Underground III[Job Chain/B]

Spoiler:

Ayero frowned when she realized that she had found herself in a familiar situation. Here she was, dressed in black and in front of the same old building where she had met the first slaver. Apparently the man wasn’t a standalone businessman, but part of a larger organization working for a slaver boss—and reports were coming in that the slaver group and moved into the building and were using it as a full-time base.

This will be dangerous. Ayero had been given instructions to clear out the Old Boss and anyone else she encountered along the way that was part of the slaver group. There was actually quite a lot of information on the Old Boss, as the slave trade was once legal and regulated. But now it’s not, and these people are about to be out of a job. Ayero squinted as she looked up at the decapitated building. And possibly their lives, too.

The Fanalis warrior checked to make sure that her weapons were secured and that her head scarf was properly in place. With careful steps, she stole into the building and kept her ears and eyes peeled for any activity going on around her. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for trouble to find her. As she made her way through a familiar hallway, pair of guards spotted her and approached with their swords drawn. When they asked Ayero who she was and what she was doing here, she didn’t respond, only stared at them. This irritated the guards, and they rushed forward, preparing to deal some damage to the intruder with their swords. As they brought their blades down upon the woman, she ducked and grabbed one by the neck while simultaneously punching the other in the stomach.

The guard that took the fist to the stomach crumped to the ground while Ayero put pressure on the other man’s neck with her hand. After a few moments, she slammed his head against the wall and let his body drop to the ground. That was loud. I bet I attracted some atten— Ayero turned as she heard the sound of someone approach, a Slave Warden coming into view as he rounded the corner.

The man paused, a look of shock coming over his face as he saw his two guards dispatched. His guards had heard a noise and went to check on it, but when the sounds of fighting reached the Slave Warden’s ears he decided to check on the situation himself. He was surprised to find his guards defeated so quickly, a female figure shrouded in dark clothing standing above them.

”Y….You! What are you doing here?!” The man rumbled in authority, drawing his cleaver with a magnificent flourish. Ayero drew her blade in response and fixed the man with her crimson stare. ”Where is the Old Boss?” She kept her eyes locked onto the Warden’s, unblinking.

”The boss? HA! What business do you have with our leader?” The man laughed, placing his free hand on his hip as he met Ayero’s stare, eyes challenging her to approach him. Ayero took him up on that challenge, charging forward with her blade low to the side. The Slave Warder was quick to react, using a Basic Parry to redirect the incoming slash from the woman. He followed up with a Deep Impact, attempting to slice the woman down her chest. Ayero Feinted to the side and delivered a sharp slash to the man’s wrist that held the clever with Protect and Sever.

The Slave Warden cried out as the tendons in his wrist were cut, losing control of his arm and allowing the blade to slip from his hand and clatter to the floor. With her free hand, Ayero grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the wall before pressing her blade against his throat. ”Where. Is. The Boss?” Ayero’s tone made it clear that she would not hesitate to slit his throat, a drop of blood trailing down the man’s neck from where her sword pressed a little too hard.


”U-up the stairs and down the hall…last do…last door on the right…” The man stuttered, his eyes alternating between the woman’s face and the blade held at his throat. Ayero glared at him for a few more seconds before jabbing her knee into his stomach and releasing her hold on his shirt. Upstairs, down the hall, last door on the right…last door on the right…

---

Ayero kicked open the door, her body taking on a defensive stance as she surveyed the room instinctively. Though the building was run down, this room was…rather nice and well kept, all things considered. She spotted a figure dead ahead sitting in a large chair, obscured by the shadows of the room. That must be the boss. Ayero tightened her grip on her sword, but her attention went from the Old Boss to the two guards that appeared on either side of her.


Growling, the Fanalis woman swung her blade at the closest man, her steel cutting through his chest. The guard opposite to her attempted to jab his blade into her back, but she kicked the weapon away and whirled around before punching the man in the face. With the two guards thoroughly dispatched, Ayero pointed her blade at where the Old Boss was sitting. ”Come out here and fight me, Old Fart. Let’s end this.”




To Ayero’s surprise, a feminine sigh sounded from the shadows as an older woman stepped out into the light. She was tall and delicate boned with greying hair tied up in an elegant fashion. Ayero was stunned for a moment, expecting an old man instead. She noted that the woman walked with a cane in one hand and a pipe in the other.

The Old Boss gave Ayero a once-over with an unimpressed look before taking a drag from her pipe. Finally, she spoke. ”Child, don’t you know it’s dangerous for a Fanalis to wander into the base of a slave trader? Moreover, a Fanalis woman.” The Boss inhaled deeply from her pipe once more and exhaled while turning her head to the side, eyeing Ayero for her response.


”How did you know that I am a Fanalis?” Ayero’s eyes narrowed and she growled, not wanting to sit here and be taunted by an old lady. And old lady who was keeping the slave trade alive and well.


The Old Boss scoffed slightly and removed the pipe from her mouth, twirling it between her fingers as she spoke in a louder tone. ”Your red eyes and physical strength are a dead giveaway, my dear. Besides…” She paused to take another drag from her pipe. ”I’ve sold plenty of your kind. I’ve quite the eye for quality merchandise.”


The words of the old woman set something off in Ayero. Some sort of anger, but there was also fear. She did get herself into this willingly, knowing full well the consequence of failing. She was well aware that Fanalis were often prized slaves for their incredible physical strength and exotic looks. Snarling, Ayero charged forward and delivered a Fierce Jab aimed for the other woman’s heart. Her eyes went from narrow to wide in the fraction of a second when her blade met not flesh, but another kind of resistance. This…what is this? A force field? No, wait, I know what this is…


The Old Boss didn’t move a muscle, her expression remaining unchanged as her borg was shattered by the Fanalis woman’s blade. Letting out an irritated sigh, she lifted her cane and pointed it towards Ayero. ”Insolent child, you think I haven’t dealt with rowdy slaves before?” Whispering commands to the rukh, the Old Boss unleashed a Destructive Shout from her cane. The sound engulfed Ayero, taking the woman by surprise as she was still in shock to learn that the old woman was a magician.


Ayero cried out in pain as her eardrums ruptured, the pain traveling up into her head as well as down her neck and into her shoulders. Shit…she got me good… Ayero grunted as she tried to regain her balance, finding it difficult to do so after such a disorienting attack. Not wanting to give the Fanalis time to sort herself out, the Old Boss cast Harmful Shout, surrounding the younger woman in agitated sound waves.


Ayero shouted in pain, the annoying sounds wreaking havoc on her already injured ear drums. Blood trickled out of both ears and Ayero began to get nauseous from the sound based attacks, trying hard to steady herself. Not good…but I’ve had worse. Need to take her out, now! Ayero’s head snapped upwards and she met the Old Boss’s eyes with a renewed strength, Fanalis rage and adrenaline burning through her. With a battle cry, she began feeding magoi into her sword and charged forward as quickly as her body would allow without sacrificing her balance.


Unfortunately, she wasn’t as quick as the Old Boss in this state, giving the older woman time to counterattack with Relaxing Hymn. But the sound magic wouldn’t have much of an effect on lessening Ayero’s Cross Slash, the blade cutting the older woman from her right shoulder down to her left hip. For the first time, the Old Boss had an expression of surprise on her face as the vicious blade tore through her body.


Still a bit disoriented, Ayero stood above the magician’s body, panting, wondering if it was really over. She’d encountered magicians before but didn’t consider that one would be so deeply involved in the slave trade. It made her wonder how many other magicians used their talents for such a dark purpose. With one last look at the slain woman, Ayero turned to head back into town and give her report.


[WC: 1500+/1500]
[Stamiina: 170/290]

Spoiler:

[Exit]