The explosion hadn't even settled before Slander moved.
No warning. No sound.
Just motion.
A flash of steel cut through the smoke, aimed straight for VEX's throat.
Clang.
VEX didn't step back.
He didn't even flinch.
His hand came up just enough to redirect the blade, the metal screeching as it scraped past him instead of through him. His eyes stayed locked on Slander, calm, unreadable.
For a split second, the two stood inches apart.
Then Slander attacked again.
Faster.
A second blade came from below, aiming to slice through VEX's ribs. VEX twisted slightly, the blade missing him by a breath as he countered with a sharp strike to Slander's wrist.
The impact forced Slander back a step.
Not much.
But enough.
Behind them, alarms screamed through the lab, red lights flashing violently as smoke filled the air. Sparks rained from damaged panels, the hum of machines turning unstable.
Aria hung from the restraints, her breathing uneven, her vision struggling to keep up.
"…Vex…"
Her voice was barely audible.
He didn't respond.
His focus stayed on Slander.
Always.
Slander shifted again, his stance lowering, blades angled differently now. More serious.
More dangerous.
Then he vanished forward.
This time, the attacks came in a flurry.
Slashes from multiple angles, each one precise, each one meant to kill. The air itself seemed to split under the speed of his blades.
VEX moved just as fast.
Small steps.
Minimal effort.
Every strike avoided by inches.
Not flashy.
Not exaggerated.
Just perfect.
A blade grazed his sleeve—
He didn't react.
Another came for his neck—
He leaned back just enough.
Then—
He struck.
A clean punch to Slander's chest.
The force sent a dull thud through the air as Slander slid back across the floor, boots scraping against metal.
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
Even in her weakened state, she could feel it.
VEX wasn't fighting wildly.
He was controlling everything.
But Slander—
Slander stood back up immediately.
Unaffected.
Silent.
Then he tilted his head slightly.
And attacked again.
This time, the blades cut deeper into the environment.
Metal walls were sliced open like paper. Sparks burst from shattered equipment. One swing tore through a console, sending it crashing to the ground in pieces.
The lab was breaking apart.
Aria tried to move.
Her arms trembled as she pulled against the restraints.
Nothing.
No strength.
No power.
"…move…" she whispered desperately.
Her body didn't listen.
Her heart started to race.
"Move…!" she forced out, trying again—
Pain shot through her arm.
A sharp cut opened along her skin as the metal edge bit into her from the strain.
"Ah—!"
She froze.
Breathing hard.
Her eyes dropped to the blood.
Fresh.
Real.
"I… can't…"
Panic crept in.
"I can't…"
Across the room, Dr Blanc watched everything unfold with quiet interest, his hands resting behind his back.
"Fascinating," he murmured. "Even suppressed, her psychological resistance remains intact."
Aria looked up at him, anger flaring despite her fear.
"…shut up…"
He ignored her.
Slander pressed forward again, faster than before.
This time, one of his blades connected.
A shallow cut across VEX's shoulder.
Fabric tore.
Blood followed.
Aria's eyes widened.
"Vex!"
He didn't even look at the wound.
Didn't slow down.
But something changed.
His stance shifted.
Lower.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
Slander attacked again—
But this time—
VEX didn't just evade.
He countered immediately.
A strike to the arm—
A twist—
A knee driven into Slander's side—
The impact echoed through the lab as Slander was forced back harder this time, his footing disrupted.
For the first time—
He staggered.
The air shifted.
Even Aria could feel it.
VEX was done holding back.
Another attack came—
VEX stepped into it.
Not away.
Into it.
He caught Slander's wrist mid-swing, redirecting the blade before slamming his elbow into Slander's jaw. The force snapped his head to the side, but before he could recover, VEX drove another hit into his torso.
Fast.
Precise.
Brutal.
Slander broke free with a sharp twist, creating distance again.
The two stood apart.
Breathing steady.
Waiting.
The alarms grew louder.
Fire began to spread along one side of the lab, flames licking at broken machinery as sparks continued to fall.
Aria's breathing quickened.
Her head spun.
Everything felt too fast.
Too much.
She tried again to use her strength—
Nothing.
Just weakness.
"…I'm useless…" she whispered.
Her fingers clenched weakly.
"I can't even move…"
Her chest tightened.
Frustration.
Fear.
Anger.
All at once.
Meanwhile, VEX moved again.
This time, toward her.
Slander reacted instantly, intercepting.
Blades collided with movement—
But VEX slipped past him.
Just barely.
A calculated risk.
He reached the restraints.
One sharp strike—
Metal snapped.
The cuffs broke apart.
Aria dropped—
But he caught her before she hit the ground.
Her body felt light.
Too light.
"I… I can't fight…" she said weakly, barely able to keep her eyes open.
"Then don't," VEX replied calmly.
He didn't look at her.
His focus was still on Slander.
"Stay alive."
He set her down carefully against a damaged section of the wall.
Then turned.
Slander was already moving.
Blades ready.
Faster now.
Deadlier.
The fight resumed instantly.
Clang. Slash. Impact.
Each movement sharper than the last.
The lab couldn't handle it anymore.
Another explosion ripped through a nearby section, sending debris flying. Flames spread faster now, smoke thickening in the air.
Dr Blanc stepped back slightly, observing the destruction.
Then—
He turned.
"Enough," he said quietly.
No one stopped.
But his attention shifted to a nearby panel.
He pressed something.
A low mechanical hum began to build beneath the chaos.
VEX noticed.
His eyes flicked briefly toward the source.
Then back to Slander.
He pushed forward harder.
A sequence of strikes—
A block—
A counter—
Then a final hit that sent Slander crashing into a metal structure, bending it inward from the force.
For a moment—
Slander didn't move.
VEX didn't wait.
He turned immediately toward Aria.
"Can you stand?"
She tried.
Failed.
"…no…"
The hum grew louder.
The floor vibrated slightly.
Dr Blanc's voice echoed through the lab.
"This facility will no longer remain active."
Aria's eyes widened.
"…what?"
"Containment failure is inefficient," he continued calmly.
"You're blowing it up?!" she shouted weakly.
He didn't respond.
Instead, he stepped back further into the shadows.
Slander rose again.
Still silent.
Still ready.
VEX exhaled quietly.
Then lifted Aria again.
She winced slightly.
"I told you… I can't—"
"You don't need to," he cut in.
Another explosion shook the lab.
The ceiling cracked.
Debris began to fall.
Fire spread faster.
Slander charged one last time.
VEX didn't stop.
He moved forward—
Straight through.
Dodging the first strike—
Blocking the second—
Then driving a powerful blow into Slander's chest that sent him flying back into the collapsing structure behind him.
This time—
He stayed down.
Not defeated.
But delayed.
Enough.
VEX didn't waste another second.
He turned—
And ran.
Carrying Aria.
Through smoke.
Through fire.
Through collapsing metal and falling debris.
The lab crumbled around them.
Explosions echoed behind them, each one closer than the last.
Aria's head rested weakly against his shoulder, her vision fading in and out.
"…Vex…" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
His focus was ahead.
Always ahead.
The exit.
A final blast tore through the corridor behind them as they broke through the last barrier—
And burst out into the open air.
The explosion followed.
A massive eruption of fire and debris shot upward from the hidden facility, shaking the ground beneath them.
VEX didn't stop until they were far enough.
Only then did he slow.
Carefully lowering Aria to the ground.
She coughed slightly, her body still weak, her strength still gone.
"…I couldn't do anything…" she said quietly.
Her voice cracked.
"I just… watched…"
VEX looked at her.
For a moment.
Then away.
"You're alive," he said simply.
"That's enough."
Behind them, smoke rose into the sky.
The lab was gone.
But the war—
Was just beginning.