Epics of Noche 1, Anchor

EON CH 76

SHOTGUN.

1774, OCTOBER 02nd SUNDAY 9:00 am.

Noche turned to the man who insulted her.

"What did you say!"

"I's saids, iz yous the ones who SLEPT at that's devils house?"

"More like wit-im," his comrade chuckled.

Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fist. She opened her mouth just as a blade touched her throat.

"Nows wes gonnas goes real quiets like into dis alleyways," the first guy said.

Noche turned her head to her assailant, but he pressed the knife closer to her throat. She grumbled and followed them into the alleyway.

"I's gonna makes dis reals quick," the man said. "Wes don'ts wants no stinkins outsiders in ours village. Ya dig?"

He shrugged with a smile, kept his head low, and shimmied up to Noche. Inches from her face, his breath filled the air with tuna and onions.

"Alsos, leaves all yas credits behinds toos. If yas woulds," he grinned.

Noche glared at the man before her, the companion leaning against the wall, and the thug holding a knife to her neck.

"Now here's your options," she said. "Fuck off, or drop dead."

The first man chuckled, started to turn to the side, and swung a fist into Noche's gut. She tightened her abs in preparation to have the air knocked out of her, but it felt like she was hit by a pillow. Her eyes flickered down to her attacker who was on his knees holding his trembling fist. For a moment Noche didn't move – then the knife tightened against her neck.

She tried to break free, but it was too late. Steel glided against skin as she dashed to the left. Back slamming against the wall her hand rose to her throat. It didn't feel wet. Her eyes flickered to the knife and not a single drop of red hung on the blade. She raised her hand; no blood.

"Augment," she thought. "My Augment is too strong."

A grin appeared on Noche's face.

"They can't hurt me. My defense is at insane levels!"

The first man pulled out a chain, the second man leaning on the wall pulled out a baseball bat, and the third man with a knife got into a fighting stance. Noche cracked her neck and stretched her shoulders.

"Come on then," she laughed.

The first man screamed as he swung the chain. Noche raised her left forearm, metal links wrapped snuggly around flesh, and she yanked the man off his feet. Fist met face and he was sent flying into the opposite wall. He slid down brick unconscious; with teeth missing.

Noche grabbed the loose bit of chain that danged off her arm and pulled. Three loud snaps echoed in the alleyway as metal links were pulled apart. Both men hesitated from Noche's sheer strength as the thick, broken chain fell to the ground.

Anger flared on the face of the man with the bat. He ran to Noche, swung for her head, and she didn't even flinch. Wood shattered as the bat was split it two. Splinters rained on the ground as the thug stared at the broken bat. Then his eyes met Noche, who was grinning ear to ear, as she brushed away the hair he messed up.

The man backed away slowly as sweat fell down his face. He turned away and ran screaming; Noche's gaze followed him.

"Slow. Even when he's running away. He moves slowly... Wait, have I gotten faster?" Noche thought. "Is this how weak normal humans are? Was there really a time where I was that weak?"