Chapter 52:

  Limit Break

  (Elizabeth's POV)

  Elizabeth couldn't help but feel anxious. She knew that The Ptinum Lotus were resourceful, as well as having Pyers of their own, but to have an item or ability to block an S-Rank items effects...it was worrying. "At least he has that," she tried to assure herself, grateful that she had found The Tears of the Sea and had them modified in time.

  "Denny, how much longer?" Elizabeth inquired, trying to hide the rising panic she felt.

  The woman next to her gnced up for the first time since they entered the vehicle. What she saw in her eyes caused Elizabeth's heart to flutter for a moment. "She's found him..." Elizabeth felt relief wash over her as Denny smiled triumphantly.

  "Where is he?" Elizabeth asked, not hiding her impatience at all.

  Maya focused intently on Denny, waiting for her answer. All eyes were on her, but before she could open her mouth, there was a rumble that shook the very earth itself. From beyond the buildings they drove by, shooting at least several hundred feet into the air, was a geyser of water which then rained down over the area. It was at least a mile away, towards the harbor.

  "A-About that," Denny's expression was that of shocked disbelief as she pointed with her thumb towards the geyser, "Pretty sure he's there."

  Before another word was said, Elizabeth and Maya were already moving. Elizabeth donned her armor, drawing her sword in a blink of an eye. Maya pulled from her inventory a mask, pure white and featureless, pcing it over her face before donning dark robes.

  "W-Wait, I'll take us...there..." Denny said all too te as Elizabeth sliced open the top of the car, sending it off course and skidding to a halt.

  "Keep Hannah safe!" Elizabeth yelled back at Denny, "Meet us there!"

  Leaving a dejected Denny and exasperated Hannah behind, Elizabeth and Maya raced towards the harbor, because not only did that geyser appear...but so did the tracking of the earring.

  "They'll be sending a cleanup crew," Elizabeth informed Maya, gncing at her as they rushed towards Lucas, "Are you going to be okay?"

  Maya's masked face looked straight ahead. Elizabeth understood quite well the emotions Maya was feeling right now. Fear. Anger. Guilt.

  They were all emotions that Elizabeth has felt over her lifetimes whenever she felt like she was going to lose Lucas. However, unlike Elizabeth, Maya didn't have the luxury of time to adjust to such feelings. Though, it never got any easier. There were many times when Elizabeth remained single-minded in her focus.

  That's exactly what Elizabeth saw in Maya right now. There was only one desire in her. To save Lucas and kill anyone who got in her way. "What a troublesome girl..." Elizabeth thought fondly with a small smile. She couldn't and wouldn't bme Maya, but...gncing down at the city below, she could already see the people rushing to see what the commotion was.

  Was it a Gate Break? Did something explode? Why were the arms not going off? This and many other questions were probably going through the minds of the masses, and where there were questions, there would be reporters.

  Maya hid her identity as a Pyer to more easily move through society. That's why she donned the disguise now. She couldn't be seen as Maya, but if Orchid appeared, then that was one thing. After all, Orchid was registered as a Pyer. Responding to such an event wouldn't be considered too weird because of that.

  "Let them come," Maya answered, her voice slightly moduted to be a bit distorted, "They won't erase the evidence this time."

  Elizabeth was a little relieved to hear Maya speaking rationally, but as they appeared by the harbor, that relief almost instantly vanished. Landing upon a nearby building, the two of them perched to take in the scene. It was...not pleasant.

  The ground in about two blocks radius was caved in and half-flooded. Rubble piled high everywhere. Several bodies floated here and there, some in pieces. They all wore suits, or the remnants of them. "It'll take a bit to recover evidence from this..." Elizabeth thought, having forgotten for a moment that The Tears of the Sea was an SS-Rank item.

  "Lucas..." Maya was a swathe of shadows as she spoke in hushed worry.

  Elizabeth shared that sentiment, scanning the area for him. He had to be here somewhere. They knew he was still alive, after all, the notification hasn't changed.

  ---

  >Starfall Earing: Active

  >Effect: Tracking Lucas Avington

  >Status: Alive, Unconscious

  ---

  Despite the earing having a locating effect, it was slightly distorted. There had been heavy magic in this area. Whatever skill or item that had been obscuring and protecting this pce still permeated slightly. Meaning that either remnants of the item had been scattered and its effects were lingering, or the user of the skill was still alive.

  As they searched, one by one several hooded figures began to appear around the area. It was subtle at first. One appearing across the way, perched like Elizabeth and Maya were. Then, another joined them, and another. Soon, the entire area was practically surrounded.

  "The recovery and cleanup team are here," Elizabeth muttered with a sigh, "Damn it. Orchid, what do you want to...Orchid?"

  Gncing over at Maya, Elizabeth saw her gaze was fixated. Following it, Elizabeth's heart froze. She saw him, Lucas, but he wasn't alone.

  He id in a puddle of water upon the floor of a piece of building that looked completely untouched, but nearby the rubble began to move and bursting forth from it was a man that Elizabeth recognized. Maya had described him enough times to never forget. A scar across the left side of his face, and two missing hands.

  He pushed the rubble off of him, what remained of his suit in tatters to the point that his pants were nothing but shorts now, and his shirt might as well have been rags. He was bleeding profusely, but still standing...if barely.

  "You fucking bastard..." Hector Lockhart spoke, his voice being heard from even here, "Where the hell did you get something like that? I'll kill you."

  He wiped his face to try and clear some of the blood off, but it only smeared it. Elizabeth watched him coolly. From where she was to where he is...it would take about a fraction of a second to close the distance if she used [Accelerate] and [Amplify]. Just the blink of an eye, but...

  "What did they do to him?" Maya mumbled to herself, the anger evident in her words, "Why is he ying unconscious..."

  "Maya..." Elizabeth spoke her name softly, for no one was here to hear them, understanding perfectly the feeling she felt, "I'll get Lucas, but if you need my help, just-"

  "They're mine," Maya told her, "They shouldn't have touched him."

  "...No, they shouldn't have," Elizabeth agreed, turning her attention towards Hector Lockhart who just now noticed Maya's bloodlust, "It seems the bastard's waiting."

  Reaching into his inventory, he took out a potion and rank it in one go, smashing the bottle on the ground. Looking up at them with a wicked grin, he brandished an elegant rapier.

  "So, you've come!" he roared, yelling up at them, "A little early, but no time like the present. I'll have you watch me carve him to pieces!"

  He aimed his bde towards Lucas, and Elizabeth had to fight every instinct not to kill the man in that instant. This was Maya's fight.

  One of the hooded figures came up to Hector and whispered something in his ear, only for him to sh out, cutting the person down in an instant.

  "I don't give a damn!" he screamed, "Your job is make sure we're not discovered. So do your damn job and kill them all! Don't let a single person live!"

  Elizabeth gnced towards the encroaching people curious about what was going on and who was yelling. This just got more complicated, but it also surprisingly worked in their favor. Maya wanted to drag them into the light...what better way than this?

  "El," Maya spoke calmly, standing from where she knelt and drawing her bdes, "I'll keep them from the people, but you need to make sure Lucas doesn't get caught up in it."

  "What about you?" Elizabeth asked, "He'll be sad if something happens.

  Maya looked towards her, and Elizabeth could feel the smile from behind the mask.

  "He would, wouldn't he?" Maya stated, slowly raising her arms out to the side, "Just make sure the people are safe. I'll...handle the rest."

  Elizabeth nodded, knowing what was about to happen. It would be a massacre. There were too many of them at a high rank with too many variables including the approaching civilians to do this cleanly the normal way. Maya had only one choice...to end this as quickly as possible.

  However, in order to do so, she had to free herself...literally. A skill that would unlock her highest potential, but at the risk of degrading her mind. She had only used it twice before. Once when Hannah had been kidnapped, and the other when her life was at risk against PK'ers in a Dungeon.

  The first time, Hannah had to use [Miracle] to stop her. The second time, Elizabeth almost died trying to knock her out. This time...well, Elizabeth was stronger now, but she would be busy keeping Maya contained, and [Miracle] would be a st resort. Which meant there might only be one way to bring her back.

  -----

  (Maya's POV)

  She felt nothing, thought nothing, save for one thing. Eliminate them all. Protect Lucas.

  Her heart was as still as the void. An emptiness that was filled with nothing except death...and the warmth of his existence. She felt the calm wash over her, even as they approached him. Elizabeth's aura fred to life as she erected a wall of fmes around the area. "It's time..." Maya thought quietly.

  Leaning forward, Maya fell from the building, feeling the wind whip against her clothing. She would do anything to protect those she cares about, even if that meant losing herself. Of course, she's trained for a long time to control the side-effects. As long as she remains in control...she'll be fine.

  As she fell, through the brief flickering of the fmes Elizabeth erected, she saw several robed figures move towards Lucas. Her intent was clear. Murderous and pure.

  "Limit...off," Maya muttered, feeling the sudden rush of power as her aura surged from the skill [Limit Break].

  The world spun before her as her mind adjusted to the sudden influx of sensations, but she knew one thing...there were people needing to be killed. People who would harm those close to her if she didn't strike now. The air around her warped as she disappeared into a void before appearing in a cascade of violet petals near the figures close to Lucas. Each one shing out towards the figures, cutting them down in an instant. It was a skill called [Violet Fsh].

  As she appeared, so too did Elizabeth in a bze of ethereal fme. She scooped him up gently, cradling him in her arms before looking towards Maya, but she barely registered it. Her blood was burning up with an itch to cut. Cut into the flesh of those who dared get in her way. It didn't matter who, even...she began to turn her bdes towards Elizabeth and Lucas when, like a string being pulled, she stopped herself.

  "No," Maya's thoughts cut through the madness, "Only them." Her gaze shifted to the hooded figures and Hector Lockhart. The bastard who kept getting away.

  "I'll leave the rest to you..." Elizabeth spoke softly, disappearing into fmes with Lucas.

  "...Thank you," Maya mumbled, finally free the constraints upon her consciousness.

  Now, she no longer had to hold back.

  "Tch," Hector clicked his tongue, looking at the wall of fire, "Guess I'll change pns."

  He looked towards Maya with a keen, discerning eye.

  "So, this is Orchid, huh?" he asked, tilting his head, "Not quite what I remember. How about we show everyone your face, yes? You'll no longer be able to hide from me. Capture her."

  He ordered her capture, motioning a group to advance, only...Maya was faster. [Phantom Bde] activated as she kicked off from the ground. A flick of the wrist was all it took as she appeared in a blink of an eye among them.

  "S-Sir?" one of them look apprehensive as they slowly fell into pieces, followed by several of their comrades.

  It felt...good. Her bdes through flesh. The sweet ecstasy of it was enough to send Maya into euphoria, but this wasn't the end. No, the prime cut...the main course was still to be had. Tilting her head in an almost impossible angle towards Hector, she could feel the cold cws of madness digging into her.

  "Heheh..." she chuckled, feeling the slipping of her sanity, "Perhaps I was, but you're the rats who hide among the refuse. Scurrying whenever you're discovered. I've been looking for you."

  Hector blinked, barely registering what was happening before Maya was in front of him.

  "But now there's no escape," she told them coldly, "It's time I finish the job."

  His eyes widened, raising his rapier just in time to deflect a blow that would have taken his arm, but instead cut clean several of his Star Metal fingers.

  "Tch, I missed...again," Maya mented, looking at the fingers ying on the ground in disappointment, "It's unfortunate, but we won't be able to py for long..."

  She could feel it. The rise of temperature in her body. The beating of her heart as the adrenaline kicked in. The use of [Limit Break] came at the risk of going insane. The longer the fight sted, the more she would give into tendencies better left hidden. Even Lucas might not be safe if she lost herself...she couldn't allow that.

  "Don't worry, though," Maya continued, her bdes beginning to glow with a crimson aura, "I'll make sure it's still painful."

  Several of the hooded figures leapt at her, activating skills of their own, only to be cut down as she spun in an elegant dance of death. The blood which sprayed the area coated everything in a beautiful red. "Ah...I should be careful not to get dirty..." She thought, looking at her sullied hands, "Don't want to appear to him like-" her thoughts were interrupted as one of the robed figures attempted to strike her.

  She parried the spear which came at her, effortlessly spinning as her second bde ripped open their throat. It coated her with its heavy iron aroma, "Damn it...I guess...I can't avoid it." And so she activated the [Dance of Death]. If she couldn't avoid it, then why worry?

  She had enhanced her bdes with [Death's Approach], a buff that would cause the pain of each cut to linger and be difficult to heal. However, with each cut she made, and each scream that came from those she killed...a part of her slowly began to erode. It took everything she had not to lose herself.

  Body after body fell and soaked the ground around her. She held on to what little control she had, just enough to be conscious of the fact she was still fighting. Especially when she had Hector cornered, ready to finally put an end to him.

  He was missing an arm and leg, several cuts all over his body that wouldn't heal. Yet, as he leaned against a pile of rubble, he didn't beg for mercy or to spare his life. Instead, among the blood flooded ruins, he smiled as if he had won.

  "Now there's the beautiful rose I know," he commented, coughing up blood, "I may die today, but thanks to your efforts...the people now know your face...Orchid."

  Maya thrust her bde unceremoniously into his throat, unsure of what he meant, but she was not his rose. It wasn't until she heard the helicopters above that she realized what he had meant. Because they had protected the civilians and word had gotten out...newscasters were filming the scene.

  "Ah, should be fine," she thought, barely hanging onto her thoughts, "I still have my mask, so..." her thoughts trailed off as she felt a breeze hit her face. That...shouldn't happen. Reaching up, she felt her bare skin against a broken mask. The right side of her mask had completely shattered, leaving the left side of her face covered, but the rest of it...

  "No...no, no, no," Maya's thoughts began to become erratic, "They can't know. They can't..."

  She continued to spiral into the depths of her thoughts. There were many mistakes that she had made, and many ways she could have prevented this. She could have used other weapons and appeared as Maya, but Maya isn't a Pyer. That would sully Elizabeth's image, and also destroy her cover as a normal civilian.

  She could have..."Just kill them." It was a simple thought, and it would be easy. All she'd have to do is kill everyone who has seen her face. Of course, this was illogical. The video of the scene was being broadcast live to those who were watching, but currently...Maya wasn't in her right mind. The effects of [Limit Break] had taken their toll.

  -----

  (Lucas's POV)

  It was cold, yet comforting. I didn't know when I lost consciousness, but I remembered that bastard Lockhart using an item to fight back against The Tears of the Sea. Perhaps...it was just after that. The Tears of the Sea surged with power in order to fight him and the others, but now...wait, I'm unconscious and yet...I was aware of it.

  "What's happening?" I looked around in what I could only describe as a void. I was floating in pitch bckness. There was nothing around me and I couldn't even see my hand before my face. Yet, I knew I was there. I could feel something else as well. Something...familiar.

  >SYSTEM ERROR

  A voice suddenly echoed loudly, scaring the shit out of me.

  >ANOMALY

  >ERROR: NO INFORMATION

  >ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.

  >SHOULD NOT EXIST!

  "What the fuck?" I muttered to myself, surprised that I could even talk, "System? Error? The hell are you talking about?"

  As I asked this, I was immediately overcome with a sharp pain in my head. I shouldn't feel anything here, or at least...I don't think so? Am I not unconscious? Where the hell was I?

  I could only hold my head, praying that the pain went away as I doubled over. I couldn't see anything, but I could feel my body. It was here...where here was.

  >SHOULD NOT EXIST!

  "What...shouldn't?" I asked through clenched teeth, "This headache? Yeah, I agree..."

  >NO INFORMATION FOUND

  >PLAYER DOES NOT EXIST

  >CANNOT ACCESS SKILLS

  >CANNOT ACCESS MAGIC

  >ERROR! ERROR!

  "Will you...shut the fuck up?" I grumbled, my head feeling like it was gonna split open at any moment, "Obviously...I'm not a Pyer. So why are you...fuck! Ow!"

  I could feel my head splitting open. Fshes of memories cascading into me. A fire at night in a forest. A woman who looked much like Ellie, only a little different and twisted. Still...beautiful.

  Another fsh, another spike of pain. I saw myself wield magic, weaving it into tiny orbs that compressed what little magic I had for a rge impact. Nearby, that woman from the fire, Ellie, looked on with unwavering fascination. "Isn't this...Ellie's [Infernal Crescendo]? Why do I...?" I wondered, but before I could think more of it, my head spinning.

  I was held in her arms, bleeding out on the ground. She was crying, bming herself for my death, but it wasn't her fault. Some people were just rotten, but not everyone was so horrible. She had been put through so much, and I couldn't bear to see her so sad.

  "If only I could help..." I felt the thought as if it was my own...because it was my own.

  >ERROR! ERROR!

  >ANOMALY! ADJUSTING!

  >RECONSTRUCTING MEMORIES.

  >BLOCKING PATHWAYS TO FIRST MEMORIES.

  "W-Wait, blocking...what?" I fought through the pain as best I could, "Are you saying...this...was the first time....?"

  I wanted to hold onto it. Ellie had told me...some of it, but I couldn't remember. I wanted to remember. I wanted to cherish it. To hold onto...

  "You can't," a small voice spoke, a flicker of silver appearing before my very eyes.

  For the first time in this pce I saw something. Not just a memory, but a physical, or at least ethereal mote of light.

  "What...did you say?" I clenched my teeth, staring at this thing, "Why...not?"

  "You gave it away," it replied simply, "If it is returned...you'll lose everything."

  "Every...thing?" I felt like I could barely breath with the pain in my head, "Expin..."

  "Do I need to?" it asked as if the answer should be obvious, "You know the answer."

  "Am I...dead?" I had to ask, suddenly overcome with grief at the thought, "Ellie...Maya...I can't leave them."

  The mote of light was silent, almost contemptive and for some reason it seemed...amused.

  "No, you are not dead," it replied, "Simply unconscious. Your proximity to a Higher Being started the process of awakening, but you cannot."

  "A...wakening, huh?" I could breathe a little easier, but not much, my head still killing me, "So, The Great Sea..."

  "Yes, precisely," it bobbed up and down, almost happy for my understanding, "It should be safe to continue using the item, but you may experience this again."

  "So...wait," I finally regained a bit of my senses, "Am I being prevented from awakening?"

  "You really are smart!" it decred in glee, "Yes! You do not have the capacity anymore. You gave it up."

  "I...did, huh?" I slowly began to understand, "I see. So, if I awaken...I'll regain my memories, but lose everything?"

  "Not quite," it replied, but then suddenly got extremely close, its light dimming menacingly and tone turning surprisingly grim, "Are your memories and awakening...more important than them."

  Elizabeth, Maya, Hannah, Mom, Dad, Denny, Azure, Luria, Nima, Richard, Ailyah, Sigrid...every single person I had ever met along with the entire world fshed before my mind.

  "...No," I answered, "If they're safe...then take whatever you want."

  It seemed to look at me intently, though it was only a feeling before it finally relented and backed away from my face apparently satisfied.

  "The same answer you gave back then..." it seemed to whisper, but I heard everything, "Of course, should you awaken again...you'll only have one st chance. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

  "One st chance...huh?" I muttered, thinking about it for a moment before shaking my head, "I don't get it, but that's not going to happen. Ellie...Maya...they'll figure it out."

  "Hmm, maybe," it said, suddenly flying towards me, "Well, not like you'll remember this conversation when you wake up. She needs you now. Try not to die."

  >RECONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

  >AWAKENING DENIED

  >RETURNING IN 3...2...1...

  "W-Wait, she? Who do you-" before I could say anything, the mote of light hurled itself into my head, and my eyes flickered open.

  -----

  Nikushimi