The one retrieved from The Void

Even as they delved deeper into the labyrinthine depths of Nu, the sounds of chaos above only seemed to grow louder instead of fading into the distance. The rhythmic thuds of distant explosions and the faint cries of conflict reverberated through the metallic corridors, each step pulling them closer to the heart of the prison's unrest.

"It appears things down there are getting worse," The Negotiator said, his voice calm but tinged with unease as he glanced ahead.

"Well," Vas replied, his tone casual but measured, "as we discussed earlier, not all the inmates are on the same page. It's only natural that things are going bad. When chaos like this brews, factions inevitably clash."

Yuu raised an eyebrow and turned to the group. "I've got to ask," she said. "How often does this guy make predictions? And how often is he actually right about them?"

Lily chuckled softly before answering. "Truth be told, Vas isn't often wrong. He's got an uncanny knack for reading situations. But…" She hesitated, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "This is the first time I've seen him so adept at making predictions about things in real time like this. It's kind of eerie."

"Well," Carmilla said with a shrug, "I guess we'll figure it out soon enough."

Vas didn't respond to their conversation. His expression was distant, his focus elsewhere. The idle chatter of the group seemed to fade into the background as a prickling sensation crept over him. Someone was watching them. Not just watching—hunting. He could feel it, a presence just beyond the edge of their perception, cloaked in malevolent intent.

They continued down the corridor, the air growing heavier with each step. Without warning, a wall beside them erupted in a shower of debris, sending dust and fragments flying. From the destruction emerged a figure so imposing it seemed to momentarily steal the air from the room.

The man who stepped through the rubble was massive, nearly as tall as the ceiling. His prison uniform was standard, but his sleeves had been torn away, exposing cybernetic arms that gleamed under the flickering red emergency lights. These mechanical limbs weren't crude prosthetics—they pulsed with veins of glowing blue light, the circuits snaking up his arms and disappearing beneath his skin, their luminous path leading directly to his glowing, unnaturally blue eyes.

Long, unkempt hair cascaded past his waist, framing a face that was half-obscured by the black leather of his suit. His presence was electric, commanding. With each deliberate breath, faint wisps of blue smoke hissed from the vents in his arms, creating an otherworldly contrast against the red lights bathing the corridor.

For a moment, he simply stood there, breathing, a living monolith of raw power. Then, the blue veins coursing through his cybernetics brightened, the glow intensifying until it consumed his eyes entirely, leaving them a burning, sapphire void.

"The Cobalt," The Negotiator said quietly, his voice tinged with recognition and wariness.

"What?" Carmilla asked, glancing at him.

"In this prison," Vas explained, his tone steady despite the tension, "the inmates aren't referred to by their real names. They're given aliases—nicknames based on what they used to do or something unique that sets them apart."

"The Cobalt got his name because of his cybernetic enhancements," The Negotiator elaborated. "That blue light you see? It's a type of enhancement drug coursing through his system, pumped directly from his implants. It increases his reaction time, boosts his strength, and does… other things. Very dangerous things."

"They didn't take those implants off?" Jason asked, incredulous.

"They did," The Negotiator replied, frowning. "I have no idea how he managed to get them back."

"They gave them back to me," The Cobalt said suddenly, his deep, raspy voice cutting through the air like a blade.

"Who?" Vas asked, his tone sharp and probing.

The Cobalt shrugged, the movement slow and deliberate. "Don't know their names. Didn't care. All they told me was to cause as much damage as I wanted." He tilted his head slightly, his glowing eyes fixing on The Negotiator. "You there. How'd you know who I am?"

"As soon as I was released from my cell, I was given a list of inmates and how to recognize them," The Negotiator said, his voice calm but calculating. "My abilities work better when I know exactly who I'm dealing with."

"Of course they do," Vas said. "The more information you have about someone, the more effective the Amrita Pact becomes."

The Cobalt let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "So," he said, his voice almost amused, "who's going to fight me?"

Ken stepped forward, his expression calm but resolute. "You only have cybernetic implants?" he asked.

The Cobalt nodded once, his towering frame almost vibrating with anticipation.

"Then I am," Ken said simply.

"Good," The Cobalt replied, his voice carrying a hint of approval. "Let's have an honorable fight, young one."

Ken smiled faintly. "Let's do it, Cobalt."

With those words, Ken's arms began to glow. A crimson light emanated from beneath his skin, intensifying as the upper parts of his forearms began to shift and morph. From within, two sleek, black blades extended, their edges glowing faintly with the same crimson hue, like embers burning in the dark.

"I'm seriously starting to question the security of this place," Carmilla muttered, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Military-grade cybernetic implants," Yuu explained calmly. "My brother has a permit to carry and use them if necessary, thanks to our grandfather. Oh, and he's very well-trained."

"How the hell did they let him in here with those?" Carmilla asked, disbelief clear in her voice.

"They didn't care," Vas answered matter-of-factly. "They had no real reason to stop him. If his grandfather served in the war, they probably understood why he had them. Besides, even if Ken had wanted to do anything, there were too many guards for him to be a significant threat. So they let it slide. Plus…" Vas paused, his gaze shifting to the others. "He's not the only one with extra protection."

"What makes you so sure of that?" Jason asked, narrowing his eyes.

Vas gave him a pointed look but didn't say a word. Instead, he turned his attention back to Ken and The Cobalt.

"Aren't we going to help him?" Lily asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"They're going to have an honorable fight," Yuu said firmly. "We can't interfere. It's tradition."

"Thanks," The Cobalt said, nodding toward them in genuine acknowledgment. "For respecting an honorable fight."

The tension in the corridor became almost palpable as Ken and The Cobalt squared off, each preparing for the clash that was about to erupt.

The first to make a move was The Cobalt. To everyone's surprise, rather than attacking immediately, he performed a small, deliberate bow. Ken returned the gesture with an equally respectful nod. It was an acknowledgment between warriors, a silent agreement that their clash would be one of honor.

The moment after, the fight began. The Cobalt surged forward with startling speed for someone his size, closing the gap between them in an instant. His massive cybernetic fist hurtled toward Ken's face, a blur of blue light trailing behind it. Ken, quick on his feet, twisted slightly and deflected the strike with a precise sweep of his arm, redirecting the force harmlessly to the side.

In the same motion, Ken retaliated. His mantis-like blade, glowing with an ominous red hue, arced toward The Cobalt's midsection. But the massive man caught the strike in his iron grip, the clash of metal on metal reverberating through the corridor. Before The Cobalt could counter, Ken twisted his arm, causing the blade to extend and pierce into The Cobalt's side.

"Good," The Cobalt rumbled, his deep voice resonating like distant thunder.

"Thanks," Ken replied, his tone steady but focused.

The Cobalt didn't hesitate. He grabbed Ken and, with an effortless show of strength, hurled him across the corridor. Ken crashed into a nearby wall, the impact sending cracks spiderwebbing through the reinforced surface. Gritting his teeth, he recovered quickly. His blades began to glow more intensely, arcs of crimson electricity sparking along their edges as he prepared his next attack.

Launching himself forward, Ken closed the distance in a blur. The Cobalt raised his arm to block, but Ken seized the opportunity, grabbing hold of the massive cybernetic limb and using it as leverage to lift himself into the air. With a spinning motion, he delivered a powerful kick to The Cobalt's face. The force made The Cobalt stagger slightly, just enough for Ken to follow up. His blade slashed toward The Cobalt's face.

The massive man barely managed to dodge the full brunt of the attack, but the edge of the blade nicked his cheek. A thin line of blood appeared, dripping slowly down his face.

The Cobalt wiped at the cut with his free hand, his eyes narrowing. Without a word, the blue glow from his arms intensified, radiating cold, unnatural energy. He launched a devastating uppercut, and though Ken attempted to block it with one of his arms, the impact was catastrophic. The sound of metal shattering echoed as Ken's arm was completely crushed, the pain ripping through him in waves.