(Downpour; Mall parking lot: South-east terminal: Reddsteyn; 12:30 pm)

  The city is in chaos as local w enforcement has struggled to fend the random forces that are wreaking havoc. Cloud got away from the main chaos and somehow escaped the wrathful student all the way to one of the malls of Reddsteyn–Smaller than the rest, but big enough. Although his clothes were burnt off and a few bruises, he’s fine.

  Sitting on top of a mp post, Cloud swayed his legs back and forth as he thought of his next course of action, until something in his pocket started vibrating.

  ..buzzz...buzzz

  He checked his phone and it was Lith. He answered and greeted him but Lith interrupted him

  “Yo-”“Are you still alive?!”“Yeah I am”“Are you still there?!”“Unfortunately yes”“I intercepted a radio and the south highway suddenly got cleared–We’ll meet there!”“But Lith, there are civilians in danger!-”“Then protect as much as you can on the way! We cannot afford to lose you!”“..No homo?”“No homo!”

  Beep!

  Cloud chuckled but soon wore a more serious face as soon he put his phone in his pocket as he felt a certain being emitted nearby. He looked down the pole and saw Korekuta, scrolling on social media.

  “‘Civil War?! Reddsteyn under attack!’, ‘Terrorists attack Nation’s Major Wine Benefactor’, ‘The Government destroying the country?!’. Bullshit I say!”

  “..You know what’s happening, dont you? What do you want?!”, said Cloud.

  “You know, money, fame, a hot wife, the usual,” said Korekuta sarcastically.

  Clouds jumps off the pole and dives down to Korekuta that he dodged by stepping out of the way. Cloud does a roll on the nding, also dodging Korekuta’s kick.

  Cloud stood up as Korekuta put his phone back in his fanny pack and grabbed a saber from his backpack and sshed towards Cloud that he ducked under–Slicing the mp post in half.

  Cloud grabbed the sliced-off pole mid-air to smack Korekuta. Korakuta managed to parry but quipped how the pole was still intact despite literally cutting the same pole in half not even half a second ago.

  Cloud used the fresh exposed circuit of the mp post as energy and tased Korekuta on the neck. He resisted but Cloud continued to apply power, until Korekuta managed to kick Cloud far enough to cut the connection.

  Korekuta waited for a moment for the effect to wear off but ate a knuckle sandwich which made him fall on his ass in the process.

  Cloud pulled out his gun but was side-swiped by Korekuta. While In mid-air, Cloud counteracted this by cartwheeling the same rotational direction. But amidst a handstand, he saw Korekuta about to strike. Cloud pushes himself off the ground into a couple back handsprings.

  At the st flip with his body perpendicur to the floor and legs raised and bent, he aimed his gun and fired at Korekuta that he managed to block it with his saber.

  Cloud nded on a crouch, “I can do that too!”, then breaking it down and doing the fre (Breakdance move). Korekuta rushes him, prompting Cloud to only spin a few revolutions.

  Korekuta suddenly felt a strong short-premonition as he sprinted; His eyes widened but self-assured. He threw his saber before Cloud fired off a powerful electric bst from his feet! Korekuta timed it so the point of the saber is closer towards the broken mp post.

  It works!

  Opting to retreat, Cloud got up and ran towards the nearest car. Korekuta saw him and decided to pursue. Cloud dove through the gss and hot wires the car and floored it. Korekuta threw his shoes at ‘em, “You can’t keep your strength to yourself forever!”.

  Cloud was relieved he managed to escape, but still on alert, “Damn, just who are those two?! I need to tell this to Lith. Shit’s crazy!”

  #

  (Like, a few minutes ter–12:56 pm; City outskirts–South highway)

  The car broke down, so Cloud navigated the city on foot–Helping civilians along the way. Cloud got nearer the location that Lith told him to meet up, but the amount of soldiers he saw on the way makes that location less favourable. He scaled up to the rooftops of a nearby building to scout ahead–Making sure no one detected him. He looked around then peaked over the ledge and saw a blockade, “Didn’t he said it got destroyed? but those uniforms, those are..What?”

  “Freeze!” Cloud got caught cking.

  He somersaulted but instantly got shot in leg with more on the way! “Is this how it ends?! Fuck no!”, he used the rifling of the bullet as his own–Rotating with the bullet with it being the axis–dodging the proceeding bullets! But failed the nding; Falling face first.

  The soldiers held their fire as one came up with something. Slowly, as they’re walking towards him, Cloud is preparing himself to execute his newly created pn.

  As they rolled him around, Cloud was ready with his finger crossed–The middle finger over the index while making space for a fast-spinning bullet in between–pointing and firing the projectile before they could even react! The bullet killed the nearest one and bruised another, Cloud got the near gun and gunned all of them down! This alerted the soldiers down below however.

  Acting quick, he jumps off to the back alley of the 6th story building then clinging into the trees below, “That was oddly simple enough”. He tried to climb down but a bit fatigue and gripping on wet branches, he slips and falls down–spshing onto the mud.

  The chaos of the city and the heavy downpour masked his mistake. But he cannot stay idle, he needs to move. Trying to stand up but only to stumble after a few steps, he stood up again and limped towards the forest; Pnning to contact and meet Lith a kilometer along the highway…

  #

  gush!

  A loud gush, he heard behind him. He turned around and saw a still pilr of blood that had suddenly appeared!

  “I haven’t even left the fucking alley!”

  A bloodied hand suddenly poked out with a gun gesture and fired a bullet of blood! Leaving off a spark, Cloud channelled lightning externally on his hand and spped the bullet away.

  Cloud was focused, but all while his hair turned bck and irises turned red. Steps out of the pilr, a slim figure dawned with a maroon coat with a bnk undershirt, and dark violet pants with a bandaged head. The pilr of blood loses its surface tension and spshes down. The figure slowly walks towards Cloud as the blood slowly flows to it, on the floor–Having a more clean appearance. As soldiers came and took aim–Blocking the alley, and some on the roof.

  “You sir are in viotion of property damage, grand theft auto, public endangerment, resisting arrest, and murder of a City Official–”, Cloud’s wounds drips blood down to the wet pavement, “But that aside, I, Stinge, smell your blood has special attributes, you are to be taken into custody,” it said.

  Cloud was intrigued by this statement. But now having some more leeway, he plotted to ignite his way out of this.

  In quick succession: Cloud raises his arm and aims his finger towards Stinge but was shocked (or the ck thereof) as it was to no avail. He then opted to jump to the parked car near him. Stinge shot two bullets made out of blood, aimed towards Cloud’s open wound on his leg. Gruelingly, Cloud fucking retracts his leg into his body; He shouts in agony but nded on the hood of the car, peeled it open, and circuited the car’s battery to him. He maniputed the electricity to make his muscles move so he can run the fuck away. All in 8 seconds.

  Cloud ran past Stinge at shocking speeds, but the tter managed to mark Cloud with its blood–or wine–when the former accidentally spshed the leftover blood (or wine) on his leg wound. Cloud escaped!

  The Lieutenant opened fire but Stinge ordered them to help nearby civilians instead. They questioned Stinge’s authority but affirms that it’s the highest ranking authority in a 10 kilometer radius.

  The Lieutenant still ordered some to pursue him into the forest despite Stinge’s statement. “As I said, Captain, there are civilians in danger; Going after one man deep into the forest isn’t worth it-” a thick aroma was felt–A thick smell that blooms hatred and anger.

  Stinge looked behind and saw a raging teenager; Screaming and sprinting closer with fmes behind her.

  Stinge immediately grasped the Lieutenant’s mouth and gred at him in the eyes, saying, “Order them to hold. She’s on her period”, before releasing the grasp.

  The ptoon was provoked but the Lieutenant followed. Letting the teenager pass by them. But as she did, they felt stirring rage within them boiling suddenly.

  “I advise you to leave!”, Stinge howled at one of the building’s windows. “I know you’re not someone that should be allowed in this city! Leave!”

  Stinge gred at the window for a while, until the presence felt no more.

  #

  (Heavy Rainfall; Forest; 01:20 pm)

  Running through the mud and barely missing the rocks and roots of the trees. Cloud is trying to get away as far as possible, knowing damn well he can’t do that anymore. His clothes are an eyesore

  “I still need a proper conduit or anything metal that is wieldy to harness lighting like that. I can't reliably do that without it because of this stupid bck hair! Fucked up my phone also..”

  Every part of his body is giving out; The abuse is too much. Noticing this, Cloud, although agonizingly, stopped his body from functioning aside from his brain and eyesight in his own accord. Stumbling down face first in mud. His hair turned back to white and eyes to blue.

  With only a few moments of action, he musters all of his strength on his right arm to push and rolls his body upright. Gazing upon the dark clouds above as the rain poured down violently, he extended his arm and two of his fingers forward.

  “Impetus.”, Cloud uttered.

  A single roaring lighting strike fshed towards his fingertips, to his arm, then to his heart. The energy completely overcharged him; His body jumps up due to its sheer extremity.

  He’s fully conscious and awake yet he might explode or burn his body to acrisp. Thinking quickly, he grounded the excess electricity to dissipate.

  Although being full of energy, his body is still aching; Sought shelter under the leaves.

  “I can't say for sure, but that Stinge…thing was interesting. Well that’s my fault for underestimating the birthpce of this country’s precious wine.”, he said, giggling at the end.

  After a few minutes, with enough strength to do so, he climbed up the nearest tallest tree. Branch after branch, he reached the peak. He saw as the storm concentrated on the city, and only the city.

  “Well that’s stupid. The highway ahead looks incredibly warm!”

  Perched on top of the tree, Cloud tries to maintain a clear mind. Be it to calm his body down, to await lightning, or more specifically to prepare for the approaching cranky teenager.

  But as he was about to confront her head on, the rain and the sky suddenly dissipated.

  “Oh you got to be fucking kidding me!”, Cloud said, appalled. “Bye-bye!”

  Jumping off and nding gracefully on the mud. He ran while being in an oddly good mood–White hair and blue eyes; giggling.

  #

  (“On the road again”; 4:00 pm)

  With bandages all over his head and body, Lep gazes up at the clear blue sky as the warm sun peaks above the fluffy clouds. Lightheaded and transfixed in reality. Resting his head on his palm, he sighs and rubs his eyes.

  “Say, Dian, I haven’t seen you do stuff like this. It’s kinda jarring you being responsible”

  This raised an eyebrow however. “So someone trying their best to raise and give two kids a comfortable life all alone is now considered ‘Irresponsible’..?”

  “No I just-”, Dian cut him off, “I'm just shitting with you.You know how I love you two”

  He was just at a loss, “How did she come up with that conclusion…? Why?”.

  “You just haven’t seen me move that often, have you? Well dear, I can do alot of vigorous stuff, I just don't have enough of a reason to use them. Until earlier,” she said sedately.

  He was even more at a loss. “I mean why did we put those two in the trunk? Why are we even hosting a short funeral for them? What stuff?? You can do more than just rip through the fabric of space with a sword?? When did we have a sword anyways?!”

  Dian gres at Lep from the rear view mirror, “you saw that..?”

  “Yes..sorry”, said Lep sincerely.“Dont be. I should be the one who needs to apologize. Since you died.”

  Those three words echoed inside Lep, horrifying him yet being greatly astounded. Suddenly remembering something or someone in the time he spent dead.

  “Kayel?!”“Kayel...”

  Both said by the twins; Mon whispered asleep. Lep turned to his head and saw her a bit agitated. He held her shoulders and lightly shook her, “wake up!”

  “Let her be.” Said Dian.

  “But look at-”

  “GET DOWN!!”

  The car fucking exploded

  #

  (a few minutes ter)

  Laying down the floor, Mon woke up coughing as the smoke thickens from the abze fireball. She holds her head as it aches, vaguely remembering her dream. She stood up and waves the smoke away. “What happened here?!”

  Lep, who was in good condition and only suffered a few bruises, told her the glove box exploded all of a sudden. “Dian’s trying to pull those two bodies out. Other than us, the only thing that was left were a few guns, and this,” holding the sheath of Dian’s katana, with the grip towards Mon.

  Mon instinctively tried pulling it out. “I see. Say, are we safe here?”

  “Don’t you fucking unsheathe that,” said Dian while pulling out the bodies of Dingy and Sheyne. “We still need to be cautious. I didn’t recognize who chased us earlier, nor the soldiers earlier at the train and the blockade; Not Reddsteyn’s defenses, no not at all.”

  “Terrorists?”, asked Lep.

  “We don’t know their motives but say goodbye to the city. We’re going to Kirlon. This province is a fucking mess.”

  “Kirlon, you say?” suddenly asked Korekuta, rummaging through the car’s wreckage. “It’s a good city. My daughter goes to school there. A bit older than the two you have there, but I'm afraid they wont get along. She’s a bit of a rebel”

  He pulled out the crystal from wreckage with only a few minor burns. Dian and Mon were incredibly armed. “How did the three of us fail to notice him?!” Dian immediately sprinted in between them and Korekuta.

  But they're still open! Korekuta dashed straight to Lep and Mon!

  In that moment of desperation, Dian stomps down on her next step; Igniting it to gain an astonishing amount of momentum. Seemingly teleporting and fucking gut punching Korekuta!

  Foreseeing this, Korekuta managed to dampen the damage by blocking her attack; Sliding from her punch. Lep and Mon both shoot him but he vanishes after he pulls out and makes a smoke screen with dust, before any of the bullets hits.

  They all stayed alert, processing what just happened in the st 30 seconds. Before the dust settled, Korekuta suddenly appeared behind Lep and was about to pounce! The three of them were surprised. Dian was already in the middle of diving in, Lep was about to shoot, and so was Mon.

  But seeing Korekuta about to grasp Lep, Mon manifested her energy arm and grabbed his wrist before so! He was shocked and was immediately tackled by Dian!

  She got on top of him and began smacking the shit out of him. He tried to block them and threw dust whenever the twins shot their guns to block the bullets. After a few seconds of pummeling, Dian took her sword out of Lep’s hand and unsheathed the bde! Letting out a thick, violet aura.

  Dian flipped the bde pointed down and with a firm grasp, thrusted the bde at Korekuta’s heart! Surprised, Korekuta grabbed a hold of his fanny-pack and blocked the attack.

  But as it did, a deafening ringing reverberated and a blinding glow was emitted! The bde of Dian’s katana and crystal echoed violently throughout the area; Their energy getting consumed quickly!

  Dian pulled the sword out and got kicked by Korekuta. Both of them cough blood as they gasp for air; Both of them limp as they struggle to bance.

  “Wait a sec. Are you, Dian!?”, asked Korekuta with great concern. The three of them were even more greatly concerned, as Mon shoots another round at him but disappears like he did earlier. Seemingly to retreat.

  Lep assessed Dian but she shrugs it off–Sheathing the bde. Mon kneeling down in fatigue as her energy arm dissipated. As they were recovering, Dian heard vehicles coming from ahead and behind; Calling for all of them to run into the forest.

  “How about them?”, Mon asked, pointing at the body bags.

  “We’ll also be corpses if we don't move!”

  “But you said you’ll bury them by dusk” Lep interjects.

  Finally, Dian reluctantly agreed, “At midnight then..”; mustering all her strength, she carried the bodies of Sheyne and Dingy on each of her shoulders, “You two help each other”.

  #

  (8:00 pm; Random Warehouse)

  As the cricket chirps and the full moon lightens the night, Inside a warehouse deep into the forest that surrounds Reddsteyn, the twins are having a time of their lives as they munch on chips, uncover gadgets they haven’t seen, and race with shopping carts.

  Diansmirks, baffled, but joyful that they’re entertained despite the situation they’re in. “Don’t destroy everything! We might stay here if we don’t find a car!” She advises; going outside to the docking area, yet finds no trucks to use. How unfortunate. Not bothering to check the schedule. Letting out a sigh, she goes back inside the facility.

  As she was going to give the news to the twins, she thought to look for a TV or a radio. Up the stairs, she went inside the office and fortunately, there was a radio, but unfortunately, Korekuta was there resting.

  Malice filled the room as Dian clenched her first; Korekuta affirms withdrawal from conflict.

  “Only because you can't fight!”

  Dian drew–still holding her sheathed sword–out a pistol from her waist, and so as Korekuta.

  “Dian, I apologize. I don't remember who I am myself, but you resemble me and her”, Korekuta pleaded.

  “Well I don't! Just who, what, and why are you?!”, Dian refutes.

  But before Korekuta managed to speak, the power went down. Both felt imminent danger but not from each other–They didn't move and stayed focused. Just before a fireball hurled down through the roof then to the ground in between Lep and Mon who were currently racing each other with shopping carts.

  Dian and Korekuta both dashed to and out the window.

  Lep and Mon got knocked back onto the ground–Coughing. As the fmes dissipated, it faintly revealed the schoolgirl–They can't really make any details due to a dark screen of energy surrounding her–growling. Both were in awe.

  Come diving down Korekuta and Dian.

  Korekuta tackled her and tried to calm her down. Dian fetched Lep and Mon. “It’s you again!”, Lep remarked.

  “Dihito, calm down!” said Korekuta as he struggles to restrain her. But came down in a lightning strike, Cloud has arrived.

  Dihito became even more ferocious at the sight of him; Korekuta is barely holding her. He pulled out dust from his bag and threw it at the ground–Disappearing from the scene.

  Cloud disengages and lets out a sigh of relief, “So, are you guys ok?”, but as he turned around to confront the family, he was deeply surprised. Jaw dropping even.

  “D-Dian??”, he said, taking a step forward.

  Dian was apprehensive, but after a few moments, she smirked as she recognized him. She gently let go of the twins as Cloud jumped to hug her in utter joy.

  “Look how you’ve grown!”, she said as she rustled his hair.

  “It’s been 20 years!!” said Cloud.

  But the twins were genuinely so fuckjing confused, prompting Mon to ask, “Just who are you??”

  Dian was hesitant to answer, but Cloud did truthfully.

  “She’s my awesome older sister!!” he gleefully said.

  “WHAT?!” said Lep and Mon in complete disbelief.

  “No no, I just babysat him when he was a child”, Dian crified. “Well, let’s get to digging”, she said as she threw a shovel to Cloud.

  “What’s this for?”

  “For a burial”

  #

  “Oh…I see they didn’t make it..”, Cloud said disturbed, after unzipping and seeing who was in the body bags. “I helped them earlier…Let’s give them an open-fire funeral”, Cloud suggested as Dian reluctantly agreed.

  #

  As they ignited the pyre outside at the docking area, Cloud tried to hook Lith via the radio. The three stood by the fire as they watched the bzing fire warm amidst the cold night.

  Mon sat on a couch that she and Lep put outside to watch the fire by–Watching it intently. The funeral of these two reminded her of their friends back in the city; Wondering if they’re safe or not. But she knows in truth there’s only one answer, and she hates it.

  Lep hugs her and affirms they’re probably fine. Mon wants to fight, but she embraces her brother’s naivety and falls asleep.