"What about you? How do you know Wolf again?" Phoenix asks.
"Oh, that one's easy. We met when we were five in a daycare. She was just a scrawny kid who sucked at being normal and sucked even more at making friends." She says with a chuckle before her smile softens as slight sadness spreads across her face. "Yeah, she was never good at that. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She only made enemies. Oftentimes I couldn't even tell how or why. They just… kept bullying her."
Phoenix looks saddened hearing this as she thinks about it more, recalling the times even after Alston where things were the same.
'I could imagine… Even back when I met her, she was all alone with that sad look on her face and bandages on her face… I guess it was always that way.'
She thinks back to that moment, when she leaned on Wolf's desk when they were nine years old and the way Wolf looked before noticing Phoenix. Alston then talks some more.
"She would always get hurt trying to protect others too. She was cool that way." She says softly before pausing for a moment. She then takes a deep breath and smiles at Phoenix. "But I'm glad to hear she can stand up for herself now! I'm sure she's still getting into trouble any chance she gets but at least she's strong enough to handle it on her own."
Alston says with a smile. Phoenix smiles softly and nods before lowering her head a bit.
"Yeah.. on her own…" She says softly.
"She used to not stand up for herself or fight back no matter how much the bullies hurt her. Probably because she was afraid of snapping again." Alston adds. Phoenix looks at her, confused by her words.
"Snapping?" Phoenix asks.
"Yeah." Alston answers while pulling up her shirt, revealing a scar on her side. "A long time ago, some punks were hassling Jonah, Wolf and I. They threw an apple at my head haha!" She laughs as she lowers her shirt. "But something just set her over the edge that day and she lost it. I don't remember much since I passed out almost immediately. All I remember was being taken away by the infirmary as Wolf stood there, staring at the scene."
As Alston explains the past, Phoenix is shocked, hearing about such an intense moment in Wolf's past she had never known.
"She never told me about this before.." Phoenix says softly.
"To be fair, would you? A story where you lashed out and killed four people, almost killing your friends. I know I wouldn't."
Alston says casually. Phoenix looks down, understanding her point but still feeling a bit envious not being told about the tragic event.
"I wish I could tell you more. Seeing as I was part of it, I feel it's fair to talk about it if I want but I just don't know what happened. But I do know this. A Soul can only take so much damage before it breaks."
Alston says with a slightly intense look as Phoenix looks worried. Alston then places her hand on Phoenix's shoulder with a warm smile.
"So I'm glad you're here to help keep her in line. She can be quite a handful sometimes but it seems you've got a good handle on her." Alston says happily. Phoenix smiles with a nod. "Cause I sure as shit don't."
Alston says plainly while pulling her hand away, looking off into the distance with a smirk. Phoenix droops a bit with a sweat drop.
"Nice…"
Suddenly, they both hear a rustle in the bushes and trees around the dorm building. The noises quickly grabs their attention as they watch closely and curiously. From the rustling, a panicked student comes falling through the brush.
"What the..?" Phoenix says.
"I think he's a second year. I saw him around earlier."
Alston says as the panicked student looks back before getting up and rushing to his feet. Phoenix's eyes widen when a creature comes bolting out of the brush with a large blade arm pulled back preparing to cut the student down.
"Help me!"
He screams as he stares at them. Before they can even react, the creature swings its blade down at the student. With only moments before the student is cut down, faster than either Phoenix or Alston can react, someone darts out of the dorm building behind them and slams a black mist fist into the creature's face, sending it flying and crashing into the ground. The student looks back as Wolf lands next to him. She looks at her hand before clenching her fist.
"Okay. Still in control, that works." Wolf says with a slightly proud smirk and a sweat drop. Phoenix helps the student up to his feet.
"Are you okay?"
She asks, checking him out. The student nods as they look around when two more deformed creatures dash towards them. Wolf turns with a sharp look in her eyes when suddenly, two others bolt out and counter the creatures.
Killian slams a heavy fist into one creature as Cole smashes the other one into the ground with a large, brink pink, hardened energy tentacle coming from his back. He appears different with black markings running down his chin from the corners of his mouth and one of his eyes turned black. The two of them stand tall as Cole looks at Killian.
"I had that." He says.
"We're protecting people here, it's not a competition." Killian says, not removing his focused gaze from the monsters.
"You're not protecting anything, either of you. As long as I'm here, that'll be enough." Wolf says confidently as she stands between them. They both look at her offended.
"Eh?" They voice at the same time. Wolf then looks over her shoulder at Cole with an upset look.
"And where did all this come from?" She asks, motioning to the four energy tentacles coming from his back and the markings on his face. Cole just adjusts his glasses as he responds.
"It is called a Soul Shell. If you knew anything, that would be obvious."
Cole says back with attitude. Wolf looks offended but before she can say anything, Phoenix looks over and notices multiple more creatures coming from the darkness and towards them.
"Guys! There's more of them!" She shouts as the three of them turn around with serious looks on their faces.
"Torn." Cole says.
"Glad one of us knows what's happening." Wolf says.
"I did not say what is happening. I only said what they are." Cole corrects her.
"Doesn't matter. They're here to hurt people. We need to stop them."
Killian says firmly as they prepare for a fight. Phoenix rushes Alston and the student up the stairs and to the dorm's doors as Yoko crouches on the railing with an excited look.
"Finally! Some fresh meat to slaughter!" They say excitedly as they dive forward but before they can go, Phoenix quickly grabs them by the wings and pulls them back.
"No! The less of us involved the better! Everyone get back inside!" She commands as the Torn rush the three outside.
"Ready?" Killian asks.
"Always." Wolf smirks.
"Never anything else." Cole says back.
"Then let's do this."
Killian says as the three of them launch into action. Killian rushes the Torn as he blocks an incoming attack with his arm before uppercutting it hard enough to lift the large creature into the air. He then grabs it and swings it around before throwing it at a couple others.
Cole stances up as a few Torn dive at him but using his Soul Shell tentacles, he smashes each one away when another one with a blade arm swings down at him but he blocks it close to his body. He pushes back for a moment while gritting his teeth when another comes flying at him from the side, punching him across the face. He stumbles back before stabbing two tentacles into the ground with a loud grunt. As the Torn charge him, the tentacles come shooting from the ground and through the creatures. The blood splatters across his mouth as he licks it up with a sinister smile.
Wolf crouches down, preparing for the incoming Torn as she lunges forward and slams her fist into one's face. She pulls back before leaning sharply to avoid a large spike arm from another. She quickly drives her fist up into its face before striking it in the body sending it flying back. Two more with blade arms dodge the body and dash towards her. She quickly focuses on dodging the attacks before leaning back to avoid a swift sweeping slash but the Torn quickly takes advantage of her leaning on her arm and slashes at her side, cutting her a bit. She winces before jumping back.
"What exactly are these things again?" Wolf shouts.
"They're Torn. Souls who have been broken and lost control of their bodies and humanity. Now they're nothing more than hungry monsters craving Souls." Cole explains while blocking attacks.
"So there's no- no need to hold back?" He says between getting punched across the face.
"Not a bit." Cole says.
"Got it. Wolf, let's go."
Killian says. Wolf smirks before slamming her foot down and pulling back her arm. Killian does the same, mirroring her. They shout as they throw a huge combo punch.
"Rock Beater!"
They shout as Wolf's arm glows a light purple aura and Killian's does the same with orange instead. They deliver a huge impact to the group of Torn, sending them all flying through the air by the intense force. They both pant a bit as they stand up.
"That's usually not so strong." Killian says.
"Must be the atmosphere of the place. Really complimenting the attack." Wolf jokes back as if discussing a painting.
"I cannot say I am not impressed. That was cool." Cole reluctantly admits as Wolf is surprised but smirks.
"Not too bad yourself."
She says back. They then hear a noise as another Torn stumbles out of the brush with a scared look on its face. It sees the three of them and tries to run in fear but Cole quickly grabs it with his tentacle and brings it towards them.
"Wait, wait, wait! Don't kill me! I'm not- I wasn't gonna help them! I'm not turned yet!" The Torn shouts.
"Your Soul is fractured. There is no recovering from that. I should put you down now and save a life before you turn." Cole says coldly as he pulls his arm back to kill the man but Killian grabs his arm and throws him back.
"What's your problem? He's obviously still in control! You can't just kill someone because of who they are!"
"It is not about who he is, it is about what he is. He will turn and could kill someone when he does. I am protecting innocence."
Cole says back. As they argue, the man crawls back and tries to make an escape but Wolf, with intense eyes and a neutral expression, dashes at the man with blinding speed and grabs him by the neck, lifting him off the ground. He struggles under her grasp as Killian looks at her shocked.
"Wolf, don't!" Killian shouts.
"Wait.. please.. Don't kill me.." The Torn begs.
"Are you in control?" Wolf asks clearly and directly. The Torn looks surprised as she focuses her eyes on him. "Answer me right now because I'm four seconds away from agreeing with the idiot back there." Wolf says sharply. The Torn looks scared but doesn't answer immediately. "You have two options. Be in control or be put down. Choose." Wolf warns one last time. The Torn strains for a moment before gasping out an answer.
"Y-yes! I'm in control!" He shouts. Wolf drops the man onto the ground as he coughs and catches his breath.
"Then get out of here."
She commands. The Torn looks at Wolf, who stares coldly at him before getting up and running away. Killian sighs in relief as Cole clicks his tongue in frustration.
"For a moment, I actually thought you were smart, Anderson." Cole mocks. Wolf watches the man for a moment before turning to face them. "You know I am right. A Soul cannot come back from a fracture." Cole claims.
"Don't underestimate the power of a Soul, Jigoku."
Wolf says, stepping next to him when suddenly the man who rushed away, screams a bloody scream as they turn sharply to see a larger creature bite down on his upper body, cutting him in half. They look back with wide eyes filled with shock and anxiety. The larger creature stands tall, twice as big as the others. Its large mouth dripping with black blood from the kill. It turns towards them with a quiet stare.
"What the Hell is that?" Killian asks.
"That is no average Torn." Cole says with shock in his eyes. It steps towards them as Cole sweats. "That has to be a Grand Fracture!"
"That sounds bad." Wolf says, tensing up as the others do the same.
"It is. Only a certain strength of Soul can completely fracture and maintain enough power to become something like that." Cole explains. His gaze sharpens as he stares at the creature. 'Things like this are never sent there so I've never seen one in real life before… Just how strong are they?'
He thinks before snapping his Soul Shell at it with intense speed, aiming to impale it as quickly as possible but as soon as it slams into the Grand Fracture, they bounce off. Cole's eyes widen with shock.
"Its skin is hard!"
He says. It cocks its head to the side before blitzing towards them. Wolf and Killian barely have enough time to look as it slams its large fist into Cole, sending him flying back into the dorm building and smashing through the wall. The others are startled by the impact as Phoenix looks over with wide eyes.
"Cole!"
She shouts as he coughs up some blood in a pile of rubble. On instinctive reaction, Wolf shouts as she pulls back to throw a heavy punch. Her eyes sharpen like before as the black mist bursts from her arm. She drives it hard and deep into the creature's side, crunching flesh and bone upon impact. Purple blood spills from its mouth as it stumbles back a step.
Wolf growls as the Grand Fracture stands up straight, adjusting its body to repair the damage. Her eyes widen with surprise as it lifts its arm, turning it into a blade spike. It thrusts it at her with serious speed as she stares at the incoming attack.
"WOLF!"
Killian screams as Wolf stands there when suddenly the entire upper half of the Grand Fracture's body disappears, including its arms. A round shape left on the lower half as it wobbles before collapsing backwards, blood splashing across the ground. Wolf is stunned as she stares blankly at what just happened. Everyone else is stunned too as no one is sure what exactly happened.
"What… was.." Wolf trails off as they then hear footsteps approaching them from the shadows of the trees.
"Sorry about that. I would've turned this into a lesson but it seems you were in need of swift help."
The familiar voice says casually and loudly as Phoenix sighs in relief and the others relax. Killian calms too as Wolf looks over to see Professor Nobody standing before them.
"That was a close one. That could've been bad if I wasn't here. Not like you could've done anything to stop that, right Wolf Anderson?" Professor Nobody asks with an odd tone, making a point to her. Wolf stares at him for a moment before lowering her head a bit, not removing her eyes from his. He smirks before turning towards the others. "Now, let's get that one looked at shall we?" He says as Cole gets up, struggling a bit.
"No, I am okay. Just needed a minute."
Nobody chuckles a bit before approaching them. Wolf watches Nobody walk away with an intense but slightly upset look as Killian puts his hand on her shoulder gently.
"Hey, you okay?" He asks. Wolf's look softens.
"Yeah, I'm okay." She says back with a softly frustrated tone as she looks at her hand again. 'Not again…'
TIME UNTIL "The Yupond Incident": 2 MONTHS.