67 Breakthrough 2

"This is endless..." Beaver muttered.

"We don't have any choice, Beaver. It's a do or die here."

"Haha. You seem energetic. How are you now, Phoenix?"

Emersyn grinned widely, "Never been better," as both of them attacked in unison.

It had been one hour since they engaged in fighting the mobs and there weren't any reinforcements on sight. However, this didn't lower their morale as they fought with the same ferocity when they started this dogfight. Emersyn, though, was clearly enjoying it as a wide grin plastered on her beautiful and bloodied face. She continued attacking in a trajectory of motion and even considered the momentum against these mobs. Thankfully, there weren't any gun wielding people in the group; or else, it would be a pinch. Somehow, it excites her rather than scares her. That thought itself was frightening.

Suddenly, there was a siren.

The mobs quickly dispersed with their comrades in arms while Emersyn and Beaver hid in a dark alley. Emersyn soon collapsed when her nerves relaxed. But it wasn't that grave than the first time she fought and collapsed three days ago. After all, she pursued training her body vigorously for three days as her exhausted body slept all night.

"Haa… you okay, Phoenix?"

"Yeah… better than the last time this happens."

"Good to know..."

When Emersyn finally breathed a relaxed sigh, she stood up. Beaver glanced over then suddenly, his eyes widened.

"You… you..."

"Yes?" Emersyn tilted her head.

"... did you just grow taller… you were… just leveled with my chest and now, you surpassed my shoulders... "

Emersyn smirked and settled her hand on her hip, "Three days huh. Fess your money up now, Beaver."

However, their time got interrupted with a shout from the police. They both started running to the complicated alleyways and finally, separated from each other. Emersyn saw a ladder hanging high up beside the building. She jumped then grabbed that very ladder, however, it crumbled from her hands as she freely fell to the ground. She grabbed the wall and her fingers created a hole as her descent stopped.

"Hey! Stop!"

Emersyn quickly climbed the wall to the top of the building, then made a jump to the nearest roof. She could hear the police cursing under their ragged breath as she jumped from roof to roof. She didn't care if her actions disturbed a lot of people or when she was seen and was called a thief and more police went after her.

"..."

"What is this about?" She asked.

However, no one answered her and just escorted her towards the uppermost floor.

"Please enter inside," the butler said before leaving.

Emersyn shrugged before knocking on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Emersy---Phoenix."

"Come in."

Phoenix opened the door and a throwing knife greeted her. She immediately caught it and threw it on the carpeted floor, digging itself a place to settle.

"Ah. It's just you, Ashford," she unconsciously said.

"..."

"... I mean… Sir Ashford," she corrected herself.

"What happened before you got here," he commanded rather than question her.

"When we were about to depart from the hiding place, we were attacked by ruffians from a gang that somehow found us. They said that we have bounties on our heads from the other gangs and they planned to capture us. The fight went on for more than two hours and the police came. Beaver and I got separated from the chase as I garnered more attention from the mass. I hid in the crowd at the festival and covered myself as a participant and came here after a long while."

"Did anybody follow you?"

"None, sir."

"Good. Now, do you know you made a mistake?"

"Yes, sir."

"You left a man serving under Blanche alive. Why?"

"I have no words, sir."

"I am not going to be angry at you. Tell the truth."

Emersyn glanced at Ashford. "I… I don't know, sir..."

"Haaaa… you're despicable."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Never mind that. In actuality, I called to ask you something very important. Since you know of the Blanche now, you are the only one who could do this job."

"What is it, sir?"

"Raid the HQ of the Blanche all on your own."

"..." for some reason, she felt her lips curved into a cynical smile.

"It seems like you agreed."

Emersyn covered her mouth as she avoided the prying eyes of the man in front of her. She said in a muffled tone, "How could I do that, sir---"

"Stop with your principles, and you know that all those are thrown in the gutter. I know you want this as much as I want you to. Since you have a very powerful body and the ability to regenerate, that's all we need to fill the gaps of our plan. Actually, you made it much easier."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"No questions. I'll inform you about the date of the raid later. For now, dismissed."

When she arrived in the ground floor, she met Beaver once again.

"Yo. Thanks for the diversion, Phoenix."

"It wasn't my intention at all… but you're welcome."

"Come now, we still have a mission to finish," Beaver said as he offered his arms for Emersyn to take.

"Why thank you, kind sir," Emersyn smiled then took the arms offered to her as she clung happily. She was guided to a car then towards their family's property. It was a long drive, but it didn't bore Emersyn out as she practiced to control her breathing and move her muscles the way she wanted it to. After knowing that she would finally know why her body reacted that way whenever the Blanche was mentioned.

However, for some reason, when her breathing deepened, she could feel an unusual flow of energy in her right hand. There were two things that baffled her; the fact that she could sense energies now and that unusual flow in her right hand. She looked at Beaver who was sound asleep as his body leaned deeper in the seat. She then looked at the driver who seemed who wouldn't care whatever she might be doing at the backseat. Confirming once again, she fell deep into her consciousness and grabbed the end of the unusual flow. It wrapped around her body and she could feel something entering her mind. When she opened her eyes, there was a holographic screen in front of her. She was startled as she covered the source of the light before turning towards the two person present in the car. Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice.

"... what is this…?" she whispered.

She tried navigating through this phone like mechanism and stopped from the storage function. She opened it and saw a lot of things in it. Weapons, gold, silver, bronze… and unusual monster carcasses. Now, she knew why she muttered those words to Beaver when she was looting the men in black and putting their magazines and guns in her backpack.

"... who am I...? No, who are you?" she quietly asked, knowing there wouldn't be anyone answering her.

"Uh… huh? Oh. Phoenix… where are we now?"

"Pardon me, but I don't know. Look outside to see for yourself."

"Ah… sorry," he yawned then checked outside the window. "Hmmm… still far. Wake me up once we get there, Phoenix."

"Sure."

Then he want back to sleep.

Emersyn breathed out with relief that she didn't know she was holding. She, once again, looked at the holographic screen in front of her and investigated more about it. When the car stopped, she tore her eyes away from the screen. As soon as she thought to close it, it disappeared from her sight. She turned towards Beaver and shook him awake.

"... I'm up… I'm up. Don't shake me too much or I'll vomit… ugh..."

"I'll cook you something then."

"Really?!"

"Yes."

He suddenly sat up but soon held his head. "Oof… then, please..."

"Alright. Get off now."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Madame," Penelope greeted from the other side of the door.

"Penelope, greetings."

"... hello," Beaver said.

"Welcome back."

"I'm back," Emersyn smiled as Penelope nodded, guiding Emersyn to her room while Beaver waved at them and disappeared into the mansion.

As Emersyn and Penelope walked through corridors, it was eerily silent as no one attempted to break the ice. When Penelope opened a door, Emersyn entered then the door behind her closed with her aide outside.

"Please rest, Madame," Penelope said.

"Thanks, Penelope."

"It is only my duty. I will go now, Madame."

"Of course. See you around."

When Emersyn was sure that nobody would be entering her room, she locked the door and lied on her bed. It engulfed her, surprisingly, and the soft mattress easily lulled her to sleep.

However, instead of darkness, there were streaks of light dancing in the air. She couldn't move her body and she could feel something… changing… and she couldn't pinpoint what it was. Suddenly, someone was calling her. It wasn't Emersyn or Maajidanashi, but something else entirely; but she knew that it was her being called.

"Save her!"

"Let him go with you..."

"Please..."

"Let him be safe."

"No! Save her! Please!"

Then she could feel herself dying.

Emersyn immediately sat up from her bed as beads of sweat trickled down her face. She looked outside and it was already morning.