A Story of Evil

Jake and Ethan didn't have specializations when it came to weaponry. But because of the countless fights within Pandora's box, they've been accustomed to wield specific weaponry. Both were influenced by Peter and the two have been using the same weapons since.

Jake held a claymore while Ethan used a regular broadsword and a shield. Alice on the other hand used a weapon which she had been itching to try ever since they began their training.

"A gunblade huh?" King Jubilee said as he watched the fight begin. He then turned to Onyx who was watching closely with him and asked:

"What do you both think of the weapon?"

"I believe it is too complex to be wielded a child my liege."

"Is that so? Well that just makes this a bit more interesting don't you think?"

"Absolutely my liege. It is as you say."

"Good. Oh and Onyx, how is Sol doing?"

"He's still sleeping and, I've also taken note of the circlet you mentioned. He is wearing it as we speak."

"Fantastic. Now all we need is to wrap things up in this part." King Jubilee mentioned, hoping that Alice was truly everything Sol thought she would be.

The first one to make a strike was Ethan. Using his shield in front, he dashed forward while preparing his sword for a swing. unfortunately for him, Alice saw this coming, moving to the blind spot of Ethan which was created by his shield.

"You guys don't use your brains much huh?"

"Screw you Alice!" Jake made a huge leap, carrying the claymore which surprised the girl. She was able to dodge barely by making a sidestep, reminding herself not to get hit as the ground where Jake's weapon landed created a huge crack.

"Well, this at least makes the fight a bit more interesting." Alice began firing using the guns, shocked by the recoil which she wasn't used to yet. All her shots missed in the first round of firing, allowing both Jake and Ethan to close in again.

"We've got you now!" Jake said, making a horizontal slash but, just like his first attempt, Alice was able to dodge. Bending her body down and slitting one of Jake's knee which caused the teen to lose balance.

Ethan came to the rescue, attempting to bash Alice. Yet the girl was able to slip away again. It wasn't like Alice knew what they would do, she was only making guesses based on her battle experience.

With how they moved and, with how she reacted to them, there were a certain number of possible combinations that they could do. And just by looking at the positions of their bodies, Alice could somehow grasp what they'd do next.

"At least you have some fighting spirit in you." She commented, attempting to use the guns once again and, was finally able to graze the cheek of Ethan in the process.

However, there was no fear on the two. Staying true to his words in the cafeteria, Ethan charged in without any worry for his own life and this made him dangerous because, he would continue attacking as long as he could move.

"We're taking you down with us!" He said, trying another combination of a shield bash and a sword swing. Alice dodged the bash but, to her surprise, Ethan let go of his shield momentarily; holding it on the edge and swinging it on Alice's face. The girl took this hit, getting stunned for a whole second as Ethan went for the kill.

"You're done!"

Within her head, Alice could've sworn she felt something snapping at that moment. Not entirely but, there was the sound of something slowly coming lose.

"That's weird." She murmured as she parried Ethan's sword.

"My body seems to be lighter." She controlled the flow of force applied on the attack and directed it back to Ethan. Jake tried hitting her within this interval yet Alice simply spun her body to the point of impact, using both blades of her weapon to parry once again. She closed the distance between her and Jake within this interval as she jumped up and kneed the nineteen-year-old's face.

It was only for a brief moment. Not even a full awakening at that but, Alice was able to access David's seed. The miracle containing the ultimate battle sense.

"Had enough?" Alice asked and, the two didn't even give their reply. They just continued attacking Alice as long as they could still breathe.

"Don't look down on us!"

The combinations of Jake and Ethan were becoming more and more synchronized. One would block while the other attacked and, they would both attack when an opening was made. They were getting stronger as the fight dragged on and, maybe it was because of the adrenaline rush or their instincts for survival but, they were giving Alice a much-needed challenge.

"Who knew you two actually had some knack for fighting."

"Shut up bitch!" Ethan tried the same combination with his sword and shield again. However, as he brought his shield for the slap, Alice made a quick turn and created an upward slash. Spraying blood and making Ethan scream as his hand got cut off.

"I think it's time to finish this. You did your best already."

It wasn't like Alice was showing mercy to them. She just wanted to see if they would actually repent – if they would say sorry for all the bad things that they did. She wanted them to go in that state at least. Yet, they refused to yield. They continued cursing and directing all the blame to Solomon.

"You guys are beyond saving." Alice finally accepted this fact.

It was Jake's turn to attack. He made one big wind up and struck but, all he heard was a gunshot as Alice stood just a few meters away from his attack's range.

"What did you…" Jake coughed blood and as he felt some warm liquid drench his clothes, he saw his own blood leaking starting to form a stain. Alice made five more shots, mercilessly gunning him down until he was bathing in his own blood.

"Now, your turn."

"No…please spare me Alice!" Ethan said, realizing death only after seeing Jake's corpse.

"Oh so you finally came to your senses huh?"

"Yes. I will serve you! I will help you win the Culling so please."

"What about your buddy there? He tried trying to protect you didn't he?"

"I don't care about him! He's just a useless piece of trash. He's a waste of oxygen!"

"A waste of oxygen huh?" Alice took off her needle hairclip, allowing her silk like black hair to fall down.

"I was right. You really are beyond salvation."

The next thing that happened was nothing like what the torture chambers could've produce. All the methods seen by Alice through her own eyes. All that she experienced in being trained by the thieves of the slums. All the resentment she bore towards Ethan. She used all of these in the execution at hand.

She beat him down and broke his arms. She then followed up by breaking his limbs. Not once did Alice hesitate nor did the stoic expression leave her face. Ethan continued begging for his life, pleading that he be spared. But all of these fell on deaf ears.

With the boy completely paralyzed, Alice went on top of Ethan; taking off his nails and burying the needle one finger after the other. It was ruthless, cruel, and beyond human. But she needed to do all of it because, aside from killing the two, King Jubilee also asked her to demonstrate the amount of pain she can induce before killing a person.

Halfway through and Ethan almost lost consciousness. Alice brought out a lightning crystal and electrocuted him back to life. She then continued the torture…slowly…meticulously.

With the wails and cries of Ethan being heard by nothing but the four corners of Pandora's box. With Onyx looking away from the brutal scene. With King Jubilee enjoying every moment of it. Watching as the gem which Sol mentioned was truly so and. Within the span of a whole hour, Ethan finally passed away.

With this Alice finally reached the peak of her exhaustion. Because of her continuous training without pause even for a snack, her body was already weak when she face the two. And with the torture that was just as draining to deal with, the girl heard the thread on her head finally snap as darkness finally consumed her.