~ Z ~
Black Jacket
"Well, for once, I sorta agree with Lucifer," Avalon sighed before putting his hands behind his neck. "I mean, all the problems we had have been with the same, erm, suspects. In a time like this, I don't think we can even afford to mess up anymore. I don't think we need to remind ya' of what happened last time, right? Let's not repeat that. This time we got Bernkastel and Zenta on our side, so it should be a piece of cake, really!"
Nia seemed both confused and curious about the way the Breakers worked, however, her attention was quickly caught by May as she asked about the hive and its properties.
"The Hive is the domain of a particularly strong Xy'pher, usually an Elite. I have heard rumors that the hive in Metropolis was the domain of the one known as Eleki, so I have reason to believe that this next hive is the domain of the second Dark Xy'pher." Nia used her psychic powers to lift the decapitated head of the Xy'pher into her hands. She showed no signs of being uncomfortable. "All hives, in some way, are connected to the Central Hive, the one where the King resides. Most Xy'phers are created in the Central Hive and distributed to the smaller hives scattered about, but Elites can also create their own Xy'phers within their own hives."
"What's the best way to take out a hive?"
"Destroy its central core. Once destroyed, the hive will crumble and all Xy'phers created in that hive will die."
"Guess we know what we gotta do then," Avalon said while scribbling in his scroll. "What's the best way to destroy it?"
"Brute force, magic, psychic powers, they all work the same. It's fragile but difficult to find. I can find it but with the Xy'phers running around, it won't be easy--"
"What's it look like?" Avalon interrupted.
Nia paused for a moment and stared at the Xy'pher head in her hands before carefully pulling out the core from its forehead. She used her psychic powers to hold it up to Avalon while she used her hands to describe how big it is. She opened her arms wide. "It looks like a Xy'pher core, just ten times bigger and with more energy swirling inside. It sorta looks like one of those Earthling lamps that make your hair jump when you touch it."
As Avalon scribbled away in his scroll, he made sure to keep the contents of his writings private. His face was full of determination. Was this really the same Avalon or did he have something up his sleeve? "Alright, I think I got an idea cookin' in this genius brain of mine. We should talk more in private, Nia, I got plans for you. Besides, you heard Cayde, we gotta rest up since we leave at dawn." He turned to the other Breakers and gave them a cocky thumbs up. "Get some rest guys, we'll need to be at our best for tomorrow!"
"Plans? I did not agree to--"
"Don't worry! Hey, hey, I never agreed to fight the Dark Xy'pher but someone's gotta do it. Now c'mon, I gotta know you better." Avalon said as he took Nia's hand and dragged her to follow him. He gave Berserk a sly grin. "Besides, I know Berserk won't get jealous about a handsome man like me being alone with a cutie like you, right Berserk?"
"Cootie?" Nia said in confusion as she did not resist Avalon's tug. "Sounds contagious."
As Nia explained the situation to the Breakers, Zenta remained unfazed from his shame. Even as Bernkastel spoke to him, his reply and actions are delayed. The beast looked entirely defeated, physically and mentally. He slowly lowered his face to gaze at his hands, at least that what it looked like. He seemed disgusted, ashamed, and terrified at what he sees, almost as if he remembered something he shouldn't have. It was obvious that his mind was racing for more reasons than just one.
There was a wave of an unknown and ancient depression that consumed the beast. His tails sagged, his shoulders slumped, and his head turned to the sky. When he heard Lucifer speak, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, if not foreboding. Even he could not place his finger on why it sent a small chill up his spine. He tried to pay no mind to it, yet Lucifer's words echoed in his head.
Zenta should come with the Breakers; however, he still has plenty of surprises...
He continued to stare, falling silent as Bernkastel prompted him with a question. There was a long pause, almost too long. Did he hear her or were his thoughts drowning out her voice? It was so hard to read him, one would assume he ignored the Witch. While it is rare for Zenta to show emotion (and rarer to actually see them on his face), there was no hiding the uneasy and uncomfortable way the Beast felt about his actions. Yet, it seemed that he was more upset at himself rather than the fact that he nearly slayed Vegetto. Whatever Zenta was thinking about went deeper than what transpired before him. His hands began to shake, but not out of anger. It was fear.
The feeling of powerlessness is a burdensome thing, isn't it...
"Yes..." Zenta finally answered. It was all he said as he silently walked past Bernkastel without even giving her as much as a glance; he was simply too ashamed, yet his hands continued to shake. His mind continued to race with more than just Cuki.
Nia seemed both confused and curious about the way the Breakers worked, however, her attention was quickly caught by May as she asked about the hive and its properties.
"The Hive is the domain of a particularly strong Xy'pher, usually an Elite. I have heard rumors that the hive in Metropolis was the domain of the one known as Eleki, so I have reason to believe that this next hive is the domain of the second Dark Xy'pher." Nia used her psychic powers to lift the decapitated head of the Xy'pher into her hands. She showed no signs of being uncomfortable. "All hives, in some way, are connected to the Central Hive, the one where the King resides. Most Xy'phers are created in the Central Hive and distributed to the smaller hives scattered about, but Elites can also create their own Xy'phers within their own hives."
"What's the best way to take out a hive?"
"Destroy its central core. Once destroyed, the hive will crumble and all Xy'phers created in that hive will die."
"Guess we know what we gotta do then," Avalon said while scribbling in his scroll. "What's the best way to destroy it?"
"Brute force, magic, psychic powers, they all work the same. It's fragile but difficult to find. I can find it but with the Xy'phers running around, it won't be easy--"
"What's it look like?" Avalon interrupted.
Nia paused for a moment and stared at the Xy'pher head in her hands before carefully pulling out the core from its forehead. She used her psychic powers to hold it up to Avalon while she used her hands to describe how big it is. She opened her arms wide. "It looks like a Xy'pher core, just ten times bigger and with more energy swirling inside. It sorta looks like one of those Earthling lamps that make your hair jump when you touch it."
As Avalon scribbled away in his scroll, he made sure to keep the contents of his writings private. His face was full of determination. Was this really the same Avalon or did he have something up his sleeve? "Alright, I think I got an idea cookin' in this genius brain of mine. We should talk more in private, Nia, I got plans for you. Besides, you heard Cayde, we gotta rest up since we leave at dawn." He turned to the other Breakers and gave them a cocky thumbs up. "Get some rest guys, we'll need to be at our best for tomorrow!"
"Plans? I did not agree to--"
"Don't worry! Hey, hey, I never agreed to fight the Dark Xy'pher but someone's gotta do it. Now c'mon, I gotta know you better." Avalon said as he took Nia's hand and dragged her to follow him. He gave Berserk a sly grin. "Besides, I know Berserk won't get jealous about a handsome man like me being alone with a cutie like you, right Berserk?"
"Cootie?" Nia said in confusion as she did not resist Avalon's tug. "Sounds contagious."
As Nia explained the situation to the Breakers, Zenta remained unfazed from his shame. Even as Bernkastel spoke to him, his reply and actions are delayed. The beast looked entirely defeated, physically and mentally. He slowly lowered his face to gaze at his hands, at least that what it looked like. He seemed disgusted, ashamed, and terrified at what he sees, almost as if he remembered something he shouldn't have. It was obvious that his mind was racing for more reasons than just one.
There was a wave of an unknown and ancient depression that consumed the beast. His tails sagged, his shoulders slumped, and his head turned to the sky. When he heard Lucifer speak, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, if not foreboding. Even he could not place his finger on why it sent a small chill up his spine. He tried to pay no mind to it, yet Lucifer's words echoed in his head.
Zenta should come with the Breakers; however, he still has plenty of surprises...
He continued to stare, falling silent as Bernkastel prompted him with a question. There was a long pause, almost too long. Did he hear her or were his thoughts drowning out her voice? It was so hard to read him, one would assume he ignored the Witch. While it is rare for Zenta to show emotion (and rarer to actually see them on his face), there was no hiding the uneasy and uncomfortable way the Beast felt about his actions. Yet, it seemed that he was more upset at himself rather than the fact that he nearly slayed Vegetto. Whatever Zenta was thinking about went deeper than what transpired before him. His hands began to shake, but not out of anger. It was fear.
The feeling of powerlessness is a burdensome thing, isn't it...
"Yes..." Zenta finally answered. It was all he said as he silently walked past Bernkastel without even giving her as much as a glance; he was simply too ashamed, yet his hands continued to shake. His mind continued to race with more than just Cuki.