Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2 Overwatch - Volume 3: Crystalline Universe: Bloodline's Curse Chapter 86 Scaphism Part 2

As Karson exchanged his first strike with Scaphism, he felt the immense power lying within his opponent’s ability. There was something different from his other encounters, something never felt by him before, a chilling sensation of death and destruction, soul-piercing energy capable of piercing his soul. Karson hastily fell back knowing that his adversary is far more powerful than any of his previous foes, and this worry was justified as the ground where he stood a few seconds ago shattered into a thousand pieces due to aftershock from Scaphism’s attack.

[Scaphism] – “Oh? How did you know my attack was going to be fatal? ”

[Karson] – “I’m used to those little tricks by my opponent. ”

Scaphism was still unimpressed with Karson and still considered him a crook than an actual threat.

[Scaphism] – “Heh! ”

Huge pillars suddenly emerged from the wall and charged at full speed toward Karson but with his sharp reflex, he quickly threw a barrage of punches that destroyed all the incoming threats.

All of a sudden, a burning sensation pierced Karson’s back but before he could do anything after realizing that he had a hole in his chest, the floor became so slippery that he fell face-first onto the carpet which was hard as a stone.

“There is no pattern to his attack, no distinct ability, no weakness… what’s the extend of this guy’s ability? ” Thought Karson as he stared up at Scaphism in front of him.

[Scaphism] – “You are nothing of as impressive as I heard, just an overhyped rat who got lucky. I grant a glorious death only to those I deemed a worthy opponent with my ability: “tainted execution” but you, heh, you don’t even deserve death by my hand. ”

Karson could barely tell what is going on around him before being sucked into a wall where after the opening closed to him and concrete quickly filled his nose and mouth.

[Scaphism] – “Toro isn’t the wise man he declared himself to be, after all, losing a battle against you means weakness at its peak. (in a vengeful and determined voice) But! Those daring to cross path with us, the Divine Servants, shall never live to see the light of day again! Joining you next will be your friends! ”

“No!… I must save them, this man’s ability… they are no match against him! ” Thought Karson.

The ground in front of Scaphism opened, revealing a red door behind which he quickly disappeared. On the other hand, Karson was slowly being suffocated as he was unable to breathe with concrete blocking his airways. Every second became for him is a matter of life or death. After analyzing the environment around him, Karson saw a sharp piece of concrete beside him. Faced with no choice as his head started to get dizzy due to lack of oxygen, Karson stabbed his throat with the object, opening a hole his neck through which he can finally breathe.

As Mergiann ran through the hallway, Scaphism abruptly appeared in front of her through an opening on the floor. Mergiann quickly halted her steps and carefully backed off from the man. Being well aware that he cornered his prey, Scaphism carelessly walked toward her without fear of an attack being launched against him.

[Mergiann] – “What have you done to Karson? ”

[Scaphism] – “Hehehe… oh, you are such a fool for asking this question. I mean, isn’t it obvious enough to you? ”

Mergiann, soon realizing what could’ve possibly happened to Karson, stood motionless in shock but as the threat approached her, she rapidly snapped out of it and came back to her senses. In a quick move, Mergiann pulled a grenade out of her pocket.

[Mergiann] – “Iss Granate, du Bastard! ” (Eat grenade, you bastard!)

In an anger-filled throw, the bomb flew at incredible speed toward Scaphism but with an unconcerned stare, the executioner dismantled the weapon before it could reach him but to his surprise, Azur’s crystal exited the grenade’s shell.

Hidden somewhere around the place, Azur, with a single command, launched all her sapphires concealed in walls. In a pincer attack, while Scaphism was focused on the gem charging straight toward him, the other crystals struck from behind him.

Meanwhile, Mike, after looking at the time, decided it was time to put his plan into action but unbeknownst to him, Azur and her allies already engaged the enemy. On his way heading toward the intelligence bureau where he stored the supposed files that will expose The Passion knights to the Divine Servants, Mike received a call from Talon’s XX high command.

– “Team 0 of the XX crystal executioner squads was found guilty of high treason against the regime, cooperating with active crime syndicates and the notorious international terrorist Mike Mundy. All units, beware of their actions and moves, extermination on sight. Members include XCX-Karson, XCX-Mergiann, XCX-Darlynn and XCX-Azur. Code-XX-21 (immediate search and destruction of traitorous inner members of the XX) is in effect. ”

Upon reading the message, Mike realized that his plan has been foiled by an unknown source but the most important realization is the fact that Azur and the rest are surely fighting the enemy without him to see what power is in his opponent possession.

Without losing another second, Mike contacted Dane through the communicator in his ear.

[Mike] – “Dane, I need my armour now! Someone leaked the information sooner than I expected! ”

[Dane] – “What? But that would be impossible, your inner power core is not ready yet! ”

[Mike] – “Operation Incision is gonna be at risk of failure if I wait any longer!

[Dane] – “But it will still take me another hour to complete this task, not to mention your chest plate and pressure regulator. ”

[Mike] – “I’ll have to face him without my armour then. ”

[Dane] – “It’s risky to do so but you need to help your squad or they’ll die. ”

[Mike] – “They will have to sacrifice their lives but no matter what happens, he needs to be taken down, or chain of events in the aftermath will ruin everything I worked for. ”

During this time, Scaphism, after causing the crystal flying toward him to drift away seemed unaware of the danger approaching behind his back. To Azur’s surprise, her sapphires all got caught a thick layer of energy around Scaphism, which sent them all toward where she hid.

[Azur] – “WHAT??!! ”

Hit in multiple places by her own gems, Azur fell from the ceiling light and landed on the carpet. Confused and in pain, Azur stared at her arms to see that her ability has been overwritten by Scaphism as the crystals on her arms showed cracks.

[Azur] – “He is stronger than me… (pant) And he is able to take control of my ability against me… (painful m.o.a.n). How is that possible? ”

With a single jump, Scaphism landed in front of Azur and leaned over her with an evil smirk.

[Scaphism] – “What kind of perfume are you using? It smells so good and strange. ”

Azur glanced behind Scaphism to see that Mergiann has disappeared and left her behind.

[Scaphism] – “Oh, it’s paint? That smell is paint? Yeah, I actually enjoy the smell of paint. See, I kinda like you, you are the only one amongst them that actually could put up a decent fight. ”

Azur stayed silent as she is more a fit of rage toward Mergiann for abandoning her than caring about the immediate threat in front of her.

[Scaphism] – “Are you listening? I’d like to have your attention when I speak. I’m showing respect toward you by letting you live, so I guess you could show some respect back at me? ”

[Azur] (in anger) – “If you want me dead, just do it already! ”

[Scaphism] – “No, you are wrong! See, I’m not going to kill you… hehe… I’m going to take you to my place, offer you a drink, offer you gifts, have s.e.x with you and make you my bride. ”

Scaphism stood up and laughed the whole thing off before approaching Azur’s face even more and stared right in her eyes with a lunatic smile.

[Scaphism] – “(Deep breath) All this if you accept to join me… or we could do it “the enemy way”. By that, I mean I’m going to **** you, turn you into your true form with my ability and set the example for the rest of the association to see what fate is destined to traitors. ”

[Azur] – “So if I submit, you’ll make me yours? ”

[Scaphism] – “I’ll treat you like the love of my life if you accept me as your master! ”

Azur secretly grabbed something and covered her mouth with her palm before letting out a mocking laugh.

[Azur] – “Do I look like the type to submit? I’m the type to be on top instead. ”

Amused, Scaphism shared a laugh with Azur before suddenly pressing her hands down onto the floor. After licking his lips, Scaphism slid his palms around Azur’s thighs while she watched helplessly.

Suddenly, Azur grabbed Scaphism and french kissed him but as he enjoyed the moment, a sapphire abruptly came out of her mouth and shot him in the mouth. As Scaphism fell on the ground, Darlynn’s rapier cut a hole open on the floor and quickly dragged Azur through it.

Scaphism hastily stood up and spat out the crystal with a mouth full of blood.

[Scaphism] – “(pant… pant…) If I was a second slower, she could’ve killed me… this little bitch! ”

Darlynn immediately closed the door behind her and carried Azur into the chamber where Mergiann was trying to remove the concrete from Karson’s mouth.

After using pieces of her clothes to cover up her wounds, Azur stood up and walked toward Mergiann. Azur had no strength for anger but hoped at least to receive a few words of apology but instead, Mergiann asked her to help remove the pieces stuck in Karson’s mouth that she couldn’t.

Azur’s frustration finally broke her as she grabbed Mergiann squeezed the life out of her with all her fury.

[Azur] – “I f.u.c.k.i.n.g helped you! I got almost r.a.p.ed and murdered! And you, instead of doing anything, you ran away! You little rotten piece of human garbage! ”

[Karson] – “Don’t you dare do anything to her, you bloody psyco! ”

After a short struggle, Darlynn pulled Azur away from Mergiann before she passed out.

[Mergiann] – “(cough, cough) You f.u.c.k.i.n.g nutjob! If it wasn’t for me being there in time, Karson would have died from bleeding! ”

[Azur] – “Yeah! I f.u.c.k.i.n.g matter less than him? Bunch of assholes! ”

[Mergiann] – “I couldn’t do anything against Scaphism neither! If I stayed I would have also died! ”

Pure hatred boiled inside Azur as she stared menacingly at Mergiann who showed little to no remorse for abandoning her.

[Azur] – “If that’s how you wanted it to be, then I’ll gladly watch you die next time! ”

[Mergiann] – “I’ll rather watch you getting r.a.p.ed instead! ”

The words struck Azur like a bolt as she even wasted her first kiss and exchanged her saliva with Scaphism just to save her own skin.

[Azur] (in hatred-filled voice) – “Maybe I could send a letter to your mom and sister in Germany if you die… Oh, I forgot, I can’t since their bomb crater was filled up a few years ago. ”

Upon hearing Azur’s words the room went silent. Mergiann’s slowly shed from her eyes while Darlynn sat down while in a state of shock.

[Azur] – “Ah! You guys are shocked because of this? Why aren’t you guys shocked when you heard what she said to me? Bastards, all you care about is yourself and the ones close to you, you never even cared about others! ”

[Darlynn] – “Azur, calm down, it’s fine, we should focus on how to defeat the enemy rather than- ”

[Azur] – “You guys can mock me back then when I was weak in this team, you guys can choose to reject me because you think I’m putting you in danger but none of you remember the times I saved your asses! You can watch me die, watch me getting humiliated but can’t stand one of you getting insulted? Bunch of ungrateful shitheads, that’s why Mike didn’t even care about you all you- ”

Suddenly, Darlynn dropped to her knees in front of Azur and put her rapier on the floor.

[Karson] – “Darlynn… ”

[Darlynn] – “I will now make my official apology for my behaviour toward you in the past. I have been guilty of many vile and sickening decisions and have been someone that made severe lapses in my judgement! ”

[Azur] – “Darlynn… you don’t have to… ”

[Darlynn] – “I also show my eternal and deep appreciation for the many times where you risked your own life to offer me another chance to see the light of day and not end up below the ground. I will also apologize for Karson and Mergiann and their behaviour toward you and I’m ready to take any punishment for them. I beg for your pardon, I beg for God to forgive my sins and I hope that I could one day make it up for you! ”

Mergiann and Karson stood in disbelief toward Darlynn’s action in front of Azur.

[Azur] – “Darlynn… ”

[Darlynn] – “I wish you could forgive me and forgive those who cannot understand you. ”

Moved by this deep and emotional apology, Azur dropped to her knees and hugged Darlynn in tears.

[Azur] – “Why… why would you… ”

[Darlynn] – “We only have each other in this world, what’s the point if we even fought between ourselves. We are stronger through unity, this is why we are alive to dream, to even have moments of happiness and to help those who cannot. ”

[Azur] – “Thank you. I understand now… I’m sorry… ”

[Darlynn] – “Let’s finish this fight like we always did in the past, by walking out alive and winners. ”

Unbeknownst to them, Scaphism slowly emerged from the wall in a blind spot in the room, determined to have his revenge.

To be continued… Next Chapter: [Blood Blossom and Tainted Execution]