A Long Night (I)

"First attempt, failed."

The cold wind howled. Beneath the ornate podium in the empty square, a hissing voice rang out, sharp as grinding teeth.

The voice didn't sound much like a person. And a person probably wouldn't talk to himself like that.

"I'll keep trying. Don't get in my way." The person hidden beneath the podium spoke. "This is my task."

Then it fell silent. A few seconds later, a figure dressed in black leather crawled out from beneath the podium.

Just by looking at its body, it was impossible to tell whether it was male or female. Its movements were stiff and wooden, too.

The figure bent down and dragged a massive firearm out from beneath the podium. It was black and vicious, unlike the gangs' cheap weapons or even their high-end autoguns. It was a terrifying weapon that looked utterly lethal.

Just like its owner.

The figure picked up the gun and slung it over its back. With a quiet click, it locked into place against the figure's smooth back. The act was uncanny, yet natural, and the figure didn't seem to find anything wrong with it.

It seemed to have done this hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

Then it began to run, moving at an astonishing speed. It tore through the air and reached the other side of the square in the next instant.

It wasn't particularly athletic-looking. Its tight leather suit left its body's curves fully exposed. Biologically speaking, its build clearly shouldn't have allowed it to move so fast.

But this was Nostramo.

"Looks like an enhancement."

From somewhere atop a nearby spire, Karyl, who had returned at some point, watched its movements and shook his head with a smile.

"Same old trick. It's been popular for years. How has it not gone out of style?"

"Karyl, he seems to be moving toward us," Wraith said quietly.

"I know."

"I can kill him."

"Yes, you can."

"Let me go?" Wraith asked, his voice carrying a plea that was obvious to Karyl.

"No, Wraith. This is my job. It's best when everyone handles their own duties, isn't it? Go deal with the sentries in those buildings. They seem to be staying put, waiting for us to show ourselves again."

Karyl turned to Wraith and winked with a smile. "Give them a surprise, how about it?"

"But you—"

"I'm fine." Ghost narrowed his eyes. "Go."

Wraith fell silent for a few seconds, then finally left. He was only eighteen months old, but he could already dimly understand what tonight's ambush meant.

So he wouldn't refuse the cleanup.

And Karyl knew that very well.

The day had come. The day had come.

He let out a soft breath.

I had planned to set the world on fire when this day came, Wraith. But your arrival showed me another kind of hope.

A way to burn away the darkness without setting the whole world alight.

And I will kindle this precious flame with my own hands.

Blue light flared in his eyes. For the first time, Karyl accepted this power without holding back. It began to flow through his every limb, and, as if from beyond the Veil, that voice came again.

As always, it carried a father's warmth. Ghost paid it no heed.

He only sneered, letting it knock at the door of his reason, letting it whisper in his ear.

Nothing could affect him anymore.

Ghost spread his arms and leaped down.

Amid the biting wind and the tearing sensation of his rapid descent, he abandoned every rule he had ever set for himself. He tore away every restraint and every trace of caution.

The day had come.

He no longer needed to endure the pain.

Shadow silently climbed a building.

His hands were exceptionally steady, his fingers terrifyingly precise. Every time he reached up, they found a gap between the bricks, sparing him any of the mishaps that came with climbing by hand.

Soon, he reached the shattered Gargoyle. He stared at its remains. His face was completely covered in black leather, leaving no visible opening for eyes, and yet he was watching.

There was no doubt that this was strange.

But this was Nostramo, after all. Anything could happen, and nothing seemed strange.

—And that included a Ghost falling from the sky.

"BOOM—!"

A tremendous crash rang out, and bricks flew everywhere. Someone slammed Shadow into the building. The corridor had been cleared in advance, so no one was there; the sound of his impact against the wall was especially violent.

What had happened?

Shadow had been completely unprepared for the sudden attack. He had never imagined anyone could launch a dive from such a height at that speed. The force was terrifying, too. The first blow alone sent him flying.

The attacker followed close behind.

He clearly didn't intend to give Shadow a chance to fight back. Shadow had only just gotten up when the next attack came.

Two blue lights flashed in the darkness and vanished at once, followed by a vicious glint of silver. The blades pierced the leather suit and sliced across flesh, but the sound they made was more like metal striking metal.

Shadow growled. The sound of gears clashing came from his arms. He thrust out both hands, somehow managing to stop the two blades.

"Ha."

The attacker chuckled in the darkness.

"Whoever modified you really spared no expense. They replaced your skin with adamantium. But doesn't it hurt? Your body should be trying to heal, shouldn't it? Every time you move, the metal caught in your flesh must cause pain."

"You know a lot," Shadow replied impassively. "But it won't help you. You disgraced the Skolevok Family. I will take you back to face Judgment."

"Judgment."

The attacker sighed.

"Judgment." He chuckled, his laughter echoing and growing louder. "The Skolevok Family wants to judge me?"

Shadow abruptly stepped forward. The clattering gears grew conspicuously loud as he moved. He swung a fist, intending to force his target back with a close-range attack.

Then—

"Bang!"

With a kick, Shadow was sent flying again. He crashed through three walls, stunned and utterly unable to understand what had happened.

Of course he didn't understand.

The attacker walked toward him at an unhurried pace, his footsteps thudding through the silent darkness. A taunting remark came with them.

"Don't you think this is a little ridiculous?"

Shadow got back up. At the words, he raised his left hand and pulled off his hood, revealing a face covered in metal.

The rough shapes of his features had been deliberately left in place, while fine lines had been engraved along the metal's edges, creating an absurd contrast. The Skolevok Family crest glimmered dully in the center of his forehead.

Where his eyes should have been were two black holes. Anger stirred within them.

"Fool." He spoke coldly. "No matter who's backing you, you're dead. Your family will lose, too. The Skolevok Family has taken complete control of Quintus. We'll use it as our base to rule all of Nostramo!"

"Interesting."

The attacker nodded thoughtfully. "For a noble assassin, you seem to know a little too much."

"I am the Skolevok Family's Shadow, you ignorant scum!"

He roared and charged the attacker. His rush was terrifying, and the strange clatter of gears inside his body grew so loud it drowned out his footsteps.

"Kneel! Then you can avoid a beating! I know you've had your body modified, but flesh can't beat steel!"

"Kneel to a puppet? No, I think I'll pass."

The attacker chuckled and vanished from where he stood. He moved so fast that Shadow couldn't even catch a trace of him.

Shadow warily raised both hands, ready for a blade to strike at any moment. If he got one chance, he would make that scum regret crossing the Skolevok Family!

How could a man with bodily enhancements harm skin the Skolevok Family had sworn to protect?

How could an attacker who didn't even know the name of the Skolevok Family's Shadow be so arrogant? Didn't the family backing him know what it meant to oppose the Skolevok Family at a time like this?!

And yet—

Nothing.

No attack came. No blade tore through the air, and no blow with the same overwhelming force as before followed.

Shadow began moving slowly. He wouldn't just sit back and wait. He would take the initiative and find his opponent.

His gun swayed on his back, and the gears inside his body turned violently. He focused, waited, searched, yearned—and in doing so, overlooked something.

Something he should have noticed long ago, but which the gears, driven by his anger, now drowned out.

The temperature.

It was growing colder and colder. Moisture in the air was beginning to freeze into frost. Ice formed on the ground. Shadow stepped across it, and the faint crackling went unnoticed.

Then a voice rang out, echoing through the room.

"Nostramo has no clear change of seasons, but I'm still used to dividing its year into four. It's winter now, Shadow of the Skolevok Family. Winter. It's very cold, Shadow."

Where?!

Shadow paid no attention to the attacker's words. He kept scanning the dark corners, trying to find his enemy in the empty building.

The temperature continued to fall. Finally, as it reached a certain threshold, Shadow suddenly froze.

The gears' whirring faltered, and a strange clicking began inside his body. At just the right moment, the attacker emerged from the darkness, his eyes shining with a fierce, icy blue light.

"You!" Shadow snarled, his right hand moving stiffly as he still tried to grab the attacker.

"Yes, me."

Karyl regarded him calmly. "Save your strength. It'll be better for both of us."

"Don't even think about it! Even if I can't take you back to face Judgment, I'll kill you for the family!" Shadow growled.

"Calm down, all right? I'll go see your family," Karyl said gently. "I'll pay them a visit tonight, so you should settle down."

"Metal reacts strangely with your bloodied flesh at low temperatures, Shadow. In other words, you're going to die soon even if I do nothing."

"I'll kill you—!"

"Mm." Karyl smiled and shook his head. He walked over to Shadow, raised a hand, and pressed it to his forehead.

A strange sound rang out the next instant. Shadow's body jolted, and he let out a scream.

Ten seconds later, the screaming stopped. With a dull thud, a metal-clad body fell to the floor, lifeless.

Karyl stood where he was, silent, his throat working. After a while, he slowly breathed out.

"...So you can use it like this." He spoke to himself. "Absorbing memories. That's terrifying."

And deeply repulsive.

What have I done?

Vengeful Wraith lowered his head, closed his eyes, and began to sift through Shadow's memories.

Just as he'd told Shadow, the night was still long—and he would be paying the Skolevok Family a visit.

Here's another reassurance: no one's getting stabbed. Seriously, no stabbing.

And here's a song to go with it.

"Into the Fire" by Manson. It's really good, and quite different from most of his music.