Volume 0 — Part 1
Chapter 6 — The Chains of Honor
The road stretched straight.
Too straight.
Above, a suspended track hung in ruins, collapsed into twisted fragments. The buildings on either side formed a concrete corridor guiding the eye toward the night sky.
Up there shone two stars:
a white moon, fine and bright,
and a scarlet moon, immense, drowned in darkness.
Before everyone else, Luó was already observing the scene.
Sitting at the invisible intersection of these two lights, he contemplated the world with a slight tension in his stomach. Was it inaction? Or something deeper?
He sighed and lay down for a moment like a man weighed down by an invisible burden.
— It will be fine... I received my orders. Observe the show. I must control my impatience... even in the face of the master's blows.
He stood up and resumed his position, motionless.
His silhouette ends up dissolving into the night.
---
Lower.
A transport truck lay crushed, reduced to a flattened hulk.
In the center of the main road, two groups faced each other.
On the one hand:
three women in light armor, hugging their forms.
One wore a radiant bracelet covering her entire forearm.
Another brandished a large, gleaming golden shield.
The last one wielded a lasso of golden light.
On the other side:
A thin, almost skeletal boy, jacket tied at the hip.
A hard-eyed teenage girl, dressed in a sleeveless red top and black pants, a long blood-colored ribbon flowing behind her.
And two masked teenagers.
White Rabbit Masks.
Numbers listed: 63 and 36.
A white strand protruded from the girl's mask.
A black one from the boy's.
63 spoke first:
— Oh… we'll see each other again. You're the one who upset us last time. You stopped us from recovering the treasures.
The wearer of the bracelet replied firmly:
—It was our duty. You were trying to steal artifacts from the Vruole Museum in Psira. And even if it's not our main mission... I will bring justice to thieves like you.
The lasso bearer added:
—You will never leave with the Scarlet Jewel.
36 suddenly looked up at the sky, attentive.
—You are not completely stupid... even if you are really mean.
The shield bearer sighed.
—They accomplished their true objective...
63 thinks out loud:
- Not bad. You have temporarily captured the Black Rabbit... First. But it won't last. Number thirteen has already acted. Your destiny smells of misfortune.
36 hit him on the back of the head.
— Stop rambling.
63 shrugged.
—I was stressed without you…now I'm relaxed.
They exchanged a mental transmission.
- Ready ?
— Ready.
— Five minutes to disappear.
63 continued:
— But tell me... warriors of honor. Why participate in such a cowardly plan as the sealing of our mistress?
First replied dryly:
"You don't know anything about us. Shut up.
Second continued:
—What do you know about honor? Between soldiers? Family ? Life ?
Third concludes:
—Honor is a chosen chain. A promise to your master, your loved ones, yourself. Tell me... have you ever worn such a chain around your heart?
36 calmly replied:
—I'd rather be myself than a warrior like you. But this feeling… I know it.
63 smiled.
—Maybe we could get along. But we like to dance with death.
---
They disappeared.
And reappeared behind their opponents.
Two blood scythes materialized.
Hemoglobin: False scarlet
Hemoglobin: Infection
The fight broke out.
Second threw his shield, charged – violent exchange, rapid blows, perfect precision – before grabbing the returned weapon and striking in rotation.
63 was projected.
The lasso captured him and crushed him to the ground.
Meanwhile, 36 exchanged a series of rapid blows with First.
---
Elsewhere.
In a silent park.
Two figures watched from a bench.
Oz, the rabbit.
And Void Black.
"Your real goal was First," Oz observed.
"Correct," Void replied. The others don't matter.
Oz looked at the sky.
—Why is a great dragon bloodline hunting us... if not for simple artifacts?
Void didn't respond.
Oz whispered:
— The fight is already over.
---
On the road.
63 and 36 suddenly backed away, back to back.
63 held out his hand.
In his palm:
a necklace set with a pulsating scarlet ruby.
— Looks like we won. Bye.
Wings of blood spread from their backs.
They flew away.
The Wonders tried to move —
their bodies froze.
Then they fell.
"Infection…" whispered one of them. Well done…
But their looks remained determined.
— We will not return soiled.
A golden blade appeared above them.
Trinity Blade: Purification
The light enveloped them.
Their energy was slowly returning.
The battle was not over.
---