TORment the tormenTOR [c]

Wolfgang looked up, gave his customary smile, and then returned to his noodles. If Ville was no fool, she’d realize that his guard was up as well. Still, that did not stop him from slurping down a bite of noodles before speaking. “Go ahead and change, Miss Ville. I’ll quietly finish this bowl while you do so.” 

There was something in his tone that was not quite right. Wolfgang was clever enough to make Ville work to pick out the hostility and the threat, but even if she did not, nothing would change. Just as she always wore her quincy cross, so did he. 

Wolfgang reacted as if he knew an attack was destined to come. He went from slurping noodles to swinging his left arm, three blades of reishi extending from between his fingers and cutting through the improvised arrows Ville had sent his way. The pieces went flying past him, slicing through the cabinets and shattering dishes.

“I see you’re feeling particularly antsy today, Ville,” Wolfgang said as he stood up. His right hand toyed with the fork that was still stuck in the cup of noodles on the table. The smile never left his lips. “Is it because of Braavo? Or because you finally have a chance to prove yourself to those Unholy Richter you follow?”

Wolfgang was shoved roughly, but as Ville spoke, he created his counter defense. The moment she hissed, she’d feel several sharp needles poking her stomach. That was her sole warning. If she went through with the knife attack, she’d find herself skewered like a fish before the reishi blade ever met Wolfgang’s flesh. Of course, even if she did somehow continue the attack, blut was in effect; one strong enough to keep her blade from sawing through him so easily. 

The entire time, Wolfgang didn’t act even the least bit disturbed. Despite being at death’s proverbial door, the same calm atmosphere that pervaded him remained thick in the apartment. “I already placed my flowers on the Sternmord’s graves. I figured you’d want yours when you were buried beside them, Miss Ville.” 

“Beautiful,” Wolfgang said as the chains formed. He had time to turn around, but now he couldn’t even move a finger. Speaking was almost impossible, had it not been for his blut. “Just beautiful, Miss Ville.” 

And then the chains shattered, like glass struck by a hammer. Ville was like to notice it by then; the spiritual power seeping out of her, replaced by the feel of Wolfgang’s soul invading her own like tentacles diving into her orifaces. Raising his left hand, the sternritter allowed his reishi weapons to appear in full. The three blades, silver in color, were attached to black crosses held between his fingers. Blood dripped from their tips. 

“Your ignorance is as stunning as your chest, Knight Commander.” And then Wolfgang was before her, in fighting stance, his left fist aiming to smash into her gut. With her spiritual abilities incredibly hindered by Wolfgang’s mysterious power, forming blut or using hirenyaku to escape was impossible. If his punch connected, it’d send the commander flying to the end of the hallway, her flying stopped by the newly born crater in the wall. 

“Ser Wolfgang, I am. His Majesty gave me the title the Violate. Anything my arrows cut or pierce have their souls touched by mine, and lose their ability to manipulate spiritual power.” 

Wolfgang gave an unamused look to his hand when Ville cushioned her impact. Had he been more careful and simply aimed for her heart, he was like to have crushed it and killed her right there. Clicking his teeth, he took a step back as she rolled forward and dashed out of the room and into her wardrobe. 

The smile returned as the bullets exploded from the walls. The three blades in his right hand were more than enough to block each shot when combined with his superhuman agility, and though the ginto exploded, a swipe of his arrows cleared away the smoke. 

“Resourceful, Miss Ville,” he stated plainly. His left hand snapped up, sending three of his long blades shooting through the air. If he judged right from the holes in the wall, she was two foot away from the wardrobe’s door. His blades were aimed to pierce where he assumed her left shoulder, throat, and right kneecap would be. “But fighting an angel must be hard when he is so deep inside you, no?” 

“So brazen,” Wolfgang said with a smile. He took another step back when Ville burst through the wall so that he’d have ample distance to react. When that lightsaber of hers drew close, he stepped to the right and slammed his needles down onto the back of it. There he kept it, holding the weapon down with his own. Without a care in the world for ending the fight early, Wolfgang stood there as coyly as ever. 

“That’s the difference between us, Miss Ville.” Wolfgang’s left hand flexed, and three blades appeared between his fingers. “Mortal knights fight with honor and chivalry. They fight for glory. Star Knights fight for enjoyment. Otherwise all of our battles would end too quickly.” 

And then he stabbed at her, his three blades hoping to run Ville through her throat, in between her breast, and her stomach.