It was loud inside the main lounge center of the White Eye building. It was a huge lounge spanning 200 meters across with almost everything to do. From eating in a restaurant to sporting in the fitness room. It was like the main lobby of a shopping mall.

  Since Megami Duvet's death and the subsequent yet ironic “assassination” of the Ghost Assassin has put the White Eye in turmoil. Their fight against the Nextellar proves to be the most arduous task ever.

  But there is one person whose death of Megami Duvet has hit harder than everyone here.

  Zahra Duvet.

  Her only sister.

  She joined White Eye not too long ago to be able to support her sister as well as spend more time with her but even that came to an abrupt close. There is no way for her to spend any real quality with her because most of her activities are kept strictly confidential from Zahra since she isn't as experienced or trusted enough to take part in some missions and is often kept out of the loop for such reasons.

  But now that Megami is dead, what else does Zahra have left?

  The TV was on while Zahra was slouching back on her sofa. Her arms spread on the headrest with a grim face and dark tired eyes. She hasn't gotten any proper rest. She also noticed that people were fixated on the TV as it showed new information about Megami's death. Something that was not known at the time. This is likely new info.

  -- At 5:43PM MST, Envia Dome would record it's 2nd largescale attack after an unidentified Soul-Wielder of fundamental power activated their Soul-Spec with alleged attempt to harm. Civilians were evacuated and the EPD were quick to lockdown the surrounding streets until the battle was contained. Aerial drone footage would detail that an unidentified gunman would battle and defeat the attacker, leaving her for EPD Officers to collect her body for forensic and Soul-Residue examination.

  Information regarding the gunman is scarce - however they were connected with the 1st largescale attack, in which a man destroyed a Plaza Bar, injuring several civilians and causing collateral property damage on the surrounding slums and buildings. Information that has been recognized is that they are a Weapon-Type Soul-User with a strength-level of extreme power at the very least.

  Information regarding the instigator is almost none, being recognized as a Weapon-Type fundamental-grade female. Their injuries included cauterized bullet holes, severe bruising and the early stages of Cirumite poisoning - as seen by rashes around the neck. Information regarding their history has yet to be released by the EPD, however the few drones that managed to record audio picked up a hatred for Dark-Intrinium - suggesting she may have been of Soul-Core-sided allegiances.

  At the end of the battle, a piercing surge of Soul-Energy would be sensed by everyone capable of using their Soul. This strange anomaly would also corrupt footage and audio, leaving the people of Envia Dome largely in the dark. --

  Zahra stared at the ceiling, the same depression you would feel as if your parent died from illness. She wanted to die herself. She hasn't got out of the lounge in days. Not even her squad could talk her out.

  They tried everything.

  Part of her life has seemingly vanished away at the hands of some unknown asshole, and she couldn't do a damn thing. In her mind, that unknown asshole was the only thing swimming about. Thoughts of torturing him or cutting him open.

  Zahra facepalmed, trying to conceal her face to let nobody know of her silent crying.

  It was genuinely gut-wrenching. Your sister was finally granted a semi-vacation for her performances in the Battle of Kobaji and how close she was to killing Evtoria Mugen and then, some rando mercenary kills your sister for money.

  He who kills for sport will surely die in the hands of a raging sister with nothing to lose but only thing to gain.

  Avenge Megami.

  Avenger. She wanted that title.

  The revenge for her sister will be the only thing that will ease her pain and find solace in her vengeance.

  A quiet sniffle escaped her. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She stood up, grabbing her towel and walking to the fitness room. She was here to train, after all.

  -

  “Hng!”

  A deadlift of 360kg supported by her Soul-amplified strength, which she used to work on her glutes and hamstrings, while also training her grip and core strength. The cold steel felt good in her hands and the gravity that pulled down on her was only fuel for her determination.

  She needed to become better, stronger. She had no idea who killed her sister, but whoever it was, she would damn straight find them.

  And she would kill them.

  She repeated this deadlift 6 more times before being prevented a seventh success as someone planted their foot against the metal bar. This sudden resistance made her lose form and let go of the bar, sending it crashing against the safety rack.

  She turned her head to the foot's owner and saw a tanned, orange-haired White Eye member.

  Zed.

  He was looking down at her with a disappointed look.

  “...The fuck's your problem?” Zahra stood upright, staring him deep in his soul. Her light-blue hair, silky and clean, flew in the air as she changed perspectives. The sweat cascaded down to her body like rain poured down on her.

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  Looking around, she realized she was surrounded by 4 other people. It looks like they mean business.

  “Look who it is... the deadbeat sister of that traitor. Forgotten about your sister already?” Zed mocked, earning a small chuckle from the others.

  Since Megami's death, rumours have spread that she betrayed White Eye and got killed by someone who was once a part of White Eye. They said she died on purpose, but Zahra knows that isn't true.

  The only way for Zahra to mourn in peace was to train everyday for 3 hours to get strong enough to kill whoever killed Megami Duvet. Most members thought she was batshit crazy for it.

  “I can mourn my sister however I want.”

  “Yeah... of course... Ain't nothing wrong with that.” Zed walked around her. He was inspecting her as if she were a piece of meat.

  “But when that 'mourning' involves neglecting your duties, we have a problem.”

  Zed stopped directly behind her, opening his fist and closing it again. “Devastated, training to murder someone who got rid of that traitorous whore.” He laughed. “That killer could be an even more dangerous fundamental-grade.”

  Zahra stood quiet. She was on high alert the whole time.

  “You're lucky the higher-ups aren't hanging you for mourning a traitor.”

  “What do you want, Zed? You want another reason to hit a woman so you can boost your pathetic ego?” She turned to look him in the eyes again.

  Zed and his cronies laughed at her words. One of his cronies spoke. “Duvet got what she deserved, idiot. Because she betrayed us, we've become nothing but dogs to Dark Intrinium now.”

  Zahra chuckled.

  “...”

  “If Megami was that valuable to all of you then you guys are just fodder.”

  That set them off. Zed's fist connected with her face, making her stumble back. She slowly tilted her head back and tried to hit him back, only for one of Zed's cronies to hold her arm.

  “You should know how to speak to your superiors.”

  Zahra elbowed the person behind her in the face before throwing a bag at Zed, making him fall over.

  “Gah, you fucking cunt-faced whore!”

  Using her strength, she punched and kicked one person away before being met with a cheap shot to the gut, followed by another kick to the gut.

  She dropped to her knees, holding her stomach. All four of them now surrounded her.

  “Bitch...” Zed said. He wiped the blood from his lip. He spat it on the ground beside her. “You're nothing without your sister. You're a deadbeat. A useless sack of meat.”

  “Go to hell, Zed!”

  “I was there... at Kobaji. I saw how your sister let Evtoria get away.” Zed cracked his knuckles. “She got herself killed because she was weak. Just like you.”

  He walked to her.

  “She's the reason why White Eye's about to be cleansed from the face of the world.”

  “Kg...” Zahra winced in pain. He was getting closer.

  “So much for being 'grief-stricken'... You're a damn embarrassment to your bloodline. In fact, why don't you join her in Hell? Go find that guy and kill yourself so we can get rid of all you Duvet garbage.”

  He placed a foot on her back and forced her to the ground. He didn't stop. He applied even more pressure, making her gasp for air.

  “The only reason you're still alive is because the only thing you're good at is shovelling my shit.”

  The people that were in the fitness room all left, not wanting to get involved or be targeted.

  “Zed, got an idea.” one of the cronies said. “Why don't we re-enact Megami's death?” Another one laughed at the suggestion.

  “Shut up,” Zed said. “You want us to be locked up?”

  The crony that was punched by Zahra earlier, blood still dripping from his nose, wasn't satisfied. “Look what she did to my nose! We should at least break her legs or something.”

  Zed's eyes narrowed, and he considered it for a long, silent moment. “Lock the doors,” he said. The crony who suggested it nodded, and the largest of them, a hulking man with a neck wider than Zahra's waist locked the doors of the fitness room.

  Zahra's eyes widened, realizing the worst was yet to come. She struggled beneath Zed's foot, the cool floor of the fitness room pressing against her cheek.

  “Hey!” The lock of the doors opened. A small-built man stood by the doors, one of Zed's cronies. “The higher-ups are coming. Now!” He panted, clearly out of breath.

  “What the...” Zed's smirk vanished. “How the hell did they...”

  “Don't know! They're coming for you!”

  “Tch... Damn it. Let's run-”

  Unfortunately, Zed and his cronies were surrounded by 3 Revengers.

  “Had your fun?”

  The 3 revengers were Stradale, Magami and Mankasho.

  The one who spoke is Ken Magami. His face is stern, his light skin and spiky black hair. He wore an expression of pure, unadulterated rage. Enough to kill Zed with just a glare.

  Revvie Mankasho was on the right side, with her blonde slicked back hair cleanly put in a ponytail with a cap on. Her arms were crossed, her eyes squinted as she stared at Zed down, as if she was some kind of gang member.

  And Haruto Stradale was serene looking. With a calming, and friendly look on his face that was so uncharacteristically cheerful for the situation, it sent chills down everyone's spine.

  “...Kg- You're protecting a traitor? For what?” Zed tried to get out of this situation.

  “Quiet.” Strad crossed his arms. “I'd rather not waste my energy on a fool who believes everything he hears.”

  “Yup. How stupid can you be, hm?” Revvie smirked. She pointed at the humiliated and cold Zahra, who was trying to cover herself on the floor. “You think that's funny, you perverted piggy?” Her finger moved to Zed.

  “I don't like Duvet, but she has saved us countless of times.” Ken Magami said. “We would've all been obliterated in the Battle of Kobaji had that woman not intercept Evtoria's ship.”

  “...She let Evtoria run-”

  “That was the Ghost Assassin's failure,” Strad interrupted. His serene look turned to a look of a dead-inside zombie.

  “Strad, go help Duvet. Me and Revvie'll send his ass running... butt naked in the cold. Revvie?”

  Revvie was already cracking her knuckles.

  “My pleasure.”

  Haruto walked over to Zahra. He crouched to eye level. He saw Zed and his cronies being escorted to “detention”.

  “Can you stand, Duvet?” His voice was soft, contrasting his previous tone. There was no pity in it, only a calm serenity that seemingly washed over a fallen angel.

  “...Yes."

  “I apologise. The Initiatives have naught competence in their noggin. But the higher-ups also should have done a better job of handling them.” He stood up and turned, hearing Zed screaming and grunting as Revvie and Ken forcefully dragged him to a holding cell.

  “You didn't... need to do that.” She said, coming off as hard-headed. Even after being helped, she kept her guard up. She couldn't trust anyone.

  “It's the least I could do.”

  Zahra looked down.

  “White Eye does not see the same as your sister did. There are far bigger problems in this universe than one would think.”

  Zahra grabbed her upper arms, squeezing herself as if she were hugging herself.

  “Had your sister resigned, I would have gone with her.”

  “Considering what happened to my sister, you'd be dead too.”

  “Perhaps. In the end, she fought for what she believed was right. Many people fail to do so. I don't want to see you waste your life away over vengeance, Zahra.” He finally used her first name. The name felt weird coming from someone she barely knew, much less a Revenger, someone of higher position than her, an Initiative.

  It felt intimate.

  “If my sister died for being on the right side of history then how can you tell me to stay calm? My vengeance is all I have left, Mr. Stradale. They took a piece of me and......”

  She fell silent.

  The gym was quiet now, the only sound being the dripping of her blood onto the polished floor.

  It was like a tiny, morbid clock, ticking away the seconds. Tick. Drop. Tick. Drop.

  Strad smiled as he stood up. “Let me escort you back to your quarters. Don't worry, I will make sure that no one will bother you.”

  She stayed quiet, not refusing the offer.

  Strad extended a hand but Zahra stood up using her own hands.

  She didn't want to throw away her pride and what she was fighting for.

  That person will die.

  Even if Strad extensively disagrees.