The Saros Cycle

IV - Eclipse

IV – Eclipse

"Hand them over, the Divider and the Reactor you stole" the man said, extending his hand towards him.

[Star Up]

The brazelet on Touman's wrist shined and the silver revolver materialized on his right hand. The man frowned. Touma took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The entire place stank of fire and blood, the man had those blue marks and a strange gun blade... history was repeating itself.

"It was because of this..." Touma glanced at the Divider "You killed the sisters because of this thing?!"

"What does it matter, boy? You are not going to tell me you cared about them" The man look puzzled "It was just some collateral damage. I suspected you would be coming this way, couldn't let anyone interfere."

"Just collateral damage?" Touma repeated, feeling his anger swell. The hand holding the revolver was white because of the strength of his grip "One last thing. Was it you who destroyed the mines in Vaizen 7 years ago?"

"You are boring me, brat" the man reached for his weapon, pulling it out of the altar's wood "Question this."

[Birdshot Shell]

In just a second he pointed his gun at Touma and open fire. The tip of his weapon casted a black pellet of energy and then exploded when he pressed the trigger, causing a wave of smaller shotgun like projectiles to advance, causing a massive explosion in front of him. The man grinned, but then sensed movement to his left. Touma emerged from the smoke in a fluent movement and strike at him with the blade. The stranger jumped out of the way, leaving the alter to be cut in half.

The man rasied his weapon and attacked with his own blade, aiming for Touma's head. The boy managed to block the strike, causing a small shockwave from the impact which pushed back both attackers. Touma pointed his gun forward just as the man did the same thing.

[Flechette Shell]

[Silver Barrett]

The man fired a wave of dense energy projectiles, while Touma fired a series of silver color bullets. Both attacks hit each other, exploding and creating a new smoke screen that blinded Touma. He took a step back but his opponent attacked him, covering the distance between them and doing a swipe with his weapon. Touma's Divider trigger an automatic barrier, forming a silver energy field around him, which deflected the blow but broke, pushing the two of them apart once more.

Touma was breathing heavily. His right arm felt hot and looking down he realized one of the bullets from the previous attack had damaged his coat, burning the skin. 'Couldn't avoid the full damage' Touma thought, trying to ignore the sensation, and focusing on his opponent, who was completely unscathed.

"This is fun!" the man roared, giving him a toothed smile "Guess you are not some random brat, huh?" He put his weapon on his shoulder, despite the fact Touma was still aiming at him "Come on, you were so eager to talk before and now you give me the silent treatment? As much as I will enjoy taking that Divider from your corpse, let's hear it. Did you have a reason to steal from those people?"

"It wasn't because I wanted it" Touma replied, using the chance to catch his breath "It just followed me after I saved the girl."

"...The girl?" The man asked "You're talking about the Strosek?"

"That was her name."

The man blinked, apparently confused for a moment.

"But if that is true then..." he muttered, talking to himself. Then his smiled returned and he started to laugh "Hahaha! I see, I see. Hahahaha!"