Endguard

Chapter 1

For the record, their day was bland. Other than the fact that Atalanta wasn't with them and they could do whatever the hell they desired—Sky blew up the school's fountain and flew away before anyone could catch her in the act—they were bored.

To no end.

They hadn't realized how much spice that the three #1s would bring into their life before. The adventures that they've been through before had been lured by those three, mostly Atalanta thanks to her hero quota and Shizuko's tendencies to create enemies upon anyone who she's set her eyes on.

As much as they wanted to go on an adventure, they were stuck here. Atalanta had confiscated their ship. Lara's teleportation needed more fine-tuning. They couldn't just use their powers in school considering that there are regular humans here who struggle and die just by facing maths alone.

Truth be told, Diana and Ainya would rather face Vargoba the second time rather than deal with history class.

"I can't see why we're stuck here," Diana grouched. "Staying in APSHU was my plan for my entire life. I'm not saying that I regret my decision on coming with you guys, but I regret my choice of returning to earth to resume school."

Lara chewed through her salad delicately. "It's not that bad. If we're to remain on earth without drawing suspicion, school is only temporary. After that we'll reach legal ages to loiter somewhere else."

"But Sky is already two hundred years old!" The metal manipulator slammed her head onto the table, jostling everyone's glasses. "Why do Ata and the rest get to go back to space?"

"They're officials in the world. We're not," Ainya grumbled. "Besides, Hope's already graduated. Wish I was in her shoes."

Sky fell into Ainya's arms dramatically. "Oh, the horror! THE PAIN!"

Ainya shoved Sky off her and continued to have her lunch.

* * *

Death X screamed. He was a sucker when it comes to pain, but this was ridiculous. Thanks to Shizuko, they had managed to escape that psychopathic villain. She had bought them enough time for him to banish him to that godforsaken portal.

He coughed up blood. Behind him, Atalanta was struggling to rise as she gripped her daggers for mental support. Shizuko's breathing was heavy, but otherwise, she was alright. The veins on her arms were glowing seven spectrums of the colour, the exact same shades that the now-blackened crystals were shining.

"I had him," Shizuko cursed. She was slouched over and her arms hanging as if they weighted a hundred pounds.

She obviously did not.

"We barely survived. Don't you boast that it was all you," Atalanta snapped hoarsely.

Shizuko rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of fuck, I was the one that defeated him and so mercifully let Death Breath make the finishing blow! You sat around and did nothing!"

Death X grinned. At least her brain hadn't been short-circuited.

Atalanta grunted. Death X helped her stand and she leaned on him for support.

"You should get that light show checked out," Atalanta groaned. "That maniac was after it for a reason. Your scanners literally attract nothing but trouble."

"It just looks awesome," Shizuko growled. "I can punch people while looking like I'm a fucking rainbow. Yippee. Can I shove this unicorn blood into your face?"

"I've lived long enough to know that this isn't normal." Death X began to head back to the ship. "We should find a method to purge the energy out of you before your internal organs combust simultaneously."

"HELL YES!" Shizuko fistbumped the air. "That's one of the ways I would die for to die!"

"You're crazy," Atalanta vamped.

"So they tell me," Shizuko cheeked.

They headed back to the ship. Since all of them were wounded and they had their separate ships—Death X stole a new ride for himself—they decided that they would rest in Atalanta's for now.

Shizuko raided the weapons' crate and began to rewire them one by one. Atalanta caught her turning her barrier cannon into a nuclear-gum creator.

Death X glanced at Shizuko when she was arguing with Atalanta. Yes, ever since they've embarked on this journey, they have been bickering longer than the demon council. He was always the audience. Women were always competitive, after all.

Her arms had never stopped glowing like a lava lamp, even after a night's rest. Shizuko's left arm remained bandaged, even after her wound had healed a year ago. It was the one injury that he had inflicted on her to get her to join their side upon their first meeting.

It was kind of cute, something like a soul bond between them, even if neither of them would admit their possible-mutual relationship out loud. He hadn't confessed yet and neither did she.

Death X grabbed Shizuko's left arm abruptly. "Hold still, princess."

She didn't hold still. She punched him in the jaw.

"Would you stop hitting everybody who touches you?" Atalanta sighed.

"FUCK NO!" Shizuko stomped her right foot on her chair.

Death X slid a needle from his bandage. "Seriously. Hold still."

"IF YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING IMPALE ME—"

He impaled the side of her wrist. Even Atalanta spat figurative water.

As soon as the needle entered her muscle, it heated up into a red, hot state and exploded, not even leaving a mark on her skin.

"Fuck, that's cool."

"That means your body is going to give out anytime soon." Atalanta dodged Shizuko's punch with her agility and poked her other arm. "We need to scan the properties of the crystal then we know what we're dealing with."

"Even better—"

"Will you be serious for a moment? If you die, the universe will still collapse."

"It got better—"

Atalanta whacked her upside the head.

Death X chuckled lightly. Same old same old. Just as Atalanta was about to prep the scanners, the energy suddenly burst from her arms and into their connected hands, creating an explosion that forced them apart.

* * *

Nobody expected this to happen, but of course, expect the unexpected.

As soon as they returned to the apartment, Lara collapsed. Her veins suddenly lit up like a lantern that was glowing emerald green. Sky tried to catch her, but she was suddenly facing the same fate. It was like something was bursting from inside her and dissolving into her blood, but she can't stop it. She fell to her knees, her own veins glowing sapphire blue.

The similar occurrence occurred to Diana and Ainya. Ainya gripped the frame of her door as her veins shone white. Diana leaned against the wall, her veins shining gold.

Then all at once, they all sat up gasping.

* * *

"What was that?" Atalanta demanded, grasping her head.

Death X groaned dramatically. "Oh, catch me, my princess in shining armo—"

Shizuko fell on her face. Great. She was going to be passing out a lot now, huh?