Survival Game, Book 1: The Fool

Act Two: Chapter Twelve

A mentor, huh? Kouji recalled Azumi's explanation of each participant getting a mentor and going through a certain test to see if they could endure the AX drug's effects. I know she had protocols to go through in order for this program to be approved and all, but... is it necessary? And more importantly, if these mentors of ours were declined to be participants themselves... how are they working with us now? He wanted to ask Azumi earlier, but a part of him didn't want to know. Maybe she's paying them herself and not telling her supervisor, whoever that is. That was the only option that worked with the scenario. So, Kimura isn't all innocent after all, huh? Maybe she's even done crimes herself... Kouji never suspected her to have done anything like that, but who could tell? He was sure some people out there thought Noguchi was a perfect person as well.
Letting out a sigh, Kouji pressed himself against the elevator wall and slid down into a sitting position. His hands trembled lightly and he suddenly became aware once more of the tiredness that raked through his body. He'd recovered slightly since first entering the building, yet not even close to what he wanted. I dunno what kind of test I'll get or who my mentor will be. If I don't pass this thing then... No. That won't happen. He pictured the look of sheer satisfaction on Noguchi's face as he led the Grandmasters into a whole new world, and the smug smirk and glittering silver eyes as he pulled Yui to his side and forced her to rule beside him. I'll get my own powers and kill him myself. Kouji declared, balling his hand into an awkward fist, the knuckles still red and bruised from the attack a few weeks ago. He knew the AX drug's promise of powers were true, Noguchi proved that, but would they be enough? I'd be stupid to attack him without this program or powers equal to him. He'd kill me for sure... or Yui, if he's sinister enough. I'm not even sure how Kimura got her hands on those drugs legally, if she even did it legally, but they better not be something pathetic. If Noguchi's is ice like it seems, then I'd need something like fire, wouldn't I? I'll go for that. I'll make sure my mentor pairs me with fire, or something similar.
The elevator door opened with a soft beeping noise, forcing Kouji to his feet once more. He dusted off the pair of dark blue pants he'd hurriedly picked out that morning and headed inside, bracing himself for what he was about to encounter. When he stepped into the room, he was met with a strange setting of a candlelit church, one similar to Victorian Europe. The walls were black as night and the floors were dark blue and gray checkered with a dark purple carpet that ran from the elevator door to the podium at the other side of the room. Two rows of wooden benches laid symmetrically on both sides of the carpet, all facing the podium. The podium itself was made with the same wood as the benches and a large metal door shadowed into an alcove behind it. Stained glass windows covered the walls on both sides of the alcove, all depicting horrific images of various ways of death. The only one that stood out to Kouji was the picture of a woman, drowning in a sea of her own bloody tears. What kind of sick freak finds this a work of art? He thought, grimacing at the sight.
As he took a few steps further into the room, a slight breeze filled the air, though the lack of windows or vents made it feel more awkward than anything. By the time he reached the third set of benches, the sudden blast of pipe organ music joined the cold air, playing a haunting tone that Kouji couldn't place. There's no keyboard here... that'd be the only way that kind of music could play in these times. There must be speakers here or something... He guessed, glancing around through narrowed eyes. Mentor or not, whoever the hell thinks they can play these stupid jokes on me like I'm some– His thoughts were cut off as the candles hung on the wall began to go out, as if some mysterious force blew each one out one by one. The room became consumed by darkness and the only noise heard was the shrill creaking of the metal door as it screamed in protest to whoever was opening it. It slammed shut shortly afterwards and the candles glew alight once more.
When Kouji's eyes readjusted to the light, a new figure joined him, her features hidden in the shadows of the alcove. Kouji could tell she was a woman, her slender yet buxom figure silhouetted in the darkness, yet he couldn't make out any of her features. There was something in her hand, some sort of stiff, thin piece of paper that Kouji guessed was a card. She raised her hand and let go of the card, which stayed in the air instead of falling to the floor as if an invisible hand had took it from her. With the flick of her hand, the card began to glow and morph into an object ten times its size. As he squinted his eyes, Kouji noticed it was a large scythe. The woman grabbed it with surprising force and the glowing faded.
With a short grunt, she leaped into the air, landing onto the top of the podium. Using the wooden platform as a foothold, she lunged at Kouji, her scythe poised to swing at him and land a killing blow. Kouji barely had time to dodge or even process what was going on from the speed of her movement and when the curved blade swung, it missed him by only a centimeter. He was certain it grazed his fastened jacket, but he didn't have time to look. His attacker had swung her scythe once more, the precision in her swings making it seem as if the weight of her weapon was nothing to her. Kouji continued to back away as she struck, relentlessly attacking over and over until his back met the steel elevator door and he had to duck to avoid the next attack.
Does she ever get tired from swinging that thing around?! Kouji complained as he narrowly leaped in between two of the benches, hoping the cover would give him enough time to plan out what to do. I can't leave or I'll forfeit the program, but I can't fight her either. There's no way I could match her speed and strength, and I can't stop her attacks with no weapon of my own. He tried to desperately grasp at ways to stop his attacker. I could try to trip her up some way, but how? I highly doubt I could say anything to stop her–
"Quit daydreaming and focus!" A stern voice ordered before the blade swung down once more, cutting through one of the benches as if it was no more than a thin piece of paper. This time, her attack connected, slicing a long gash into the back of Kouji's leg, and scattering fresh droplets of blood across the floor. "See what happens when you don't act, dumbass? If you can't even pass the first of my tests, then how do you expect to fight, and especially kill, Tsutomu Noguchi?" She glared down at Kouji with copper eyes that blazed like fire with the fury in them.
"How... how do you know about that?" Kouji demanded through gritted teeth, struggling to sit up, his leg throbbing with pain.
"You told Kimura that when she recruited you. It's on your file. However, if you can't defeat me then it's obvious that you are living a fantasy, kid." His mentor acted as if the question was extremely ridiculous.
"How the hell am I supposed to do that when you attacked without warning?!" Kouji glared up at her, noticing her appearance for the first time. If she wasn't a blatant psychopath, she'd actually be a stunning beauty, even without makeup, which she wore little of besides the red lipstick that stood out among her pale skin and the dark blue paint on her fingernails. The only thing that displayed any traces of fighting was her long blonde hair, her bangs uneven and strands sticking out of place. That and her eyes, still blazing with anger at her student.
"Do you think you'd get a warning in actual combat? Do you think the Grandmasters would politely ask if they could tear you to shreds? No! Think, Kawakami!" She spat. "Now, unless you think you're going to pass the first test, enough talking and fight! Even if you can't beat me physically, there's other ways to win, you know. But until you do that, you may kiss that drug goodbye and crawl back to Noguchi begging." She didn't spare even a second before attacking once again when Kouji finally stood up. Her blade grazed his arm as he sluggishly dodged, breaking into a staggering run and leaping over what remained of the bench. He landed awkwardly, his injured leg making him lose balance and fall to his knees. Think! How can I make her stop? He closed his eyes and remembered the first time she appeared before him. I can't keep going like this or she might kill me, so think! He tightened his eyes shut, blindly crawling away from her attacks. He was growing slower by the minute and his previous exhaustion had increased tenfold. Her scythe! She transformed that card into her weapon, didn't she? "Wait!" He rolled over to face her before she could deal the final blow, her blade now engulfed in black fire. The fire extinguished as she looked at him, though she still held her weapon firmly. "I saw you, before the attack. You had some card with you and then morphed it into a scythe. I originally thought nothing of it, but then I realized that it was strange. I saw Noguchi attack someone with his powers, but he didn't need any object to activate it like you did. And compared to him, your power seems much more basic. I mean, it'd be a pretty crappy power if they only gave you a card that transforms into a scythe, wouldn't it? Surely they'd have given you more cards than that? Which would seem more reasonable unless that one card isn't yours and the real owner has the rest." He was rambling desperately, but it was the only wild guess he could make at the time.
Much to his surprise, his mentor's scythe glew and reverted into a card once more. "Heh. So, you're not a total dumbass after all, huh?" She seemed pleased with him for once. "You're mostly correct. However, I didn't steal it like you're implying. I'm borrowing it. And this tarot card, Death, is the only one I wish to use. The others don't suit me. Of course, if I was truly your enemy, I'd prevent you from knowing such a thing so you wouldn't have received a confirmation."
"You're... borrowing it?" A part of him didn't believe that. "But, how can you use it? The AX drug grants its user powers through injecting it. The only way I could think of doing something like that is if two people injected the same drug." That was also a guess, but more logical than the previous time.
"That's true, but the powers you get come from your bloodstream, where the drug is injected through. The drug merges into your blood, which is why the after effects happen." She explained, a matter of fact tone lacing her voice, like she was speaking to a small child. "With powers like this," she displayed the tarot card to empathize her words. "they take a physical form and their wielder uses the powers that are concealed inside them. In order to prevent just anyone using them, the cards only respond to the blood the drug fused with. If someone like you tried to use it, it'd only be a regular card."
She talks about that thing as if it's some pet. Kouji thought, secretly wishing he'd never ask her. His energy had faltered and he declined from a sitting position to laying onto the carpet below. It's better than her trying to kill me, I guess... He looked up at her with a dull expression. "Did I pass...? The first test, that is." He needed to know beforehand. "I got you to stop fighting, didn't I?"
"Yes, you passed. As for the second test, it'll be through that door over there..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed his state and for a brief second, concern flashed in her eyes. "Hey, are you alright? Do you need to quit the tests?"
"No!" Kouji quickly protested. "I... I just need to rest, that's all. Please. I can keep going, as soon as I get my strength back." He hated the thought of pleading with her, but he had no other choice. He needed to continue, no matter what the risks were.
"Hmm..." His mentor hesitated and Kouji wondered if she was toying with him from waiting. "Fine. I think it can work. When you wake, you may start the second test. But, you may not like the result of your request."
Kouji wanted to ask her what that meant, but he couldn't find the energy to speak. Instead, he laid his head onto the carpet and closed his eyes.