X No Sekai

o22; Deadly Sacrifices

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Oz backed away more, as he saw the Red Queen’s “protector”. But the mysterious girl only looked at him with her gentle, pale green eyes. She didn’t make movements indicating that she’d be attacking them. The miniature-sized creature was actually floating at her back silently.

The 4th ALICE took a step forward and put his hand out front, in a way to protect Oz. “Whatever you’re going to do anything, you have to surpass me first.” The Red Queen just snickered and held out her fan in front, sending a very strong current of a wind. The 4th ALICE blocked it using his hands.

“The show’s on,” the Red Queen as she raised both of her hands in the air. Sharp, ebony-black icicles appeared behind her head and shimmered throughout the light. Then she whisked her fan swiftly towards the 4th ALICE and Oz. The 4th ALICE quickly pushed Oz out of the way as sharp and fast icicles came lunging towards them.

Oz fell on the ground and tried to stand up. He glanced at the 4th ALICE, who was flying in mid-air, watching intently at the Red Queen. The Red Queen only smiled at him grotesquely and suddenly disappeared in nowhere. The 4th ALICE glanced everywhere around him, trying to trace any scent of the Red Queen. But this time, his tracing of scents failed.

Then, something sharp hit him hard on the back. When he grabbed his back, he pulled out the icicle of the queen, and yet it was stained with his own blood. Blood dripped from him. “Wha—” he gasped. And the Red Queen appeared behind him and pushed him down. He fell on the ground, with a very hard impact.

Oz stood up and was about to help the 4th ALICE when he felt that he couldn’t move his body. He tried to look at the mysterious girl, who had her staff out front and still smiling at him. Oz glanced down. And much to his surprise and shock, his shadow was being held by the girl’s staff. It was like she controls the power of shadow, which was the 3rd ALICE’s ability.

The 4th ALICE tried to stand up, but he was being pinned down by the Queen’s foot. Then she grinned down at him and said, “I can’t believe my ALICEs are this weak. I shouldn’t know in the first place.” Then the Red Queen glanced at Oz, who was frozen because of his shadow. “And I can’t believe that my ALICEs are going to team up with you. What is it that they like you more and wants to escape my Xland now?”

Oz just gulped heavily. No matter how much he wanted to move, to react and to speak – he can’t. His shadow was being controlled by the mysterious girl’s staff. Then, Oz was surprised when the 4th ALICE tried to stand up under the Queen’s foot. “Because…we…don’t want…another victim…to make another…ALICE…” With the grunts and groans, the 4th ALICE managed to swipe away the Queen’s foot that pinned him. And finally stood up, wiping a blood that dropped from his mouth. “We…live because…we know that…this…is our fate…”

The Red Queen bit her lower lip and said, “I won’t let you!” Then, sharp, black icicles came shooting out and everywhere. The 4th ALICE dodged and blocked them with the use of his arms and a whip wind. The Red Queen pushed the 4th ALICE on the ground, with a very heavy impact that made the cement on the ground crumble. Then the Queen walked up to the 4th ALICE and raised her right hand in the air. “This is your end.” She said and shot the 4th ALICE with the icicle, which quickly thrust onto the ALICE’s body, which sent out fountains of blood. Then she laughed grotesquely. Oz’s eyes widen. “NOO!” he screamed as he tried to break free.

But much to everyone’s surprise, the 4th ALICE appeared behind the Red Queen and using her icicle, pointed it on her neck. “Surrender and give us the key if you don’t want to die early,” he said in his low voice. Oz felt happy and relieved; as a tear dropped on his eye.