*In the middle of the Syndicate’s main hall, Ryuuji and Maven were blocking each other’s attacks. On the floor above them, they could hear the sounds of gunfire coming from a room. Alita came flying out of the room and flew down the hall with Diamanda pursuing her. Ryuuji and Maven ignored them and continued to focus on each other where Maven managed to fool Ryuuji with a feint palm strike. Maven then delivered a punch to Ryuuji’s stomach to knock the wind out of him. He followed up with a toss that sent Ryuuji to the ground. Ryuuji however quickly rolled out of the way and returned to his feet where he charged at Maven*
(Maven): Fire Grid Form 40: Shield of Flame.
*Maven held out his hands that were glowing orange and suddenly a shield made of fire appeared before him*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 77: Blazing Chariot!
*Ryuuji’s body became shrouded in fire and he charged through Maven’s shield destroying it completely. Maven quickly jumped back to avoid getting hit by Ryuuji and shoot a fireball at him. Ryuuji avoided the fireball by jumping in the air and was hoovering over Maven*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 81: Burning Axe Hammer.
*Ryuuj came down where he delivered an axe kick to Maven’s head with his leg on fire. Maven was completely stunned by the attack as Ryuuji landed with his right fist on fire*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 144: Rising Flame!
*Ryuuji delivered an uppercut to Maven’s jaw with his right fist sending them both off the ground*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 222: Crossfire Chop!
*With both of his fists on fire, Ryuuji does a downward diagonal cross chop across Maven’s chest which sends him crashing to the ground, but Ryuuji wasn’t finished as his feet were now on fire*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 316: Coup De Burn!
*Keeping his legs straight, Ryuuji descended and stomped the chest of Maven. Maven felt as if a knife had been stabbed through his chest. Ryuuji jumped off him believing he had won, but Maven was still conscious and gasping for air all while coughing*
(Ryuuji): *Inner monologue* He’s still conscious? Incredible! Usually guys who take on a combo like that are done. He has quite the resilience.
*Maven slowly rose to his feet*
(Maven): Your string of combos was quite impressive. I have never before come across anyone who used that many moves in a row without letting up.
(Maven): *Inner monologue* This is bad. I can barely stand after that barrage of attacks. If he unleashes another attack like that I’ll be done for. Unfortunately, I’m out of my depths here. He’s faster and stronger. The longer the fight goes on the better his advantage. I need to end this quickly before it’s too late.
(Maven): Fire Grid Form 29: Blitz Javelin!
*With his left arm extended outward, Maven lunged at Ryuuji as fire magic gathered around his arm and formed a javelin. Ryuuji jumped out of the way avoiding the attack or so he thought. Like clockwork, Maven spun around to reveal fire gathered around his right arm*
(Maven): Fire Grid Form 31: Burning Chop!
*Chopping the air diagonally, Maven released a slash of fire which struck Ryuuji and sent him flying into the wall. With momentum on his side, Maven quickly charged at Ryuuji*
(Maven): Fire Grid Form 56: Wildfire Charge!
*Maven’s body soon became engulfed in fire as he speared Ryuuji through the wall and continued to run forward where he slammed Ryuuji through another wall which brought them outside. Maven ran toward the cliff where he threw Ryuuji over the edge and down into the water. Believing he had won, Maven turned around and began walking back toward the mansion but stopped when he sensed a presence behind him. Turning around Maven was shocked to see Ryuuji flying in the sky with flames shooting from the soles of his shoes. Before Maven had time to think, Ryuuji charged at him and punched him in the stomach. Ryuuji then lifted Maven up and flew up into the sky where he proceeded to do consecutive barrel rolls fifteen times. Each roll saw Ryuuji pick up the speed. After the fifteenth roll, Ryuuji began flying toward the ground with fire gathering around himself and Maven. Ryuuji finally slammed Maven on the ground as a tower of fire shot up from the impact. When it died down and disappeared, Maven was planted on the ground with Ryuuji standing over him as the fire died out from his body*
(Ryuuji): Fire Grid Form 408: Inferno Tower Slam. You fought well. Your last attack was brilliant. That combo of moves was very effective.
(Maven): It was a combo I learned from my master, Cyrus Kazuchika.
*As soon as Ryuuji heard that name he felt all the color in his face fade away. A look of shock appeared on his face as if he had seen a ghost. He felt his stomach ache at the sound of his father’s name*
(Maven): It was the last combo I learned from him before he abandoned me. He said that training me anymore would be a waste of his time. He was more concerned with training his son. That motivated me to go off and train even harder to prove him wrong. When I returned to the temple in the hopes of facing him I found out he was banished by his own wife. I found it funny that the son he spent so much time training abandoned him, but at the same time I was mad that I could never exact my revenge on that man.
(Ryuuji): Consider yourself lucky. If you couldn’t beat me then your chances against him were lower. He is a man who wouldn’t fight with honor and kill you on the spot.
(Maven): It’s you. You’re his son, aren’t you? *Chuckles* I always wondered what his son would be like. Ironic. There’s not a trace of Cyrus’s character in you.
*Maven lets out one final chuckle before he loses consciousness*
(Ryuuji): Good. I will never become like that man.
*Ryuuji begins to walk back toward the mansion leaving Maven lying on the ground as his words continued to play over in Ryuuji’s mind over and over again*
***
*In the mansion as Ryuuji and Maven were fighting, Alita and Diamanda were in a heated battle with each other. Diamanda fired ice bullets at Alita who used her light magic to create barriers of light that deflected the bullets. Alita closed the distance between them and launched an attack using her tail when she got within striking distance of Diamanda. However, Diamanda opened up her umbrella which acted as a shield and stopped Alita’s attack. Alita’s drill tail tried to penetrate the umbrella but had no luck. Diamanda pressed a button on her umbrella which unleashed an ice beam that hit Alita. Alita flew backward toward the wall and had her whole body become encased in ice*
(Diamanda): Hmph. That was easy. I can’t wait to tear you apart. I’m sure you’re carrying a bunch of secrets that will benefit the Syndicate. Master Lloyd and Sae will praise me for sure once they see what I caught.
*As Diamanda continues to gloat about her victory. Alita’s eyes begin to glow pink. A laser beam soon shot out of Alita’s eyes which melted the ice around her head and hit Diamanda which sent her flying into a cabinet as she screamed. Alita then used her laser beam eyes to melt her arms. She then used plasma shots to melt the ice on the rest of her body and drop to the floor. Diamanda returned to her feet with a look of anger in her eyes and fired ice bullets from her umbrella at Alita who used her light shield to block the bullets and closed in on Diamanda who kept firing. Once within striking distance, Alita created a saber of light from her right wrist and slashed at Diamanda who opened up the umbrella to create an ice shield that blocked the attack. Alita put more force into her attack and started to cut through the ice shield but Diamanda wasn’t panicking. Alita noticed Diamanda holding the umbrella’s handle very firmly and quickly jumped just as Diamanda pulled out an ice rapier from the umbrella and swung at Alita. After Alita jumped and flipped in the air she landed on a table where with one of her legs crossed over the other, smiled, and waved at Diamanda*
(Diamanda): Why you-
*Diamanda lunged toward Alita who flipped over to the opposite side of the table. Alita then tilted the table up and kicked it toward Diamanda. Using her ice rapier, Diamanda slashed through the table horizontally. This caused Diamanda’s view to be blocked and Alita used this opportunity to close in and stab Diamanda in the shoulder with her drill tail before kicking her in the gut to push her back. Diamanda managed to stay on her feet despite blood dripping from her shoulder*
(Alita): I would suggest stopping right now and treating your shoulder before it becomes infected.
(Diamanda): Shut it! I’m a member of the Noetia Syndicate! I won’t be defeated so easily. Especially by some android. I’m going to beat you. Kill those old-timers. Then rip your body apart so I can study it and engineer some new weapons. When Sae and Master Lloyd see what I’ve done, they’ll heap all the praise I’ve ever wanted on me.
(Alita): Is that why you do the things you do? Praise? Nothing more?
(Diamanda): Obviously. What’s the point of doing something if I’m not going to get praised for it? You’re an android whose primary function is fighting. Don’t you feel a sense of fulfillment whenever you eliminate your target and complete your mission?
(Alita): Affirmative. I do get a sense of fulfillment when I’ve successfully completed a mission and others praise me for a job well done. However, I don’t get my fulfillment through the praise of others. But rather because of a job well done.
***
*Flashback*
*A few months ago in the kingdom of Brister, Alita was walking through the streets early in the morning delivering papers when she spotted a man in blue overalls and a red-plated shirt on the ground pulling weeds from the grass of a small park. Alita slowly approached where she accidentally stepped on a branch giving her presence away*
(Mysterious man): Who’s there!?
*The man turns around to see Alita who stared at the man with a stoic face. The man on the other hand was shocked to see Alita as this wasn’t the first time they’ve met*
(Alita): Greetings, King Sirius. It’s a pleasure to see you again.
(Sirius): King? Oh no young lady. You must have me confused with someone else.
(Alita): Really? But your voice and eyes match the king? Not to mention your other features are identical to that of the king. Are you perhaps his more unsuccessful lookalike just like in the story The King and The Farmer?
*Sirius stared blankly at Alita before he started to burst out laughing*
(Sirius): Oh you say the darndest things. Alright you caught me, I’m the king.
(Alita): I thought as much. Why are you out here on the ground? Have you misplaced your crown and are now searching for it?
*Sirius just smiles warmly at Alita*
(Sirius): Oh, no. I left the crown in my room back at the palace. I’m pulling out the weeds from this park. I was passing by here on business the other day when I spotted the park and saw how it was overflowing with weeds. Judging by the looks of this place, it hasn’t been well attended to for some time.
*Alita looked around and saw a broken-down swing set, slide, and jungle gym. Clear signs that this park had been abandoned for months. Possibly years*
(Sirius): So I figured I’d do my part and help the place out.
(Alita): This early in the morning? Couldn’t you do it at a time where everyone could see you? Also, why not just have the knights do this job for you?
(Sirius): Those are all good questions, milady. To answer the first two questions, I’m doing it so early in the morning to avoid getting noticed by everyone. Yes, I could do it at a time where everyone could see me, but I’m doing this not because I want to get everyone’s attention and praise, but because I feel it’s the right thing to do. Yes, I could have the knights come in and do the job for me, but then I feel like I’ve done nothing to make a difference. It wouldn’t have that personal touch. While it’s great to get praise from everyone now and again, some of the things I’m most proud of are what people don’t praise me for. Some say a king gets his worth by the mountains of treasures he has or the number of victories he’s earned in battle. For me, my worth is knowing that I bring joy to the life of my citizens by doing a good job. Whether that be signing new papers to implement new programs or pulling the weeds out of a forgotten park to make the neighborhood look nicer. In the end, knowing I did a job well done fulfills me. Well, this was a good talk break. Need to get back to work before the knights notice I’m missing. You would not believe how much of a panic they go into.
*As Sirius bent back down to pull out the weeds, Alita bent down as well and began to pull weeds out*
(Alita): Allow me to assist.
(Sirius): Are you sure? You’re not going to ask for anything in return, like a crown, right?
(Alita): Negative. I can’t explain it, but I feel that helping out someone you care about and expecting nothing in return is fulfilling enough.
*Sirius smiles*
(Sirius): Well then, let’s get to work. Also, please don’t tell the other knights about this. Let’s keep it our secret. Promise?
(Alita): Pinky promise?
*Alita holds out her pinky finger to Sirius*
(Sirius): Pinky promise.
*Sirius shakes Alita’s pinky with his pinky sealing the promise. The two then got to work clearing the field of all the weeds and promptly left with no one knowing what they’d had done*
*Flashback ends*
***
(Alita): Seeking one’s validation through others is never healthy. You have to recognize your own worth and realize that in order to be happy you must first love yourself.
*Hearing enough, Diamanda fired an ice bullet at Alita which hits her and causes her to stagger backward by one step*
(Diamanda): What the hell would an android know about validation? You were made in a factory. You don’t know what it’s like to suffer and be abandoned by those you thought loved you.
*An image flashes in Diamanda’s head of her waking up one morning and seeing her house completely empty. Her parents nowhere to be found. No food in the refrigerator and no letter letting her know where they were going or why they left. The last thing she remembers is men in suits busting down the door, grabbing her, and dragging her off to the Noetia Syndicate. When she arrived she was brought before the head of the Noetia family who revealed that her parents were in debt and owed the Syndicate a lot of money. The parents decided to give her up as collateral and fled. Diamanda would now have to work in the Syndicate to repay her parents’ debt. A debt she managed to pay off years ago, but decided to stay in the Syndicate because it was the only place that praised her and gave her a sense of feeling alive*
(Alita): I can assure you my life has not been a pleasant one either. I have seen others suffer. Sometimes by my own hands. Ordered to commit atrocities against my will. I do not know what kind of suffering you have gone through but don’t think for one second I don’t know what it means to suffer.
*Channeling her magic, Alita creates three blue claws made of metal magic on each of her hands*
(Alita): Prepare yourself. The end of this fight draws near.
(Diamanda): That’s the first thing you’ve said that I agree with.
*Preparing their weapons, the two fighters charge at each other and clash their weapons with each other. Two seconds later Diamanda’s ice rapier and umbrella were sliced in two and she was seen flying through the air with slash marks across her dress. She hit the ground back first and wasn’t moving showing that she was unconscious. Alita’s claws disappeared and she exited the room leaving the unconscious Diamanda to lie there. Once she left the room, she walked down the stairs and saw Ryuuji entering from the side*
(Ryuuji): There you are, Alita. Are you okay?
(Alita): I am fine. You?
(Ryuuji): Yes. I say our business here is done.
*All of a sudden they hear an explosion and rush outside. When they make it outside they see smoke coming from the palace*
(Alita): It would appear the palace has become a battleground.
(Ryuuji): Indeed. Alita, we’re heading toward the palace.
(Alita): Affirmative. But what about Jin and the others?
(Ryuuji): Good point. Alita, go check on Jin. I’ll head to the palace and meet you there.
(Alita): Very well.
*Ryuuji and Alita take off into the sky flying to their destinations*
Author’s Note: Alright, straight up action this chapter. Look forward to the next chapter when we focus on Jin and see how he deals with his pursuers. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.