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"beast of the desert"
In a world of empty hands, in the land of dust and shadows the stakes are all or nothing.
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The doors open, and Wolfwood As soon as we are out, opens fire at nails raining from the sky.
"Punisher!" Elendira's warped, unchildlike voice screams at his meddling. Their translucent body is that of a child's— but their violence is anything but.
I usher Meryl and Roberto into the elevator, who were waiting for us, but hesitate when the doors just close. "Hey, wait! Roberto!" I say, noticing the nail impaling him but the elevator shuts tight, dropping down. I turn back woefully, and observe the litter of red plants in this room, changing the light of the room to a bloody hue when they reflect off of each-other. Always involving people who didn't need to be— they should have left when I told them to.
"Don't waste your bullets, Nic." Just as Elendira can supply from that special gate, much like the flowers I produced, my authority can change their function. The next rain of nails all turn to orange flowers. I did help create them in a way, after all, of course I can counteract whatever they bring from the supply gate.
"Elendira," I scold, "You are a child, don't try to play with dangerous things. And don't act out of line because you think you are strong."
"Ah!" their warped voice is angrier by the minute. "Gambler, shut up! That's not fair!"
The next rain comes down, and my blade cuts through and sends one flying back at them, that cuts their arm.
"Ahhhh!!!! It hurts! Ow, ow!" they whine, and kick and through a temper tantrum.
"You play with dangerous things, you get hurt."
Vash leans down next to them, to their surprise. "Does it hurt?"
"Don't touch me, scum! You don't even know how much Lord Knives— You jerks! Just leave already."
I pass by them, touching them and their small cut heals the same way I made Vash's body heal himself. "Just be a kid and don't play with dangerous things and give outbursts like this. Or next time," my eyes are cold as I look down on them, "I will punish you for real."
We head on through the cold halls, Wolfwood ahead.
"Not wanting to kill anyone is just cowards idealism. People only live because others get to die. I don't have the luxury to make tough decisions. So I'll do anything to protect those who are dear," he says.
"For the orphanage?" Vash asks.
We stop, specifically they do, but I keep walking. "What a babysitting job, dragging someone so eager to die all the way out here alive. But it is done now." As I pass Wolfwood, I hang my hat up on his cross and leave my cigarettes with him, patting his jacket pocket.
