Chapter 146 Parts and Pieces (1/2)

CHAPTER 146

PARTS AND PIECES

Not unlike Gustav, Lino also attempted to process what had just transpired; however, unlike Gustav, he didn't have much knowledge when it came to the natural laws, which is why to him it merely seemed as though he moved bits and pieces of space around to win. As he pulled himself out of his thoughts, his eyes landed onto Gustav and saw the man shiver and shake, his eyes growing twice their size, lips trembling, sweat breaking out.

It took Lino but a moment to see it in those eyes; terror, fear, confusion... his heart skip a beat as he realized he'd shown too much to a wrong person. Without almost a thought, he rushed forward and sliced away with his sword, aiming directly for Gustav's neck. The latter barely recovered in time to duck and pull himself back, but before he had a moment to shout for help and to share his revelation, he felt cold death of a blade encroach upon his back.

Swiftly spinning in place, he managed to somehow block the blade with the shaft of his hammer, pushing Lino back. However, the latter - as though maddened - forcibly cracked a few bones in his body to suppress the backward force and strut himself forward. Without even having a chance to take a breath, Gustav was forced to raise his hammer in defense again.This time, though, the blade slithered around almost as though it had muscle, bypassing the hammer and striking at far right side of Gustav's chest.

Blood spurted out as Gustav found himself pushed back, gritting his teeth as he reached with his arm and forcibly halted the bleeding. Still, he didn't have much time to accommodate the newfound wound as blade came slicing yet again. His eyes somehow met up with a pair of Lino's black; then and there, Gustav realized he had made a mistake. Those eyes were void of emotion, of compassion, of playfulness that the strange beggar displayed almost always.

They were dark, cold, full of resolve and empty of any sort of empathy. It almost seemed as though a completely different person surfaced and was now leading the attack. There was no grace in the movement, there was no playfulness in expression and in style; it seemed the entirety of attacks desired only a singe thing - to take Gustav's life.

The old man repeatedly got pushed back until he realized something was strange; looking around, he once again saw hilly formations and remnants of ruins causing him to gasp as he tended to a wound on his thigh. He was led away from the central battlefield further back, till nobody could see them any longer. Lino suddenly stopped attacking, surprising Gustav. He just stood there, a hint of that playfulness apparent on his expression.

”... oh boy, I sure chose a wrong opponent.” Gustav laughed bitterly.

”And I sure chose a wrong technique,” Lino replied. ”Didn't know those old bones of yours had seen the world.”

”...” Gustav nearly wanted to vomit blood; the bastard was not taking him seriously, at all! How could anyone miss the fact that he literally changed the laws of nature?! ”I-is that so? Khm... uh, well, I feel obliged to ask... but could we not go directly into a deathmatch? Though you would probably win in the end, it won't come at no cost.”

”... this I feared,” Lino said, sighing lightly. ”Who I am... cannot be disclosed, old man. The only reason I'm talking with you is because even I'm childish enough to believe in the abstract notion of respect.”

”I won't tell anyone if that's what you fear!”

”Yes you will,” Lino said, smiling. ”And, frankly, I can't fault you for it. After all, it would come with many benefits. If it was me alone that was involved in this... I might even let you go on the grounds that I like you quite a bit. But I'm not. There's more at stake here than just my life.”

”...” Gustav himself figured as much, actually. The beggar didn't seem like someone who would kill for any random reason. ”Aren't all Empyreans supposed to be loners?”

”So I've been told repeatedly.” Lino shrugged. ”But, I'd rather not base my social life on a thing that's never fucked a woman, you know?”

”...” this, however, Gustav did not figure; he did not expect or anticipate and, even if someone was to beat him to death over it, he would never come up with it. From his knowledge, all Bearers were reverent toward their Writs - regardless if Empyrean or others. There was awe-inspiring respect within them toward the source of who they were. Or, at the very least, that's what he believed until now.

”Eh, I don't know.” Lino suddenly said, scratching his hair. ”I mean, did he fuck a woman? Or at least, you know, Writ-equivalent to a woman? Maybe he's gay? I mean, I did notice that since this guy inhabited me, most of those interested in me turned out to be old men. It's weird, you know?”