Fragments

Ch.23 - Disaster

Through the gaping hole in the factory's wall, warm, morning light flooded the room, which was otherwise dim as nearly all of the blinds were closed. The highest floor the two men encountered each other on was at some point filled with offices, judging by the furniture, long-forgotten papers scattered around, old computers and tables…
"So, here's the 7th one," the man thought. "I had two guards below, they should've informed me if anything happened… Did he sneak up here?" Parallel to those thoughts, in his usual, light-hearted style, the man introduced himself, smiling with an expression of illusory friendliness. "Who are you, exactly? My name's Tariru, it's nice meeting you… Don't you wanna get to know each other before doing the inevitable?" He stood up from his disabled cannon, slowly going down the tiny stairs while speaking.

"I'm Reuel," the black-haired intruder answered, "and quit the act, you bare-faced liar," he continued with a tone full of detest. "You're actually thinking about your security, aren't you?" His words felt like they froze the huge, open room in time, because the Reaper didn't even answer, uncomfortably shocked by the turn of events despite maintaining a friendly face.
"Don't worry," Reuel continued, beginning to display his wide, toothy grin. Standing with his back against the biggest lightsource in the room covered his face in shadow and made his sadistic expression look all the more imposing when he raised two brutalized, decapitated heads by their hair.
"I took care of them."
They were both Reapers resembling humans, one clearly male, the other female, and the sight only accentuated his insanity.

"You're crazy…" Tariru, astonished by the murderous display, which was even beyond him in terms of brutality, subconsciously took a step back… He remembered Reuel from the warehouse, but he wasn't as unhinged back then. Does Aegis only care about whether their Guardians fight or not, considering they employ such a madman?

"I am," Reuel agreed without a second thought, winding his fist back by his side and crouching down. "But you brought it on yourselves," he whispered, charging forward like a bullet and unleashing an uppercut aimed for his enemy's head.
Tariru immediately used what little space he had to slide back and evade, choosing to warily counter with just a right hook to Reuel's face, as he wanted to feel out such a psychologically intimidating opponent first and identify his ability without revealing his own. The strike connected, but to the man's shock, Reuel didn't stop, seemingly not even hurt by the blow.

"What..? What'd–." An immediate counter was delivered, and a destructive right straight combining the Reaper's strength with Reuel's own struck Tariru in the chest without warning, his body thrown backwards into the sharp, pointy metal surfaces of his cannon. His sternum was cracked from just a single punch, pain seared through his torso.
In immediate need of a stronger offense, his right hand was replaced by a spike made of bone, and he tried swinging it into Reuel's abdomen…
But that was interrupted, as a front kick to his stomach pushed Tariru further into his already broken invention, bending the metal and demolishing it.
Although he'd taken only a few of Reuel's blows unguarded, the man already fell to his knees once the merciless assault concluded, his bones broken and fractured, body screaming in pain and blood dripping from his mouth.

The difference in power between Reuel's past and current self, accomplished with ceaseless training, couldn't have been more evident. The same man whose bones he could hardly crack before was now powerlessly kneeling, and the rush of pure superiority he felt was like a drug.
Little did he know, that despite all his attained, unrivaled might, his opponent was far from finished despite his loathsome state…

While Tariru knelt there, appearing defenseless and motionless, he was lifted up by his head until being face-to-face with Reuel.
"Is this all you're capable of? Slightly controlling your bones? I should've killed you in that warehouse, if you're this pathetic…"
Tightening his grip immensely, he threw the man like a ragdoll through a wooden table, which shattered into a myriad of pieces from the impact.