The dust was settling from the intense battle between Hao and Vicky, meanwhile, the more mature gang members gathered around a table in a corner of the warehouse. The young children of the gang played nearby. They engaged in a game of their own invention, using discarded scraps of metal and wood to build a miniature cityscape and even acting out epic battles between their pretend heroes and authentic villains.
Hao, Vicky, Scar, Raven and a couple more background characters took their places around the table where a holographic map was flickering to life in the centre. Raven shot daggers at Hao, her hatred for him was fuelled by the gruesome fate he had inflicted upon Silas. Hao, in turn, was focused on the heist that Vicky was about to propose.
"Alright, now that the distraction is out of the way, let's get down to business." Vicky began her explanation of the heist, providing a detailed description of their target location: the Parkour District.
Though impoverished like the Wranglers District, the Parkour District was more affluent, with its wealth concentrated in the hands of an arrogant snob named Rector. The man had accumulated more riches than he knew what to do with, and his private gallery of valuable items was the target of their heist.
"This isn't a simple heist to steal all his valuables," Said Vicky, zooming in on the holographic map to show a basic schematic of Rector's gallery. "No... I'm just after one item."
"And what item might that be?" Hao asked, intrigued by the secrecy surrounding their objective.
"That is classified," Vicky replied cryptically.
"Classified?" Hao wasn't satisfied with this answer. "How am I supposed to steal something when I don't even know what it is or what it looks like?" he protested, visibly frustrated.
Vicky shared her plan, "That is where my key player comes in. Your mission is to get into the secret vault without triggering the special security system. When the item is secured, you are to withdraw immediately. Do you understand?"
"Hmm…" Hao shrugged. As the debriefing continued, he inquired, "So, how soon do you want this to be done?" He was very impatient to be reunited with Judgment Day.
"Tonight," Vicky replied with a hundred percent certainty.
Hao was taken aback by the urgency, surprised that they weren't adequately prepared to be executing the heist so soon. "Are you for real, lady?"
Hearing Hao's tone, Scar glared at him, "Hey, what did I say about showing respect?"
"Fhm." Hao ignored him and folded his arms beneath his chest, rather arrogantly I might add. His secret vision also peaked into the safe to see if Judgment Day was there. "Tell us more about that place."
"Alright." Vicky elaborated on the mission area at Hao's request, explaining that they didn't have the luxury of time to make a proper plan or strategy. The window to gain access to Rector's gallery was either tonight or never.
While they discussed the intricacies of the mission, Hao felt a sense of unease. They were going in blind, with little time to prepare, and the success of the heist rested on the mysterious key player he had yet to meet.
Waiting around in Vicky's warehouse for the key player to arrive, Hao grew increasingly impatient. The atmosphere in the warehouse was tense, with the members of Vicky's gang going about their business. Hao paced the floor with his Vibe Sense alert and taking in his surroundings. He observed the children moving about, some playing and laughing despite the dire circumstances, while others appeared to be training, practicing their sword skills with diligence. Grown members of the gang occasionally entered the warehouse, engaging in hushed conversations with Scar before departing just as quickly as they had arrived. Raven leaned against a table, she had her fierce eyes locked on Hao as she idly twirled her daggers in her hands. The cold steel appeared to be dangerously thirsting to taste blood. Who's I wonder?
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Hao approached Vicky who was seated in her wheelchair with her gauntleted hands resting on her sword-legs. "When is the key player supposed to arrive?" he asked, sounding impatience.
Vicky glanced up at him with an almost unreadable expression and shared, "She should be getting back anytime soon," her reply was nonchalant.
"So it is a her?" Hao couldn't help but feel intrigued.
Vicky smirked while crossing her arms over her chest. "Yes, it's a her. And trust me, she's the best at what she does."
"Oh really?" Hao was dying to know more about this mysterious *her*
As they spoke, the warehouse door creaked open for a young lady to enter. She was lithe and agile, moreover, her movements were as graceful as a cat's. "I'm back," she announced sounding melodic and confident.
The children in the warehouse immediately perked up, their faces lit up with joy. "It's Big Sister Lanor! She's arrived!" they cried, running to surround her. They bombarded her with playful questions: "How was your day at school?"
"Was it boring?"
"Did you meet any cute guys?"
Lanor looked appalled by the last question, her eyes narrowing at the young girl who had asked it. "Nancy, you're too young to be talking about boys," she scolded gently, before continuing, "But something exciting did happen at the guild today. You wouldn't believe it. There was this stupid blindfold guy causing trouble with the Imperial Hounds. The OSD enforcers even showed up later, searching for him. They held most of us back on the compound for questioning and that's one of the reasons why I came back so late." Unaware that the person she had just insulted was in the same warehouse, Lanor turned to the children and asked, "Where's Mom?"
The children pointed towards a door, a sort of separator for the other side of the warehouse. "She's in there with the crew," they answered.
"Ok thanks, I'm going in."
"Hmm?" Hao, overhearing the conversation, was surprised, moreover, curious to see who had just entered. Peering his senses through the door as it came asunder, he recognized the talkative girl from the guild's archive earlier on today. "It's you!" he exclaimed, shocked. "What are you doing here?"
Lanor's eyes widened in disbelief as she pointed an accusatory finger at Hao. "It's you! What are you doing here?" she asked in unison with Hao. The animosity between them was palpable, like a sudden jolt of electricity in the air.
Vicky, sensing the unease, looked between the two of them. "You two know each other?" she inquired.
"Not really," Lanor replied, still eyeing Hao warily. She then went on to explain how they had briefly encountered one another at the Blade Engineering Guild while she was browsing for an S-Catalogue to read.
In the midst of their exchange, Scar and Raven approached Lanor, offering their own greetings and interactions. Hao, still trying to process the revelation, took a moment to study Lanor more carefully. He couldn't help but notice her attractive figure, her toned muscles speaking to her skill and training, not to mention her charismatic vibe. However, he couldn't shake his doubts. "So she's the key player we've been waiting for?" he sounded condescending. "She doesn't look much capable to me." he added.
Lanor, hearing Hao's insult, felt a surge of anger blazed through her loins. "Try me!" she challenged him to a friendly duel of Crossblades, whereby the loser would be shamed by defeat. "You think you are so slick because of that stunt you pulled with Imperial Hounds?" In her fit of range, her hand travelled very quickly to the weapon poised at her waist.
"Hmm?" Hao's Vibe Sense zoomed in on her hand, observing every subtle movement as she prepared to draw her weapon. The atmosphere in the warehouse grew even more deadly as everyone present held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
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Hao's Vibe Sense was drinking more of the vibrations being scanned by the weapon Lanor was about to unsheathe from her waist. Despite his blindness, he was able to discern the subtlest of details, giving him an insight into the extraordinary nature of his opponents Blade Edge.
Whoosh!
With a swift, adroit motion, Lanor unsheathed her sword, revealing its thin, flexible Blade Edge. The sword, which she called Rapier, was designed for swift, clean movements, allowing her to strike with precision and finesse. As a competent Blade Master, the Rapier's unique properties empowered her, lending her a sense of grace and agility in combat.
The Rapier was a marvel of engineering, its slender body was comprised of a rare alloy that was both lightweight and incredibly strong. The alloy's molecular structure granted the blade a degree of flexibility that enabled it to bend without breaking as well as allow Lanor to execute intricate techniques with ease. The weapon's hilt was adorned with neat engravings that depicted miniature scenes of legendary battles and the victories of famed Blade Masters. One needed a microscopic vision to see the scenes in their full perspective, of course, this was no trouble for Hao's Vibe Sense to peruse. He diligently observed all that he could about Rapier in the free time allotted to him.
"Fhm!" With a puff that exuded a wisp of visible air from her nostrils, Lanor's grip tightened around Rapier's hilt. Shortly, the weapon began to emit a soft glow, its brightness steadily increasing until it bathed the surrounding area in a gentle, ethereal light. The illumination was powerful enough to cast shadows throughout the warehouse, yet not so overwhelming as to be blinding. This unique brightness, a result of the energy flowing through the Rapier, was discernible even to Hao's Vibe Sense, though to a lesser extent than a sighted person would perceive.
Lanor's fierce gaze was locked onto Hao, her body tensed and ready to strike if necessary. The atmosphere in the warehouse had become thick with anticipation of vibrant duel, every member of the gang were watching the standoff between Lanor and Hao with bated breath. Even Raven, who had been idly playing with her daggers, had stopped to observe the potential conflict.
Flash!
The Rapier's glow seemed to cast a spotlight on Lanor, highlighting her strength and resolve to smack Hao's butt. Her stance was impeccable, the product of countless hours of training and discipline. The very air around her seemed to vibrate with a quiet power, like an energy that excited and unnerved those present.
Hao, for his part, remained calm and collected, his Vibe Sense remained fully attuned to the situation around him. He knew that Lanor's Rapier was a formidable weapon, one that could easily turn the tide of a battle in her favour. However, he was also confident in his own abilities, thus he refused to back down in the face of her challenge.
The tension between Hao and Lanor continued to build as the air continued crackling with the weight of their unspoken challenge. And yet, as the seconds ticked by, it became increasingly clear that neither was willing to make the first move. In the end, it would take an outside intervention to break the stalemate, and to determine the course their relationship would take from that moment on.
"Why are they both just standing there, get it over with already." Scar's impatience surmounted the fixedness allowed by his eyes to view the unspoken feud.
Suddenly, a droplet of water fell from the ceiling. DRIP! The sound echoed through the silence like a gunshot. That was all it took to set the battle in motion.
Swish!
Hao, confident in his skills and guided by his Vibe Sense, took the first step, his movements clean and purposeful. He anticipated Lanor's initial attack, evading her swift lunge and countering with a flick of his wrist that sent her off balance. However, to his surprise, Lanor quickly regained her footing and executed a slick move that caught him off-guard.
Lanor spun like a top with her Rapier slicing towards its moving target with incredible speed. As she spun, she bent her body low to the ground, then used her blade to carve an intricate pattern in the air around her. Hao was forced to react quickly by leaping backward to avoid being hit by the whirling blade.
"Don't think this is over just yet!" Hollered Lanor hotly.
The duel escalated, both fighters displaying their prowess. Hao's Vibe Sense allowed him to perceive Lanor's every twist, but he quickly realized that he would need to do more than simply anticipate her actions. When her attacks grew more vicious, he called upon his Vibe Seeker ability, a technique that allowed him to better predict his opponent's movements with 70% more accuracy by syncing his rhythm with theirs.
"Let's rock!"
Hao began to dance with a graceful and hypnotic appeal while his head was shaking from side to side and fingers snapping as he tuned into the rhythm of Lanor's body. This was the very technique that had nearly defeated Scar when he and the gang had attempted to capture him in the slums.
"Hmm, that move again?" Scar watched from the sidelines with mixed emotions on his face as he was reminded of the strange and powerful technique that had once bested him.
"Wow! What is he doing?" A child exclaimed with questionable glances.
"Can't you see he's dancing stupid?" Replied another brat with a smug grin.
"I can see that but why is he doing it? Isn't he a big sister supposed to be having a duel of Crossblades?" This youngster had a puzzled expression on his face, but the others were more carefree and entertained.
The warehouse erupted in excitement as the children watched Hao's dance moves. Little Nancy, in particular, was captivated by his deft approach at swordplay, love was blossoming in her young heart as she watched Hao's graceful movements. Vicky, too, couldn't help but be impressed by Hao's unique skill set, this reinforced her belief that she had chosen the right person for the upcoming heist.
"Are you making fun of me?" Lanor grew increasingly angry along with the sharpness of her Rapier.
"Woo- hoo!" Hao's Vibe Seeker allowed him to stay one step ahead of her, their duel became a spectacle of brilliant motion and artistry. Vibe Edge remained sheathed, as he expertly evaded each of Lanor's increasingly aggressive strikes. He danced and dodged while bending himself and supernatural fluidity all the while snapping his fingers.
"Dammit! Why is he so difficult to cut all of a sudden!?" Lanor, frustrated by her inability to land a hit on Hao, redoubled her efforts as she attempted to break through his defences. Hao, however, seemed to be in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the battle, predicting every single move.
"Let me show you the difference between us."
Finally, in a masterful display of skill and timing, Hao seized an opening in Lanor's offense. He feinted to the left, drawing her Rapier out of position, then spun around, using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to her midsection. The force of the blow sent Lanor sprawling to the ground, as a result, her Rapier slipped from her grasp and hit the ground with multiple clangs.
For a moment, there was silence in the warehouse as everyone took in the outcome of the battle. Lanor, however, was not yet ready to admit defeat. She struggled to her feet with her burning eyes of anger aimed at Hao as she reached for her fallen weapon.
But before she could reclaim her Rapier, Vicky intervened, her loud voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Enough!" she declared looking at the two combatants. "We have a mission to prepare for, therefore, we can't afford any more distractions." She ended the duel abruptly with Hao being the victor. "Now that all of us are here, let me explain the rest of the plan."
Hao and Lanor exchanged one last heated glance before begrudgingly acknowledging Vicky's command. Their battle may have come to an end, but the underlying hate between them was far from resolved.
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