keep heating, you eventually get something great, you know?"

Lotus looked surprised, as if her suspicions were false. She immediately went back to her Workpad. Brad assumed that Lotus wanted time alone, since he used to act like that as well.

Suddenly, a knight went around, screaming, "Haven News, Haven News! Dr. Walter and Feron have gone missing! If you know where they are or have any helpful information, contact ANY administrator!"

Lotus smiled, then said to herself, "That reminds me. I have a friend to see."
-----
Lotus, now that she figured out how to sell her Proto gear, could get a few more fire crystals. She went into her lab, where she heard someone struggling. She cheered, "Oh! How could I forget about you? Feron, let's have some fun!" Lotus locked the door to her lab, opened the closet, and put Feron on the table. She tied what was left of him onto the table, taking off her gloves in the meantime.

Lotus took off Feron's gag, then asked, "So, tell me Feron, how can I regain clearance for the Clockworks?"

Feron screamed, "Lotus, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!? You cut off my-"

Lotus punched Feron's windpipe, and said, "Talk more quietly, you trash. Unless you want me to reopen your wounds and let you bleed out, you should follow what I say."

Feron hated this helplessness, but found that he still wanted to live. The ultimatum of death was an undesirable option.

Lotus asked again, "Tell me, how can I regain clearance for the Clockworks?"

Feron answered, "I'll never tell you, you murderer! I won't let you kill more knights, knights who have nothing to do with you!"

Lotus was not satisfied with this answer. She struck his chest with the handle of her Acheron, causing immense pain. Lotus, in the same tone, asked, "I'll ask you again. How can I regain clearance for the Clockworks?"

Feron moaned, "Ah...no. I'll never tell you."

Lotus struck him again, asking the same question.

Feron merely whispered, "No, no."

Lotus, frustrated, smashed Feron's stubs for limbs, untied him, and threw him into the wall. "DAMN IT! HOW THE HELL DO I REGAIN CLEARANCE FOR THE CLOCKWORKS!?"

Feron finally said, "You can get a name-change."

"AND HOW DO I DO THAT!?"

Feron mustered up the will to say, "I won't tell you."

Lotus reared up her Acheron to slash Feron's head, but restrained herself. A man can't tell you anything if he's dead. Lotus calmed herself down, gagged Feron, then put him back in the closet.

At this point, Lotus remembered that weird boy at the cafeteria. Brad was his name. He didn't insult the Swarm. Instead, he was actually HAPPY for her cause! She would have to investigate him some more. Maybe Lotus could grab a small chocolate in order to help her think about the next step with Feron. Lotus could also auction off her gear along the way, now that she found out how to.
-----
Brad wondered when Lotus would come back to the cafeteria. Since Brad was a rather low-ranking knight, he had many more days off than the others. Brad passed the time by playing games on his Workpad when sure enough, Lotus bought a chocolate.

She was cute.

Once Lotus sat down at a table, Brad went up to her and asked, "So, what happened with the untradables thing?"

Lotus replied, "It's you again."

"Well, yeah, it is. Um...yeah. So, what happened?"

"..."

"Hello?"

"I just auctioned them off."

"Well, that's cool! So, uh, do you want to go into the Clockworks together sometime, if we can?"

Lotus was about to object, although she said, "Sure."

When Brad was about talk to her some more, she got up and left.
-----
Twenty minutes later, at least half of Feron's ribs were broken. Feron moaned, "You can get a person on the inside to change your Spiral Order name. Please, I'll do it for you!"

Lotus suddenly changed her expression from unfathomable rage to happiness. She giggled, "Okay, thank you! I'll give you my Workpad; you should be able to perform the name-change on it, right?"

"Yes! Yes! Give it to me!"

A short time later, Feron changed Lotus's Spiral Order name by adding another "s." The machines wouldn't care, so Lotus could easily go on an Arcade run. After the process was complete, Lotus said, "You know, I know that drinking fire will kill you by burning your insides. However, what about drinking the contents of a more, SHOCKING vial?"

Right when Feron understood what she meant, Lotus grabbed a blue vial and forced the liquid into his mouth.
-----
At midnight, Barrus came to the absolute conclusion that Lotus was responsible for all of the deaths. However, without concrete evidence, he would need to conduct his own investigations, which would take time. Time the lives of several people didn't have.

Barrus knew that if he openly conducted an investigation, Lotus would easily find him and kill him. So he would need a more...COVERT approach.

Barrus told his secretary, "Tell HER to meet me tomorrow at midnight, inside my office."

The secretary asked, "Do you mean Agent-"

"NO! You DO NOT say her name!"

"Sir! She was a stowaway! You would be arrested if they learned you dealt with that mercenary! Besides, she was in a mental asylum for two years. How do you expect her to be mentally capable of whatever you want her to do?"

Barrus frowned and answered, "She won't be mentally sound. That's why I want her. It's like they say, fight fire with fire."

Tue, 05/05/2015 - 18:55

#12

Spirals-Ore

Why.. is. this... so.. dark.

Ooooh thing's are heating up! keep it up ! Thanks for getting me my vial-phobia !

Tue, 05/05/2015 - 19:35

#13

Liminori

Clearly you're being affected by the Dark Blade.

*Glugs a blue colored vial down*
Mm, tasty.
But. . . This good feeling doesn't last long.
Souls. . .
More souls. . .
Mnehehe.

Wed, 05/06/2015 - 15:31

#14

Tehepicwin

Chapter 5: Possession

Lotus was getting worse. It was only a month since she found the Dark Blade, but the effects were already starting to become much more serious and prominent. If Lotus couldn't craft the five star Dark Blade in a few months, she would go completely over the edge.

Lotus vomited.

The voice said, "Do it, do it..."

Lotus vomited.

"Grab the Dark Blade. Wield its power..."

Lotus vomited.

"A secret to learn..."

Suddenly, Lotus found herself unwillingly grabbing the Dark Blade from her lab's table. The voice, in a higher pitch, said, "Yes, yes, yes. Now, let it flow through you..."

Pain. That's all there was. It was like Lotus dipped her arm in lava while cutting it at the same time. The pain spread to her chest, almost suffocating her. Her head froze up, jaws locked in place while undergoing searing heat. Lotus's legs jammed and twisted themselves at terrifying angles, enough to cause pain but not enough to break them.

Then Lotus felt normal again. Except she wasn't.

Lotus tried to release her hold on the Dark Blade, but found that she couldn't. She tried to get feeling back into her arm, although attempts proved completely futile when she somehow stood back up.

Was the Dark Blade...controlling her?

Since it was 2 in the morning, no one noticed Lotus as the Dark Blade forced her to walk to the Guild Halls.
-----
Geo-Knights Davis, Greg, and Sam were playing drunk Go-fish in Sam's room.

Davis said, "You know, guys, this game blows."

Greg belligerently shouted, "HEY! Go-fish is THE BEST game ever! Anyone who says otherwise is lying!"

Sam murmured, "I disagree with both. You guys suck. You guys are idiots."

Davis mumbled, "Can we please play Go-fish?"

Sam suddenly yelled, "IDIOT, WE'RE ALREADY PLAYING GO-FISH!"

"No we aren't."

"SHUT UP!"

Just then, they heard something strike the door control panel.
-----
Lotus, under the control of the Dark Blade, had no problem killing the three drunkards. One slice, one decapitation. Two slices, two decapitations. Three slices, three decapitations. Not even Lotus could kill like that by herself.

The Dark Blade could direct its own slashes! Then, another surprise.

Lotus found herself lightly tapping each of the bodies, each bursting in flame! Instead of simply doing damage, the Dark Blade could also direct its energy to a status effect!

Lotus laughed. What a night this was going to be.

Lotus heard the voice say, "Wield it. It took control of you. Now, take control of each other..."

Upon hearing that, Lotus found that she could control her own body again. However, there was still more blood to shed. In the lab, just a few minutes ago, Lotus walked past a few rooms whose lights were on.

Lotus laughed again, immediately sprinting out of the Guild Hall to go into the lab.

This Dark Blade was beautiful! It may have been torturing her, but that didn't overshadow its incredible power! And besides, it was only a four star weapon that was capable of doing almost anything. Lotus HAD to craft the five star version.

Let's see the power, Lotus thought. Fortunately, there happened to be only one lit room inside the lab. A perfect, lonely target.

Lotus went up to the door, and silently, so slowly, turned the knob. Lotus heard the Geo-Knight inside the room get out of his chair, presumably to leave the room, so she wildly pushed the door open and jumped upon him.

Lotus struck the Geo-Knight with the Dark Blade in the neck, but surprisingly, it didn't kill him instantly. Instead, it electrocuted him with untold amounts of electricity.

Now, shock is an interesting status to cause death with. She saw it before.

The Geo-Knight convulsed on the ground, shaking as the electricity flowed through his body. His limbs flailed around at almost impossible speeds, while foam surged out of his mouth. Eventually, the movements became so wild and the voltage became so great that his arteries exploded in gore.

Lotus looked at the Dark Blade, and heard the voice again. Did the voice belong to the Dark Blade? The Dark Blade said, "Use the wounds it created. Fuel your dreams, your lust..."

The glowing red eye flashed in Lotus's vision again. The next thing she knew, she was drinking the Geo-Knight's blood. Strangely, it wasn't all that bad. In fact, it made her feel less sick. Interesting.

The Dark Blade took control of Lotus, this time without causing pain. It directed itself towards the Geo-Knight's corpse and incinerated all of the evidence.

Lotus felt like she had all of the power in the world with the Dark Blade.
-----
Lotus haunted Brad's dreams.

Sure, she was anti-social. Sure, she didn't like him at all. But either way, Brad had to admit that he had a crush on her.

Maybe her anti-social behaviour was just a mask. Brad knew that Lotus was just an introverted, clever girl on the inside.

And pretty on the outside. Brad finally went to sleep smiling.
-----
The next night, Barrus walked into his office. Sure enough, a woman wearing a Black Kat Cowl, Snarbolax Coat, and Barbarous Thorn Shield was lounging on his desk.

Barrus greeted, "Hello, Age-"

"Agent Djinn, also known as the 'Black Warrior' of the Morai Warriors mercenary group. What do you want?"

Barrus wondered how deteriorated Djinn's mental health was. Everything she wore was known to cause significant mental damage to anyone who wore them for prolonged periods of time. However, wasn't that why Barrus asked her to come here? Barrus said, "I know someone is guilty of being a serial murderer, but I don't have any evidence. I want you to kill her."

Djinn asked, "Who is she and what is she like?"

"Her Spiral Order name is Lotus, and she used to be a vanguard, now a Geo-Knight. Her real name is Loturia. I am pretty certain that she's crazy, making her likely to do irrational things."

"Interesting. Picture?"

Barrus handed her a picture of Lotus. He said, "There she is."

Djinn stroked the picture, then squeaked, "Oh, she looks so much like me! Same height, same length of hair, same eye shape. Just that my eyes are red and my hair is black. Other than that, we look pretty much the same!"

"And I bet you act the same as well."

"Except that I am an expert killer. Don't worry, I never underestimate people. I'm sure that she's really good as well. Aw, little Barrus, don't look like that. You could easily beat me in a sword fight. I only beat you on Isora because I am more...tricky."

"Are you going to take the job?"

"What do I get if I do?"

"A hundred thousand crowns."

"Deal. See you within the week."

With that, Djinn disappeared like a shadow, suddenly exiting the room in an instant.

Wed, 05/06/2015 - 16:02

#15

Sho-Marufuji

I honestly cannot wait for

I honestly cannot wait for Djinn versus Lotus. This is gonna be great.

Also, hey there Dusk. :D

Wed, 05/06/2015 - 16:14

#16

Midnight-Dj

Man, I need to make a fan fic that is more insane than this one... I need to try...

Wed, 05/06/2015 - 19:05

#17

Spirals-Ore

Fatality !

A hundread.... A hundread... A hundread thousand crowns?? GET OVER HERE!

Wed, 05/06/2015 - 19:56

#18

Xteri

Cool story hansel...

Hmmm...
I don't see what you are all raging about....
Seems pretty normal to me...
ALSO, why doesn't she take the crystals from the dead bodies?

Thu, 05/07/2015 - 16:19

#19

Tehepicwin

Chapter 6: Perspectives

Lotus went to eat lunch in the cafeteria, where she came across Brad again.

Brad greeted, "Um, hello!"

Lotus did not reply.

Brad, with great effort, managed to say, "So...when do you want to go into the Clockworks?"

Lotus completely forgot about that! This was her chance to increase her fire crystal count! Lotus asked, "Tell me, how many other people are coming with us?"

"I can easily find two more people, I guess."

That was perfect for Lotus. When there are four people in a party, it is harder for administrators to find your name. She wasn't supposed to go into the Clockworks, and she would be in a lot of trouble if they caught her. Lotus said, "Let's go to the fifth stratum in one hour, Emerald King gate."

"Stratum 5?!"

"I'm a vanguard, we'll be fine."

"Holy crap, at my age, the highest I've seen was Defender rank!"

"Well, I'm just good. See you later."

For Lotus, that conversation couldn't have gone better.
-----
Knight Elites Pilkins and Nikki were eating lunch in the cafeteria when a short Cobalt knight came up to them. He said, "So, call me Brad. I need two more people for an arcade run in the fifth stratum."

Pilkins, a Dusker knight, replied, "I think the fifth stratum is too dangerous."

"Don't worry, I have a friend at Vanguard rank! She's really good."

Nikki, a Blazebreak knight, said, "I don't know..."

Brad said, "She's really smart as well. Lotus, we call her. She figured out how to bypass the untradables system."

Pilkins exclaimed, "How?! That's crazy!"

"That's what I thought!"

Nikki said, "Okay, if you want us to go, then sure. They call me Nova."

Pilkins shook hands with Brad and said, "Prongs."
-----
One hour later, the group was riding on the elevator. They all introduced themselves, but Lotus didn't really pay attention to any of them at all.

The Blazebreak knight expressed her concerns. "I still don't know about this, to be honest. Depth 19 is really deep into the Clockworks."

Brad quickly told her, "Don't worry, Lotus will take care of everyone. Right?"

Lotus stared at the Dusker knight and the Blazebreak knight, saying, "Yes. Don't worry. I will take care of you. Both of you."
-----
Djinn wondered where that girl Lotus was. Djinn absolutely could not wait to drink her blood and eat her flesh.

Djinn thought of where Lotus might have went. Lotus, like herself, would obviously want to get more money, right? Even though a Geo-knight would probably not be able to go into the Clockworks, the chance of stopping a genius from fulfilling her wishes was naught.

The only way to find Lotus was to hack into the elevator system. Djinn took the Workpad from her recent kill, then started up her Morai Strike Booster(MSB). The MSB is capable of concealing its user as they dash, so Djinn could easily sprint over to the Arcade and hide behind the elevator gates.

She plugged the Workpad into the Iron Rook gate. After a quick search, she realized Lotus couldn't have used this gate when her name didn't show up on the user's list.

She plugged the Workpad into the Jade Skull. No Lotus.

Emerald King. No Lotus.

And Silver Titan. No Lotus.

Where did that girl go? Maybe...she changed her name. Djinn looked through again, and after close inspection found "Lotuss" hiding in a party of four. Tricky, tricky.

However, there was no saying where Lotus was going to be in the future. Djinn was going to have to find a way to direct Lotus somewhere if the hit, and feast, was going to be carried out today.

Djinn waited to see what Lotus would do.
-----
One slash to the head, one Wolver dead. Lotus's Acheron annihilated the Wolvers. Lotus noticed Pilkins staring at her, so she said, "Hit it in the center of the head. It will die instantly, always."

That made sense, but how did she figure that out? Pilkins always hit the Wolver on the head, but they also always survived the first strike. Lotus must have spent a lot of time killing Wolvers.

Nikki seemed to be standing relatively close to Lotus. Eventually, the group came to a fork in the path. Lotus wanted to go to the right path alone, but Nikki was adamant to staying with her.

Brad wanted to go left in order to cover more area of the Wolver den. This effectively forced Pilkins to go with Brad, since a knight going alone might as well be a dead knight.

Ten minutes later, Pilkins was trying out the "center of head" strategy. Even with his rather weak Shockburst Brandish, Pilkins could lay waste to the Wolvers after a few practice slashes.

Pilkins wondered how Nikki was. While skilled, Nikki often lost her nerve.

Eventually, the elevator was in sight of Pilkins and Brad. Pilkins said, "Let's wait here, to defend it in case Wolvers come."

Brad said, "I agree. You know, I hope they're both okay."

"Yeah, but they should be fine."

Soon after, Lotus arrived at the elevator alone. She said, "We found almost 50 Shining Fire Crystals. All of the Wolvers are dead."

Pilkins said, "Oh, so Nova should be fine then?"

Lotus muttered, "Yes. So, follow me, you guys."

Brad quickly said, "No, no. I don't have any use for that stuff. Prongs, you can go if you want. You're going to be a Defender soon, so you'll have a use for it."

That was fine with Pilkins. Lotus and Pilkins walked on and on and on and on, until they came across a corner filled with treasure boxes. Pilkins asked, "Wait, where's Nova?"

Lotus shoved Pilkins off the edge.
-----
When Lotus came back to the elevator, Brad asked, "Hey, where are they?"

She explained, "We found a path that led to another elevator. They wanted to take that one instead."

"Okay, I'll send them a friend request on the Spiral Mailing system later. So, let's just go back up."

"They'll be fine. They enjoyed the breeze of the wind as I left."
-----
Djinn hid behind the gate for at least an hour when something caught her eye on the Clockworks movement tracker.

The Gloaming Wildwoods was moving to the Emerald King gate!

It was found out a few weeks ago that there were Snarbolax pups. Their fur was sure to make a lot of money. No one, especially not someone as crazy as her, could resist that. In fact, Djinn was going to go there right now. Not only to kill Lotus, but to make extra money along the way.

Djinn jumped off the edge of the Arcade.
-----
Lotus, as they ascended, looked on the elevator's screen. She shouted, "Gloaming Wildwoods! You go on, I'm going to stop there."

Brad replied, "Um, isn't hunting the Snarbolax pups illegal?"

"That's not what I'm going to do there. Just stay on the elevator until it goes to Haven."
-----
Djinn, after five minutes of falling, landed on the Gloaming Wildwoods. Using the MSB, she could slow her descent just as she was about to hit the ground. She quickly climbed a nearby tree, elevator shaft in sight.

MSB energized? Check. Black Kat Cowl tight? Check. Snarbolax Coat? Check. Barbarous Thorn Shield? Check.

How about the weapons? Both Obsidian Edge and Gran Faust were ready to kill. Djinn could hear their voices in her head. Djinn so badly wanted to slice Lotus in half.

But for now, she waited.

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 05:25

#20

Spirals-Ore

Babality?

And the hunter becames the hunted! How does snarb pups looks like? I want to cuddle one! GET OVER HERE!

Fri, 05/08/2015 - 14:10

#21

Xteri

ERMEREGURD ER CUTE FLURRFY MURDERERER!

My thoughts on snarby pups^

Sat, 05/09/2015 - 11:09

#22

Snakey-One

OMG

DON KILL DA SNARBY PUPI!

Mon, 05/11/2015 - 19:25

#23

Tehepicwin

Chapter 7: Clash

AN: In case it was unclear last chapter, in this fic the Clockwork platforms are non-linear. There are multiple elevator shafts on each platform, with each going to different areas. Also, the platforms are much larger, being several kilometres wide.
----------
Lotus stepped off the elevator, ignored Brad's "See you later!," and began walking. There were two paths she could go on, but Lotus decided to go on the one that was straight ahead.

After about ten minutes of walking, Lotus heard rustling in a bush behind her. She quickly turned around, preparing to stab a Snarbolax pup in the eye. However, nothing was there. Suddenly, Lotus heard more rustling farther up in the path. Lotus turned around again...

...and less than an arms-length away, looking straight into her eyes, was a woman. The woman was so close, Lotus could feel her breath radiating off the Black Kat Cowl. The red eyes staring back were wide open. Psychotic.

Just as quickly as she came, the woman disappeared, leaving rustling in more bushes. The woman laughed, "Nice to meet you, Lotus! I am Djinn: Your death, your torture! I could have killed you right there by biting your neck, but what fun would that be? I want to see you lie in pain. I WANT TO HEAR YOU SCREAM! WATCH OUT LOTUS, HERE I COME!"

Lotus gripped her Acheron, assuming a defensive position. Djinn continued, "Not, very talkative, are you? Well, soon enough, you will be BEGGING for mercy! DIE!" Djinn dashed out from a bush behind Lotus, but Lotus quickly parried Djinn's Obsidian Edge.

Djinn disappeared back into the bushes, leaving a trail of rustling. Djinn screamed, "Huh? WHY DIDN'T THAT HIT YOU?! IT ALWAYS DOES! No matter, I WILL KILL YOU!"

Djinn dashed from a bush on Lotus's left side, aiming for the leg. Lotus immediately jump-kicked Djinn's head, knocking her back into the bushes. Djinn whispered, "Impossible. No one is that fast."

Lotus, looking far into the forest, saw rustling. Djinn said, "See my TRACKS? See the TRACES I leave? Yes, I may run invisible, but I can STILL be seen. You are a VERY clever girl, aren't you? Well, even then, seeing can be decieving. DIE!"

Djinn jumped off a branch right on top of Lotus, attempting to knock Lotus onto the ground. However, Lotus quickly stepped back, dodging the kick. Djinn grumbled, "Why...you," then took out a Gran Faust, wildly swinging at Lotus's chest. Lotus parried the slash, but the force of the Gran Faust still knocked her over. Djinn reared for another slash. Lotus kicked Djinn's knees, sending the screaming mercenary into a tree.

Djinn dashed into the forest again, leaving more rustling. She roared, "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE! HOW ARE YOU STILL WALKING?! HOW ARE YOU STILL BREATHING?! I WANT YOUR BLOOD, LOTUS! I WANT YOUR SOUL!"

Djinn dashed into Lotus head-on, grabbing her with both arms. Djinn then threw Lotus onto the ground, and stomped on her chest. Despite this small victory, Djinn screamed, "Why aren't you HURT?! Why aren't you SCREAMING! AHHHHHHHH!"

She jumped onto Lotus, holding Lotus's elbow in an armlock. Lotus used her other arm to grip her Acheron and slash Djinn, knocking Djinn into the bushes once again. Djinn pondered out loud, "Keep focused, Djinn. Keep focused, Djinn. Keep focused. Now, this LITTLE GIRL seems to be able to predict every movement we do! Maybe her CRAZINESS is a bonus! We have more experience, though. Maybe we could fight her in a simple sword duel! YES!"

She ran out of the bushes, stopped a few metres away from Lotus, and braced her Barbarous Thorn Shield. Djinn laughed maniacally.

Lotus slashed at Djinn, but found her slash bouncing off the shield. Djinn countered with an Obsidian Edge, missing as Lotus dodged back. However, Djinn continued her assault by repeatedly striking at random spots. Eventually, Djinn managed to land a strike on Lotus's right arm, making Lotus drop her Acheron. Djinn said, "Still not screaming? Well, I could just suck your blood after. DIE!"

When Djinn was about to stab Lotus in the eye, Lotus unwillingly reached into her Geo-knight pack, taking out a purple-edged Striker. The Dark Blade directed itself towards Djinn's legs, piercing straight through her coat and breaking her legs, slicing a few arteries in the process. The Dark Blade reared and slashed at the now lying Djinn in the neck, slicing it. Djinn, clutching her neck, moaned, "How did you..."

Then she went limp.

The Dark Blade laughed.

Immediately diverting her attention from Djinn, Lotus saw a small puppy on the path ahead. It looked exactly like the normal Snarbolax, except miniature. Even Lotus found it cute. The Snarbolax pup ran up to Lotus's legs, yipping while humping her leg.

Lotus drew her Blitz Needle and shot it in the eye.
-----
A day later, Lotus was making a Snarbolax Coat.

A handmade one.

Since she didn't need to use an Alchemy Machine or heat, it was completely unnecessary to unbind the Snarbolax Coat. This increased her profit by an incredible margin, so Lotus would make enough crowns to buy at least 300 Shining Fire Crystals. Not bad at all.
-----
A week later, Barrus was sitting inside his office. Djinn hadn't showed up yet, and Barrus swore that he saw Lotus in the cafeteria earlier that day.

Meaning that the mercenary had failed.

Damn it! Barrus asked his secretary, "Do you know if there are any other people I can ask? For help?"

The secretary replied, "I don't know the name, but after inspection, we found something strange. The cargo hold's mass was off by around 140 kilograms. More than enough for two people."

"Find the other stowaway and bring him or her here. I want whoever it is as soon as possible."

The secretary didn't ask.
-----
Djinn woke up, still clutching her neck.

Where was she? Oh, yes, she was fighting that girl Lotus here, deep inside the Gloaming Wildwoods.

But how was she alive? Her wounds were healed! And why did that Dark Blade laugh just as she died?

Or maybe it was laughing at Lotus...

Anyway, Djinn felt a fire inside. That girl actually beat her! Djinn screamed as a vision of a glowing red eye flashed.

A voice said, "Djinn, kill, kill..."

She screamed not from the voice, but from the pain as it forced itself into her head. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH! IT HURTS, SO MUCH!"

"Stand up, wield your blade, kill Haven..."

"STOP! STOP! STOP!"

"Take off cowl and coat, maintain control longer..."

Djinn refused to do as the voice said, screaming for the rest of the day until the pain stopped.

Sat, 05/09/2015 - 13:00

#24

Gbot-Vtwo

I love this story! 10/10!

Sat, 05/09/2015 - 13:01

#25

Gbot-Vtwo

X.X

DOUBLE POST!!!! X.X

Sat, 05/09/2015 - 16:56

#26

Xteri

I am convinced Galax is double posting on purpose

does the dark blade look like the sword phantoms have?
that gives me a scary thought... swarm phantoms

Sat, 05/09/2015 - 19:01

#27

Gbot-Vtwo

The only thing that convinced you was that Sword!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it is a scary thought indeed!

Sun, 05/10/2015 - 10:58

#28

Tehepicwin

Chapter 8: Legacy

AN: Yes, the Dark Blade looks like the sword phantoms use, which looks like the same weapon void thwackers use if I'm not mistaken.
----------
Not long after, the secretary came back into Barrus's office. The secretary told Barrus, "She will be coming here shortly. It's another Morai Warriors mercenary."

Barrus replied, "Oh, great. Anyway, she should be able to make it in time for the dinner that those elite Geo-Knights are running, right?"

"Certainly, sir."

Just as the secretary was about to leave, Barrus shouted, "WAIT! How do you get in contact with all of these people? How did you figure out the mass of the cargo hold? How do you manage to do everything I ask of you?"

The secretary, pausing for a moment, said, "Get comfortable. It's a long story."
-----
Lotus was eating Snarbolax meat inside the cafeteria when, once again, Brad showed up. He asked, "So, you want to eat at my table at the Geo-knight dinner thingy tonight?"

"Who else?"

"Well, only me, but the minimum is three people."

"Okay. I will go." Lotus said as she finished her meal, standing from her chair to leave. Maybe she could pickpocket some people.
-----
The secretary began, "It started many years ago, when I was used to be a Morai Warriors mercenary. Not only that, but I was one of the inner circle members."

Barrus said, "So, you're an ex-mercenary who had access to pretty much all of the information in the group."

"Yes. Only three other members were part of the inner circle, and Djinn wasn't one of them, just in case you're wondering. One day, us inner circle members found a Gremlin civilization far from here, and they had a magnificent piece of technology. The Gremlins were trying to trap the essence of the Swarm into a Striker, rather than let the Swarm do it itself."

"Wait, isn't that exactly the same weapon a Void Thwacker uses?"

"Yes. We then did the logical thing by torturing the children to break the elders into telling us the location of the Dark Blade. However, it is useful to say that this Dark Blade began as a 0-star weapon. The inner circle immediately began leveling it."

"What could it do?"

"It became apparent early on that the Dark Blade could infect the wielder's mind with the Swarm, and that it chose a specific person who would be the only person who could heat it. Since the Dark Blade was an exotic weapon, it regained undesirable elements every star-level and would have to be fully heated before it could be alchemized again."

"So, one person has to heat the weapon and craft it to the next level, or go completely insane."

"Yes. I was the first person, who took it from 0-star to 1-star. In its 0-star form, the Dark Blade could only do normal damage. One of my colleagues, I forget his name, took it from 1-star to 2-star. In its 1-star form, the Dark Blade, itself, could choose to do split damage if it wanted to. Someone else took it from 2-star to 3-star. As a 2-star weapon, it could inflict completely specialized damage. Once it became 3-star, it could create a status effect."

"So it stopped there?"

"No. The Morai Warriors, the outer circle, unknowingly funded the inner circle's need for Glowing Fire Crystals. In fact, the very purpose of the Morai Warriors at the time was to make money to buy fire crystals, even though almost every single member didn't know. Eventually, it became a 4-star weapon, where we discovered the terrible power of the weapon. The Swarm trapped within the weapon became unleashed, giving the Dark Blade the ability to control itself and outright possess people."

"You disposed of it?"

"In a sense. Through the crafting process, we all became infected with the Swarm, giving us the ability to detect the location of the Dark Blade at all times, and even its thoughts. One day, the Dark Blade flung itself into space. I know where it is and who has it. I know who the Dark Blade has chosen to take the Dark Blade into its 5-star form."

"Who?"

"Vanguard Lotus."

"LOTUS! We, have to kill her, then?"

"If we don't, then the 5-star version will be made and all hope will be lost. As a 5-star weapon, the Dark Blade will be able to create Swarm Seeds, causing mass death on Cradle. Then, someone will heat the Dark Blade to maximum power, where the Dark Blade will be able to kill all life surrounding it. If we don't stop Lotus, then we will have no choice but to accept death."

"Wait, won't someone else have to heat the 5-star version?"

"Yes. I deeply apologize, sir, I had no way of knowing who it was until now. It seems that the Dark Blade has already planned out the future."

"Who is the last person?"

"..."

"WHO IS IT?! I HAVE TO KNOW!"

The secretary took a deep breath, then muttered, "Agent Djinn."

Sun, 05/10/2015 - 12:18

#29

Sho-Marufuji

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT-

So, I'm reading through Chapter 7 and then I see this:

"Immediately diverting her attention from Djinn, Lotus saw a small puppy on the path ahead. It looked exactly like the normal Snarbolax, except miniature. Even Lotus found it cute. The Snarbolax pup ran up to Lotus's legs, yipping while humping her leg.

Lotus drew her Blitz Needle and shot it in the eye.
-----
A day later, Lotus was making a Snarbolax Coat.

A handmade one."

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. IT'S A FRICKIN' CUTE LITTLE SNARBOLAX PUP AND SHE JUST SHOOTS IT, IN THE EYE, EVEN AFTER IT HUMPED YOUR LEG. THEN YOU GO AND MAKE A COAT OUT OF IT. THAT'S LIKE MAKING A COAT OUT OF A DEAD CHILD, WTF.

Sun, 05/10/2015 - 13:39

#30

Gbot-Vtwo

Its a pup. I know it is terrible but it could have been a lot worse. She could have tortured it or skinned it ALIVE! and besides, things like that happen in nature all the time. "THAT'S LIKE MAKING A COAT OUT OF A DEAD CHILD. WTF?" It is making a coat out of a dead child. A dead Snaby pup!

Sun, 05/10/2015 - 21:16

#31

Liminori

oh phucksies.

Welp.
GG.
We're all DOOOOOOOOMED.
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED.
*Gets stabbed in the back by Lotus, who then turns me inside out*

Mon, 05/11/2015 - 00:56

#32

Spirals-Ore

2 refrence in one post? Spiral Knight 2 Confirmed!

Lotus walks casually in the cloackwork, looking for her shining fire crystal.

"You! HOW DER U KILL ZHOSE PUPS!" A man in a black coat points the murderer.

"REVENGE! CHARGEEEEEE!" He blindly rushes for the girls neck.... And received a blitz charge in the knee.

.
.
.

"Well kids thats why i don't do cloackwork anymore! That and the gigant lag that has been killing me since 2013!" I told to all my kids, who doesn't even bats an eye.

Then i went for popsicles, and everybody lost their mind

Mon, 05/11/2015 - 19:29

#33

Tehepicwin

Chapter 9: Deception

What a terrible time to get sick.

Lotus found herself in the bathroom stall, endlessly vomiting into the toilet. The Dark Blade really wanted her to speed up the heating process, didn't it? Lotus had the blade for almost two months now, and it was only at heat 5.

The Dark Blade said, "Loturia, find your successor..."

Successor? But Lotus was the only one good enough to serve the Dark Blade, wasn't she?

"Go faster, the deadline has been shortened..."

Shortened?! No wonder why she was feeling so terrible!

"Go."

Lotus immediately felt fine, then left the women's bathroom to go to that Geo-knight-run dinner.
-----
Barrus had to get Lotus killed as quickly as possible. However, he would still need to do it secretly. If Barrus carried out a full-on attack, there was no telling what Lotus would do to defend herself.

Barrus said, "Oh. Hello, Agent Flux."

The tall, red-haired woman replied, "It is an honour to meet you, Barrus. Your reputation precedes you."

"You know what I want."

"Yes. And I will be paid a hundred thousand crowns to kill Vanguard Lotus. And I already have my plan in place."

Flux marched out of the room.
-----
A few minutes later, Brad, Lotus, and Flux were at a dinner table in the redecorated cafeteria. Brad said, "Lotus, meet Flux. Flux, meet Lotus."

Flux greeted, "It is an honour to meet you, Lotus. Your reputation precedes you."

Lotus muttered, "I'm sure it does."

At that moment, Lotus remembered why she was at this dinner in the first place. She was supposed to be pickpocketing people! Lotus quickly came up with a plan. First, she would sneak into the kitchen. Second, she would use her hidden Dark Blade to lightly poison some of the food. Third, when someone became sick, she would pretend to help while actually stealing.

What a genius she was.

Lotus said, "Flux. Follow me."

Flux immediately replied, "Yes. Of course, Miss Lotus."

Lotus walked towards the food preparation area, before finding out that the kitchen itself was at the end of a rather long hallway. The kitchen had a guard at the entrance, supposedly to stop people who were attempting what she was about to do.

Lotus went up to the guard. The guard growled, "Go away. This is the kitchen."

Lotus asked, "Where is the bathroom? All I wanted was to find it."

"It's on the left side of the hallway. Go back."

This conversation proved to be the perfect excuse to walk just a BIT closer to the guard. Lotus noticed that the janitor's closet was right beside her.
-----
Flux said, "Miss Lotus, you are very efficient. I can sincerely say that I am learning from you."

Lotus did not reply. At this point, Lotus saw a waitress walking down the hallway, so she quickly jumped into the women's washroom. Lotus heard a familiar voice say, "Agent Flux, you made a VERY bad choice coming here." Lotus then heard Flux vomit a flood, choking Flux to death almost immediately. It looked like Lotus didn't have to poison Flux to death herself. Flux's killer laughed, "Oh, that was fun to watch. Now, where are you, little Lotus?"

Lotus tensed up. How was Djinn still alive? What did she look like without her gear on? Lotus hid until she heard her footsteps walk away. Now, it was time for Lotus to do her original job. Lotus opened the washroom door, looked both ways, and then snuck into the kitchen. All of the chefs were too busy to notice Lotus. There was a group of dishes, placed side to side. Lotus silently drew her Dark Blade and lightly tapped each dish.
-----
Where was Lotus?

Flux was probably ordered by Barrus to kill Lotus, meaning that Lotus must have been close by. All of the Geo-knights wore Magic gear, so it would be next to impossible to fish Lotus out of them all.

Djinn ran over to the washroom in the Town Square. Weirdly, the toilet already had vomit in it. The sight disgusted Djinn so much that she vomited, even before the voice forced itself into her mind.

At this point, Djinn realized something. Which thoughts were actually hers? Which thoughts were the Swarm's? Did refusing to take off her gear earlier cost her the pleasure of a single mind?

Djinn fell down and screamed, vomiting all over the floor.
-----
Lotus quickly stole the couple's wallets. Each one had ten thousand crowns. It wasn't bad, but it could definitely have been better. Once she left the dinner party after pretending to be nice to Brad, Lotus sighed. The Dark Blade was almost certainly going to be angry at her tonight.

Lotus cut off her sigh, suddenly remembering Djinn.

Djinn could have been anywhere, but Lotus didn't know where she was. It was not a comforting thought.

Suddenly, Lotus felt a wave of thoughts force themselves into her minds. Lotus somehow knew about some "secretary." Lotus somehow knew the location of several people, each one sitting inside an armory. Lotus almost saw a woman having a seizure on the floor of the Town Square bathroom, but Lotus felt the Dark Blade cut off the thought.

The Dark Blade laughed.

Was this another effect of the Swarm? What was happening to her?

Tue, 05/12/2015 - 06:35

#34

Spirals-Ore

Puke! Puke! Puke mortals!! PUKE!

From what i see now at this point, lotus is going to die in the hand of Djinn.... Anyway can you tell me how to spell Djinn? I kinda roll with De-jin Up to this point. And thats a lot of puke in this chapter, i want to see more gore fest! MORE GORREEEE

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 20:39

#35

Tehepicwin

Chapter 10: Disciples

AN: Djinn's name is spelt as Djinn. If you meant pronunciation, then you say it like "Jinn." The "D" is silent.
----------
Djinn woke up inside her hideout, which was on a depth 6 compound.

The last thing Djinn remembered, she was walking around her hideout before she had the vision of the red eye. Next thing she knew, she was inside her hideout, with Barrus tied onto her wall.

How the hell did she get Barrus over here?

The voice said, "For refusing to follow my dress code order, you shall be eternally tortured..."

Djinn screamed, "HOW?!"

"You shall be my disciple, my tool..."

"NO! PLEASE, JUST LET ME GO! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

Barrus shouted, "Djinn? What's going on?!"

The voice finished, "You are a child of the Swarm, you wield its power..."

A black goo erupted from Djinn's fingernails and eyes, spraying all over the compound floor.
-----
Brad said, "So...you wanna go out some time?"

Lotus stared. Who did this boy think he was? The Dark Blade said, "Help him, manipulate him..."

That was an excellent point the Dark Blade had. Or was it? Did Lotus ACTUALLY agree?

Deep down, Lotus knew that it was wrong, just like every other crime she committed in the past few months. However, she was a child of the Swarm! She would follow its orders, no matter what happened!

Lotus quietly replied, "Yes. Town Square, 6 o'clock."

Lotus gripped the hidden Dark Blade.

The Dark Blade laughed.
-----
After ten minutes of torture, the process was complete.

Djinn was officially a child of the Swarm. Her outer appearance remained unchanged, but her mind was horribly bent to suit its master.

The voice said, "Djinn, claim him..."

She did not feel any pain from the voice. Djinn, out of will alone, grew black, slender claws on her hands. She laughed, filling the space with a terrible atmosphere.

Barrus quickly shouted, "No! Nonononononono! Djinn, why?"

Djinn walked up to Barrus, then slashed his chest with her claws. Almost immediately, his guts started spilling out of his body. Barrus, while screaming and being disemboweled, hopelessly struggled against the chains that bound him. Djinn leaned towards the guts, then sucked them out with her mouth. She shed her claws from her hands, leaving them to dissipate into the air.

Eventually, all of Barrus's insides were gone, dissolved in Djinn's internal Swarm.
-----
Lotus didn't laugh at Brad's joke.

After figuring out that his jokes weren't funny at all, Brad asked, "Hey, what are you holding?"

Lotus, immediately realizing that she was still gripping the Dark Blade, answered, "Nothing."

The Dark Blade laughed, then said, "Little Loturia, you can't fight the Swarm, you know what you want to do..."

What did Lotus want to do?

"You want to manipulate this idiot and upgrade the Dark Blade..."

Did she? Lotus wasn't sure anymore. After all this time, Lotus's mind was trying desperately to overthrow the Swarm.

"If you don't, then LET THE SWARM SHOW YOU THE TRUTH!"

Lotus, knowing what was bound to happen, quickly told Brad, "Meet me in the cafeteria in ten minutes."

Brad was confused, but he decided to do what she said anyway.
-----
Lotus's vision of the red eye faded, and she found herself in a bathroom stall. Sure enough, there was a woman on the ground with her eyes gouged out and her throat bitten. Lotus looked in the mirror, finding blood on her teeth and blood all over her hands.

She cleaned herself and ran straight to the cafeteria.
-----
Djinn droned, "Yes, master."

Black goo came out of Djinn's hands, taking the shape of an anvil. The voice said, "Use the anvil, use the Gran Faust..."

Djinn immediately did as the voice commanded, setting the Gran Faust on the anvil. She picked up a ton of Dark Shards and Shadow Steel lying around, then got to work with her hammer.
-----
Brad asked, "Um, what do you like to do?"

Lotus replied, "I like building things and burning things."

"I gotta admit, I loved torching things with a lighter when I was a kid, and I still do. I kinda suck at making things, though."

Lotus had no idea why she was still sitting here. The Dark Blade was constantly nagging her about manipulation and downright murder, so Lotus became really confused.

If Lotus didn't want to be here, she didn't have to. She could simply take Brad to a corner and slash him with the Dark Blade, but yet she did not.

The other way around, the Dark Blade also hinted that Brad was trying to manipulate HER. Was that really true?

Lotus could feel the Dark Blade becoming agitated, causing her to scream. Brad asked, "LOTUS! Are you okay?"

Lotus whispered, embarrassed from the attention. "Yes. See you later." Then she ran away.

Lotus needed something. Just a small chance of clearing her head for once.

She saw a tall, strong, male knight walking around in Divine gear. Lotus told the knight, "There's something that might interest you. Follow me."

The knight said that he was interested, then followed Lotus to the Auction House's back door. Lotus, while the knight was looking elsewhere, quickly struck the lock with the Dark Blade. After making sure no one was around, Lotus slammed open the door and dragged the knight inside.

Lotus took out her Acheron. She didn't want to touch the Dark Blade at all. Lotus swiftly struck the knight's vocal chords, severing all chances he had of calling for help. Lotus wildly stabbed the knight's head, causing it to explode and send brain parts everywhere.

She stripped the knight of his Divine gear, then prepared to put it on.

Lotus had to know.
-----
Brad wondered why he put up with Lotus at all.

He had to be honest, Lotus was a total female-dog almost all of the time. However, Lotus WAS the only girl who sat with him for more than five minutes.

Brad decided to give Lotus another chance.
-----
After twelve straight hours of striking, Djinn's creation was complete. It was the mother of all Gran Fausts. It dwarfed every other sword. It was so heavy, even Djinn had to drop her shield and wield it with two hands.

The giant Gran Faust was a beauty. It was magnificent! It felt like Lotus's death!

Djinn smiled, then started up her MSB.

Thu, 05/14/2015 - 20:52

#36

Xteri

MSB?

Nice chapter...

Fri, 05/15/2015 - 04:29

#37

Spirals-Ore

whats an MSB ?

Another goodie, and more gore! Nice!

Fri, 05/15/2015 - 12:14

#38

Gbot-Vtwo

THE CURSE VAIL HAS STRUCK AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[comment]

Fri, 05/15/2015 - 12:13

#39

Gbot-Vtwo

....

Morai Strike Booster(MSB).

Fri, 05/15/2015 - 12:45

#40

Xteri

Awhhh.... Its not Monosyllabic Sentient Broccoli?

Fri, 05/15/2015 - 12:52

#41

Gbot-Vtwo

No, its also that.

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Mon, 05/18/2015 - 20:02

#42

Tehepicwin

Chapter 11: Condemnation

AN: Yes, the MSB is the Morai Strike Booster. It combines the Recon Cloak and the Strike Booster.

The MSB is the pinnacle of Morai ingenuity.
----------
Lotus realized how foolish it was to put on the Divine gear at that moment. If it made her go berserk, then she would kill everyone in the auction house, be seen, and let the Dark Blade go unheated. Lotus hated the idea of heating the weapon, but she HAD to complete her objective or risk losing herself completely. She lightly pushed the Dark Blade onto the dead knight, which incinerated the corpse.

As Lotus ran to her lab, she had a vision of the "secretary" once again. After a moment's thought, Lotus learned that this secretary was in a depth 6 compound, and he was speaking to someone. However, the Dark Blade blocked out the identity of the other person.
-----
The secretary said, "Congratulations on killing Barrus and Flux, Djinn."

Djinn replied, "It was nothing. They had it coming. Anyway, what the hell are you doing inside my hideout?"

"How has the Swarm affected you?"

"It...Wait, how did you know-"

"Believe me, I'm a secretary in more than one way."

Djinn was silent. How could this man have such knowledge on HER master?

The secretary said, "Djinn, I know that you want the Dark Blade, but I have to make sure of something."

Djinn spat out, "Yeah, so what if I have sudden urges to steal that blade? There's nothing you have to make sure of."

"Let her craft a five-star version, then you can steal it."

Djinn never thought of that! Was that really what Lotus wanted to do? Well, the secretary WAS a disciple of the Swarm, so Djinn guessed that she could trust him. If Djinn could simply steal a stronger version and skip half of the heating process, then her Swarm powers would be more powerful earlier on. She replied, "Fine, I'll attack her for fun, maybe, but I will make sure that she lives long enough to craft the five-star Dark Blade."

The secretary smiled. He whispered, "I know you will." The secretary ran over to the elevator using his own MSB. He couldn't help but howl in laughter on the ride up.

Everything was going to plan.
-----
Lotus locked herself into her lab.

She took a deep breath.

She hoped that she would be fine.

A tear fell down Lotus's cheek, from both the unknown future and the Swarm within her.

She had to know.

Lotus stripped, then grabbed the Divine gear from her Geo-knight pack. Lotus, in an instant, had both Veil and Mantle on her body. All Lotus could feel was an intense burning. The burning was so hot, she desperately clawed at the Divine clothing she wore.

Despite the pain, Lotus's mind was clearer than it had ever been. Lotus committed terrible, inexcusable crimes in the past few months. An incredible guilt tore at her, hitting even harder than the burning. What would the other knights think of her if they learned? Lotus wasn't a bad person! She wasn't actually a murderer! It was the Dark Blade, the SWARM that was controlling her! It wasn't her fault!

But yet, all of the victims died by her hand.

This knowledge was like its own Dark Blade, jamming itself through Lotus's eyes and tearing at her brain, somehow keeping her alive just to make Lotus feel pain. Then Lotus realized.

The Swarm blasted itself into Lotus's mind sometime after she put on the Divine gear, forcing her to pick up the Dark Blade.

The Dark Blade laughed.

In a moment of desperation, the result of both the burning and guilt, Lotus slashed the Dark Blade into her face, dragging it down all the way to her throat.
-----
Djinn used the power of the Swarm to see the secretary. Why was he laughing? Djinn realized the Swarm didn't permit her to learn anymore for the time being, so she tried to think of another Swarm child.

There were many of the other Morai Warriors, but Djinn also sensed Lotus.

Why didn't the Swarm allow her to see Lotus?
-----
Lotus woke up, head mended and Dark Blade dislodged.

What happened? Lotus remembered that she put on the Divine gear and felt a lot of pain afterwards, but her thoughts during the torture disappeared.

What did she think about? Brad? No. Barrus? No. Djinn? No. The Dark Blade? Maybe.

Lotus really didn't remember. She knew that she put on the Divine gear and went through the pain to try and clear her head. Unfortunately, her thoughts during her moment of complete sanity were gone.

The Dark Blade laughed. It then became extremely frustrated and shouted, "Loturia! Loturia! How DARE you try to get rid of the Swarm! You WILL be deeply punished! You WILL NEVER have your own mind EVER again! You WILL lose yourself! You WILL NOT be praised! You WILL NOT be happy with the end result! You WILL NEVER turn against the Swarm EVER again!

Lotus screamed.

Tue, 05/19/2015 - 04:23

#43

Spirals-Ore

Muahahahahahaha

Divine gear not work? Use moar on the sanctuary! We guarentee the swarm cannot resist to get the **** out of your body!

Tue, 05/19/2015 - 04:39

#44

Liminori

Heheheheeeeeehehahah.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH
*Hides bloodstained knife*
oh sorry, I've been playing too much Yandere Simulator.

What to do...?
I can think of two ways to remove the swarm, Reach the core and something something, or die.
Heck, reaching the core might make things worse.
I kind of want to see the chaos and destruction that would cause. . .

Sat, 05/30/2015 - 11:06

#45

Tehepicwin

Chapter 12: Lockdown

AN: And after almost two weeks of inactivity, DB is back! I hope you guys are still interested in gore-fest.
----------
Lotus had no freedom, no soul. All she could do follow the will of...something. However, none of it mattered to Lotus. After all, she needed to devote all of her energy to heating the Dark Blade. Lotus sold her Magic and Chaos gear, now that the Divine gear was literally stuck on her. The funds got her enough fire crystals to heat the Dark Blade to level 8.

The Dark Blade said, "Lotus..."

Lotus replied, "Yes, master?"

"The coliseum..."

"What about it, master?"

"Enamorocks, Mod Calibrators..."

The Dark Blade had an excellent point. A few good matches, especially with someone as skilled as Lotus, could easily get enough of those Krogmo Coins to buy high-value items. Lotus went to sign up for a match with the most toxic community in Haven when, surprise, Brad came around the corner.

It was weird, how Brad found Lotus. It was weird because it wasn't as much finding as it was stalking at this point. Brad, driven not only by some obscure version of love but by a strange curiosity, couldn't help himself as he followed Lotus every few days. Brad asked Lotus, "So, you into Lockdown now?"

Lotus replied, "Krogmo Coins."

"Oh, that makes sense. I never really liked that game, mostly because there is only a tier-3 division now."

"Take this. It's rigged to never bind to anyone and is unrestricted by knight rank."

Lotus handed Brad her Acheron. The reason why? Lotus didn't know herself. Brad said, "Wow. I'll give it back to you after...hey. I should play a match as well, should I?"

Lotus muttered, "Just make sure you give me back my sword."
-----
Lotus registered herself as only having one weapon: A Blitz Needle. The Dark Blade could easily adjust its own energy levels to hide from the detectors, meaning that Lotus could smuggle in the Dark Blade and use it. Lotus was a genius.

In the locker room, before the match started, the announcer read the rules. He said, "Welcome to another great match of Lockdown. I will walk you through all of the rules in order to make sure the game is fun for EVERYONE. Now, you will capture parts of the arena by standing on them. You can effectively 'kill' your opponents for a few seconds, after which they will be teleported back into their locker room. All weapons have been set to Knockout energy before you entered the arena. Your team gains points from the number of captured areas you have, and the team with the most points at the end wins. Have fun! The match will begin in three..."

Lotus grabbed a Strike Booster and the Dark Blade.

"Two..."

Lotus ran over to the gates.

"One..."

Lotus didn't bother to look at her teammates, instead smiling to herself as she gripped the Dark Blade.

"Go!"

Lotus immediately ran over to the other side of the arena, spying on the other team. Sure enough, an idiot in Skolver was going for the centre capture point by himself. While Lotus was a badass, even an idiot with penta-hearts had a good chance of overpowering her. Lotus stalked the Skolver and saw him take out a Voltedge and a Final Flourish. Typical clone. The Skolver was obviously a blood-thirsty knight who was terrible at fighting.

After all, if you aren't Lotus, you're crap in her eyes.

The Skolver began to fight Lotus's teammates on top of the centre capture point by himself. Against all odds, the Skolver took three hits and kept fighting, taking down half of Lotus's team, including Brad. Now that the Skolver was close to dying, Lotus knew that she had an easy kill on her hands. Lotus drew the Dark Blade, dashed behind the Skolver, and delivered a swift slash to the back of the neck.

At this point, Lotus remembered something. The Dark Blade probably wasn't restricted by Spiral Order rules, since she smuggled it in. This meant that the knight was bleeding out on the floor, paralyzed, rather than being stunned.

First things first, Lotus looted the corpse. Three hundred Krogmo Coins. Next, she dragged the heavily bleeding knight to the edge of the arena, hoping no one else would find her. Then, she stripped the knight of his gear and dropped him into the abyss of the Clockworks. This whole time, Lotus made sure none of the knight's blood got on her Divine Mantle.
-----
After the match, Lotus reflected on the match while sitting inside her lab. Despite the screw up, Lotus had a lot of fun. There was a large search for the dead knight, but it was futile.

Lotus's favourite part of the match was the number of Enamorocks and Mod Calibrators she could buy, as well as the knight's stuff. Lotus quickly made some calculations...

And she discovered that she could get enough fire crystals to fully heat the Dark Blade. Lotus quickly recalculated. Unbind the Skolver gear, Final Flourish, and Voltedge with a chemical compound. Sell it and make money. Sell Krogmo items. She could buy enough fire crystals.

Lotus recalculated again. And again. And again. All she needed to do was use her self-assembling forge kit to level the Dark Blade to heat 10. Then, Lotus heard some footsteps on the other side of the door...

A giant Gran Faust smashed straight through the door, revealing a short woman with a Black Kat Cowl and a Snarbolax Coat. Djinn laughed, "I just can't wait! I can easily craft the five-star version myself. What was I thinking? LOTUS! IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!"

Djinn reared the Gran Faust, preparing to slash Lotus.
----------
AN: And yes, that was mostly a joke chapter. While I do enjoy Lockdown, I must say that it is incredibly flawed. Also, I plan to end the fic at around chapter 17 at this point. I may do a spin-off, but Lotus's quest should end within the next month or two.

Sun, 05/31/2015 - 06:21

#46

Spirals-Ore

Dark blade? Why not Swarm taking over your mind blade?

And the fighting intensifies! Dun! Dun!

Tue, 06/02/2015 - 22:10

#47

Xteri

Nice chapter...
I think it would be cool if a Seraphinx was corrupted by the blade and turned into a Black kat.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 15:16

#48

Tehepicwin

Chapter 13: Reunion

AN: This is the second to last chapter. The last one may take some time to be posted, but hang in there! Plenty of the violence and death you people crave will be here for you to enjoy! There will be epic plot twists worthy of Shyamalan, and an ending also worthy of the same guy.

Well, enough of the self-hype. Let's get started.
----------
Lotus ducked down to dodge Djinn's slash as the latter's giant Gran Faust tore through the desk. Lotus immediately grabbed out her Acheron and went for Djinn's leg. However, Djinn has become much faster since their last fight, being able to wield an oversized Gran Faust with the speed of a knife. Lotus only had the ability to parry Djinn's second slash, with the force sending Lotus flying out of her lab. Lotus, realizing that there was no chance of her defeating Djinn, ran as quickly as she could towards the Arcade.

Djinn activated her MSB, turning invisible and running at super-speed towards Lotus, who was now at the central fountain. Lotus remembered how Djinn's MSB affects nearby objects as it's used, so Lotus peeked over her shoulder. Sure enough, Lotus saw a wave of rustling leaves approaching her. Djinn reappeared momentarily beside Lotus in order to aim her slash. Lotus was prepared for the attack, giving Lotus the ability to handspring at the perfect time.
-----
Brad was bidding on a Shockburst Brandish. He exclaimed, "Twenty-five thousand crowns?! Why did these items become so much more expensive since last year?! Ugh, that prick can have it."

Brad heard screaming. The next thing he knew, Lotus flew towards him as a black warrior tried to slash her.
-----
Lotus had to remember that parrying didn't work! Why did she always forget that at the worst of times? The Swarm was her master, and she was its servant. Shouldn't the Swarm be helping her?

Now, thanks to another parrying attempt, Lotus found herself sandwiching Brad against a wall. Djinn walked towards them, but Lotus regained focus quickly enough to dart away. Djinn tried to activate her MSB, but found that it had no power. F***! She spent all of her crystal energy buying fire crystals in preparation for some "swarm quest" the Swarm told her about.

A particularly brave and stupid knight in Dusker tried to stop Djinn from destroying more Haven property by wrestling her to the ground. Unfortunately, the knight didn't know that Djinn trained in fighting for her whole life. Djinn, while on the ground, drew a hidden knife from her Snarbolax coat and slit the knight's throat.

Five other knights in Cobalt, seeing how Djinn killed one of their own, charged at her. Djinn grabbed her Gran Faust and stabbed one knight in the chest, forcing the blade through the knight's back. Djinn aimed a slash at a second knight's legs, cutting off both to let the knight bleed to death. She grabbed a third knight and used his body to bludgeon the fourth in the head and the fifth in the groin. The blunt force killed the third and fourth, but the fifth survived with severe pain in his lower body. Djinn grabbed the fifth knight's genitals with her hand and tore them off.

Djinn listened and heard what sounded like a stampede. The Haven Guards must have been coming! She ran over to the Arcade to escape, and then took an elevator down. As she descended, she used the screen on the elevator to determine Lotus's location.
-----
A short, plump knight with a Mining Helmet cheered, "Oh, another colonist!"

Lotus muttered in a monotone voice, "I am glad to be here."

A few months back, Haven became crowded. Thus, many knights descended into the shallower depths of the Clockworks to build colonies down below. This particular colony was in an ex-Wolver Den, code-named "Sisyphus."

Fortunately, Lotus brought her backpack with her. Inside was her quantum storage unit, allowing her to carry all of the fire crystals she would need. After some looking, Lotus saw a forging area she could use.

It was time.
-----
The Secretary stomped on the ground. Djinn wasn't in her hideout, and he found out about a massive disturbance on Haven. That b**ch must have been going to kill Lotus! There also used to be a coffin in the corner of Djinn's hideout that she didn't acknowledge to exist. Where was it now?

The Secretary could heat the 5-star Dark Blade by himself. He didn't need Djinn, only Lotus to finish her part. He needed to start the extermination of Cradle NOW. For the Swarm. He took out his weapon, which was two Winmillions welded end-to-end. The Secretary put on his Vog Cub gear, fastening it tight. He opened up to the Swarm...

Lotus was in Sisyphus. Djinn would be there soon.

The Secretary started up his MSB.
-----
Barrus shouted, "I declare Vanguard Lotus guilty of several accounts of murder! We will send a squad to arrest her. We need volunteers."

Brad and three others put up their hand.
-----
Lotus, inside a dark room with a forge, was almost done. The heating process was over. Now, all she had to do was go to the Alchemy Machine in the corner of the room and her quest would be complete. Lotus grabbed the Dark Blade and crept towards the machine. She took a deep breath, inserted the Dark Blade, and then coded in the 5-star recipe.

A moment later, and Lotus completed her quest. The 5-star Dark Blade was here.

Almost immediately after, Djinn smashed down the door to the room, dragging a coffin. Both herself and the coffin were caked in blood. Djinn kicked Lotus in the head, knocking her out. It was Djinn's turn to use the Dark Blade. The Secretary would be here in a few minutes. The Secretary was an incredibly skilled warrior, and he could curb stomp Djinn no problem.

Djinn had the Dark Blade, but she doubted it would be enough. Inside the coffin, Djinn had her true trump card...

She shouted, "Secretary, oh Secretary! You can't win! There are forces at work here that I understood before I even came! These forces you don't even know about! Secretary, you CAN'T WIN! MWAHAHA!"

Djinn leaned onto the coffin, laughing psychotically for the next five minutes.
----------
AN: So, prepare for an ending to this gorefest. I will not disappoint you guys. :3

Sun, 07/19/2015 - 14:11

#49

Liminori

Bwahahahah.

I couldn't help but grinning as I read about the fifth knight, also simultaneously thinking "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!?".
What an interesting mixed feeling.
(Severe*, not sever.)
Note that Lotus is still not dead.
...Mwuahahahah.
Since Djinn's too loaded with power to care about Lotus, Lotus is your sort of...
Checkmate, I suppose.
Well done.

Mon, 07/20/2015 - 20:36

#50

Tehepicwin

Chapter 14: Follow-through

AN: Here it is, the last chapter of this insanity!
----------
As Djinn gripped the Dark Blade, the visions of the red eye went away.

She blinked twice.

Then some more.

Djinn smiled. It was all going to plan.

Sure enough, the secretary appeared a hundred metres away from Djinn. The secretary said, "Djinn, it appears that this is the end. I don't wish to fight you, I only want the blade. You see Djinn, you were never supposed to be the last one holding the Dark Blade. I was. I AM THE CHOSEN SWARM CHILD! You will not keep the Dark Blade from me, Djinn!"

Djinn laughed, "You are so STUPID! Every single event on Cradle, EVERY SINGLE DAMN BIT OF IT was under my control!"

The secretary snarled, "No, Lotus was the one going around murdering! Not you, her!"

"Wrong! All wrong! You see, you aren't actually a Swarm child. The relationship between parent and child is one of mutual respect. In your case and Lotus's, the relationship was quite one-sided."

"How about yours? You virtually worshipped the Swarm while it didn't give a damn about you!"

"HAHAHA! You still don't get it! The thing is, the Swarm didn't manipulate me; it manipulated you. You thought that by being the first wielder, the Dark Blade was yours. But it wasn't."

"Yes, it was. It was destined to be mine all along. It didn't trick me. How do I know it didn't trick you?"

Djinn sat down on the coffin and answered, "Because I helped make the Dark Blade. I spoke to the Swarm inside it from the moment it was born and befriended it."

"WHAT!"

Djinn's tone became darker, pent up with cruelty. She said, "Those humans on Isora...we're Morai, not human, secretary! How could you tell the humans about the locations of our missiles, costing us our freedom as a race! Once I'm done killing you, I'm going to take the Dark Blade to Isora and Swarm seed the whole f**king planet to kill those humans! They sexually assaulted me! They DEFILED ME! And you helped them! I'll kill them all!"

The secretary paused before replying, "But, you can't go to Isora if you don't kill me."

Djinn lightened up again, laughing, "Well, that's where my trump card comes in. Did you ever wonder about who is inside this coffin?"

"Sometimes."

"Well, that's why I kept it a secret. Did I ever tell you that the Dark Blade has a secret soul function that only I can use, that I programmed to be available from the moment it turned into a 5-star weapon? I need an ally to defeat you. Another Morai."

A revelation hit the secretary. He muttered, "No...way..."

"That's right."

"I understand everything, it really was you all along..."

"HAHAHA!"

"You used Lotus to direct suspicion away from me..."

Djinn opened the coffin and used the Dark Blade to tap the corpse inside. Djinn, in a kind voice for the first in a very long time, greeted, "Welcome back to life, Flux."

The red-haired woman replied, "It is very nice to meet you again, Miss Ginny. So, everything went to plan, I assume?"

Djinn answered, "Yup!" She then spoke to the secretary. "Flux was also a crucial part of my plan, because I knew I would have to kill you. But if you found that she was alive and helping me, you might have incinerated her, thereby stopping me from bringing her soul back into her body. So, Flux and I planned her death to divert your attention back to Lotus and Barrus. Didn't you notice, as you spied through Lotus, that Flux barely struggled as she was poisoned to death?"

The secretary said, "But, what about you? The Swarm is still controlling you, right?"

Djinn sighed, "Well, that wasn't part of the plan, for me to become infected with the Swarm. That was a mistake on my part. I genuinely did not expect Lotus to be the wielder of the Dark Blade."

The secretary remembered.

Djinn, clutching her neck, moaned, "How did you..."

That was genuine surprise.

Djinn continued, "However, the soul function also automatically applies to me, to rid me of the Swarm if I happened to be infected by accident. Do you remember what happens when the Dark Blade is at full power?"

The secretary remembered.

Djinn said, "Well, the Swarm can't auto-kill things, right?"

Another revelation hit the secretary. At that moment, he knew for sure that he was going to die, 100%. The Dark Blade by itself doesn't kill all life surrounding it. By giving Djinn back her own mind, the blade kills everything just because its wielder, Djinn, is that deadly.

The Swarm, Djinn, and Flux really planned everything. They brought the Dark Blade to power only because they wanted a weapon to destroy Isora. And they wanted to destroy Isora because of him.

Djinn gasped, "Oh wait, one last thing." She went back into the forging room and came back out a moment later. She whimpered, "I never wanted that poor girl to murder everyone. That was all. My. Fault." She sighed. "Well, I set it right a little bit by giving her back her mind and repairing it from the damage caused by Chaos gear."

Flux said, "This boasting is very good, Miss Ginny, but I think we should kill secretary-san right now."

The secretary snapped, "I won't go down easily!"

The secretary took out his double Winmillion and charged at Djinn. Flux smirked, then threw five Ash of Agni that were stored in her coffin into the air. Flux laughed maniacally as her metal gloves glowed. Her gloves, being magnets, allowed Flux to fling the bombs and create an inferno in the secretary's area. The secretary braved through the heat, even as he caught on fire, and double slashed Djinn. However, Djinn easily parried the slashes with the Dark Blade. Flux finished off the secretary by shoving a Cold Snap into his Vog Cub Cap through its bottom opening. The sudden freeze instantly shut down the secretary's brain, killing him.

Djinn said, "Well, now that that's done, I'll go find the Morai Flyer."

Flux replied, "That would be a good idea, Miss Ginny, but what about Miss Lotus? We can't leave her to be sentenced to death by Barrus-san. Besides, Miss Lotus could prove to be very useful later on. I highly doubt that even the Swarm has the ability to make infinite Swarm seeds."

Djinn muttered, "Hm, that is true. We should bring her back to Isora. Disable her by any means possible, then bring her back here."

"Understood, Miss Ginny."
-----
Lotus woke up. Was..she back to normal?

Her vision seemed clear. Nothing was distorted. Things felt...different.

She remembered how Djinn came and took the Swarm out of her. However, that b**ch still made her kill so, SO MANY PEOPLE! She and Flux, they both had to pay. Lotus took out her Acheron, then walked out of the room.

Flux, who was out of sight, shouted, "Miss Lotus, I am afraid the one you call 'Djinn' is away for now. I know that you won't let me save you from the Spiral Order, that revenge is too powerful on your mind, but you can't stop me. I am different from Miss Ginny. I don't go head-on into problems and expect to win on my skill. I don't even wear armour. Instead, I will play a game of cat and mouse."

Lotus quietly paced. Flux continued, "You don't know my location, and if you move a bit more I won't know yours. Whoever finds the other one first, wins. Good luck, Miss Lotus."

The area around Lotus was like a maze. This whole colony was a damn maze. The only clearing was the one right outside the room, and behind the room were the rest of the buildings. Flux was guaranteed to be somewhere there, and the fighting probably drove every person out of the colony. If Lotus refused to look for Flux, then Flux was going to defeat Lotus.

Crap, why was she still standing right outside the room?! Lotus ran into the maze of buildings right as a ton of Shivermist froze everything at the doorway of the room. The moment Lotus escaped that trap, she found herself running down a corridor. This was bad, really bad. Lotus sprinted as fast as she could and barely managed to make it out of the corridor as Shivermist froze it. Lotus now found herself on a narrow street.

How did Flux know that Lotus was there? Flux could have cameras, but it would be pathetic if Lotus just went to the surveillance room and shot Flux. In fact, the surveillance room was right there. There was probably no harm in checking, though.

Big mistake. The moment Lotus opened the door, a Nitronome inside the room blasted Lotus, stunning her. Flux then came out of a balcony with a Cryotech Alchemer and aimed at Lotus. Lotus recovered quickly enough to dart into a random building. She thought for a moment. Flux was probably running away, since Lotus could beat her in a direct confrontation. Lotus examined the room, saw a staircase, and walked up. Eventually, she found herself on the roof with Flux in the distance. There was no way Lotus's Blitz Needle could hit Flux from this range. Lotus ran across the rooftops, but then Flux dropped down while also throwing another Shivermist bomb into the air. Using the power of magnetism, Flux launched the Shivermist bomb in Lotus's direction. Lotus jumped off the rooftops and landed on the ground, hard.

Getting over the pain, Lotus ran in the general direction of Flux. As Lotus turned a corner, Flux punched her in the face.
-----
Brad and three other knights got there quickly enough to see a cargo spaceship hovering in the air. Djinn, Flux, and a chained Lotus were inside. Brad said, "Why did you..."

Djinn answered, "Because we had to make sacrifices to plan Isora's downfall."

Flux said, "Miss Ginny, I think he's talking to Miss Lotus. I've done some research on you, Bradley-kun, and I know how you feel."

Lotus looked at Brad, but could only say, "I'm so sorry."

Djinn explained, "It wasn't her fault. I was the one causing her to murder people. I basically got her to be possessed by the Swarm."

Lotus gathered up the strength to tell Brad, "Honestly, you're not that bad of a guy." She gave a small smile.

Brad, with a conflicted and slightly pained look on his face, waved. In a hollow voice, he told the other knights, "They're going to escape. Let's just go back to Haven."

As the plane closed its doors, it gathered thrust and angled itself upwards. Then, it took off towards the stars and towards Isora, where lives of even more pain and minds of unfortunate clarity would come to bite the two Morai and the human. Thus did the chapter on Cradle end, and a new one ahead was to begin.

Lotus told Djinn, "You know, I'm not struggling because I realized something."

Djinn replied, "What is it?"

"You have something that I deeply want, and it isn't the Dark Blade."

Flux's rainbow eyes widened. Flux whispered to Djinn, "This is the hole in the plan I warned you about."

As the Morai Flyer entered cruise mode, Lotus and Djinn glared at each other. Djinn murmured, "You slut..."
----------
AN: And that's the end of the Dark Blade! In one chapter, I turned an insignificant character into a crucial one, and Djinn suddenly became the main character. Wow.

If you guys want me to continue the story with a Part 2, I will. This had a beginning, middle, and end, so I'm satisfied with it. With the ending, I could easily continue. What do you guys think?

Search

The Dark Blade/Hunter's Edge