Project:Imagine

The Slayer prowled through the dimly lit halls, her every step echoing like a death knell. She had already obliterated countless members of Noir, leaving chaos in her wake. Some of their bodies lay twisted on the ground with gaping holes torn through their torsos, while others were reduced to charred husks, their faces forever frozen in agony.

In terms of sheer destructive power, she was unmatched in the facility, a walking storm of violence. Her long ginger hair flowed wildly as if it had a life of its own, while her striking pink eyes gleamed with lethal intent. Her left eye, concealed beneath a heart-shaped eye patch, hinted at a past shrouded in mystery. Draconic horns curled from her head, casting ominous shadows, and her wings stretched behind her like the cloak of death itself.

Red scales adorned her arms and hands, shimmering under the flickering lights as she flexed her fingers, anticipating the next kill. She was clad in a sleek black suit, and the contrast of her crimson tie added a sharp edge to her appearance. A sword, secured in its sheath at her waist, pulsed with restrained power, awaiting the moment it would be unleashed once again.

A figure then emerged, walking down the hallway, an enigma, their gender indeterminate. They wore a striking red mask over their face, and the rest of their body was concealed by a black cloak and layers of dark clothing. Atop their head sat a black straw hat, adding an old-world charm to their mysterious appearance. Around their neck hung a yellow necklace shaped like the sun, and in their hand, they held a golden scepter that gleamed under the torchlight. Their voice, when they spoke, was altered to obscure their identity further. Known only by their codename, The Hummingbird, their real name remained unknown, adding to the aura of mystery that surrounded them.

“How interesting,” Eliza smirked, her voice laced with venom. “A new opponent. You seem stronger than the others.”

The Hummingbird stood before her, an air of detached boredom hanging over them, their gaze sharp but indifferent. “I should finish this quickly,” they muttered, voice distorted, dripping with annoyance. “The rest of those idiots have failed.”

“So, you're the last one,” Eliza chuckled darkly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “How fun.”

In the blink of an eye, Eliza vanished from her spot, her body a blur as she reappeared in front of the Hummingbird, her fist cocked back, ready to deliver a bone-shattering punch. Her arm launched forward like a bullet, aiming for their skull. But just as her fist was about to make contact, the Hummingbird tilted their head ever so slightly, the punch barely missing its target, slicing through empty air.

Before Eliza could react, the Hummingbird snapped their fingers, and the world seemed to tremble. A wave of invisible force erupted from them, a violent pulse of sound. It slammed into Eliza with crushing power, sending her careening backward through the air. She gasped, blood spurting from her mouth as she crashed into the ground with a sickening thud.

“Your offensive and defensive capabilities are… irritating,” the Hummingbird's voice echoed, cold and unfeeling. They walked toward her, their altered voice a distorted hum, almost mechanical. “But my ability can tear through your defenses like paper. And as for your attacks—” they paused, a mocking grin forming beneath their mask, “—they're just plain old predictable.”

Eliza wiped the blood from her lips, eyes narrowing, her gaze sharp with newfound resolve. The pain was nothing more than fuel to the inferno raging inside her.

“A sound-based ability, and maybe… hypercognition as well?” Eliza grinned viciously, the thrill of battle lighting up her eyes. “Two abilities—ridiculously rare unless you're some kind of monster. And with those two artifacts you're carrying? You're definitely the main boss.”

The Hummingbird sighed, their altered voice carrying a trace of weariness. “Another video game fanatic. Just when I was starting to enjoy Calum’s death,” they muttered under their breath, almost disappointed.

Eliza’s grin only widened, the crimson aura swirling around her body like a storm of rage and madness. It crackled with raw energy, dripping with violence. Every step she took toward the Hummingbird felt like a drumbeat of war. “Keep your secrets,” she growled. “I don’t care. I’ll destroy whatever’s in my way.” Her aura flared brighter. “Ability: Berserker.”

In an instant, she shot forward, her speed blurring the lines between human and something far more savage. She lashed out with a brutal punch, but the Hummingbird dodged effortlessly, the fist grazing their arm, shredding their sleeve in the process.

“My next hit will make you bleed,” Eliza promised, her voice a low snarl.

Without missing a beat, she spun, her fist flying with even greater speed and force. This time, it connected more solidly, grazing the Hummingbird’s arm and exposing the cold gleam of metal beneath the torn fabric. Wires dangled from the wound, sparking faintly as the Hummingbird quickly clutched their arm, their expression shifting.

“Interesting…” Eliza breathed, eyes widening with twisted excitement. “A robot with that kind of power. That explains your freakishly perfect reflexes. But how the hell do you have an ability?”

The Hummingbird’s eyes narrowed, their expression unreadable behind their mask. “You’re not the first to ask,” they replied coldly, their voice as sharp as the sound waves that had sent Eliza flying earlier. “You won’t live long enough to find out.”

The fight between Eliza and Hummingbird escalated in an instant, the tension crackling in the air. Eliza's berserker aura flared around her, her bloodthirsty grin wide as she sized up the Hummingbird.

“You’ve got that cane,” Eliza said, her voice dripping with anticipation, “but let’s see how well you fight when I get up close.”

Hummingbird remained silent, their gaze cold and calculating. They spun the cane effortlessly in their hand, the air humming as waves of sound energy vibrated through the room. The faint shimmer of their distorted voice echoed. “You'll regret underestimating me.”

Eliza lunged forward, her speed even greater now as the berserker aura surged through her muscles. Her fist, burning with crimson energy, shot forward, aiming for Hummingbird’s chest. With a swift flick of their wrist, Hummingbird tapped the cane against the ground, sending a powerful sound wave directly toward Eliza. The sheer force of it collided with her, but instead of being knocked back, she gritted her teeth and pushed through, the sound barely slowing her advance.

“Not enough!” Eliza growled, her eyes burning with determination. She closed the gap in a blink, her fist ready to strike.

But Hummingbird was ready. They sidestepped at the last possible moment, moving with unnatural precision, and swung the cane upward. The end of the cane released a concentrated burst of sound that reverberated through the air, catching Eliza in the ribs. The force was brutal, sending shockwaves through her body. She staggered, coughing up blood, but the crazed smile never left her face.

“That hurt,” Eliza laughed, wiping the blood from her mouth. “But it’s going to take a lot more than that to put me down.”

Hummingbird’s eyes narrowed. “You’re persistent. I'll give you that.”

With a flick of the wrist, Hummingbird spun the cane, channeling more power into it. The very air around them began to vibrate, the sound waves intensifying. Hummingbird raised the cane high, and with a sharp, deliberate movement, they slammed it into the ground. The room exploded with a deafening roar, a sonic blast so powerful that the walls quaked, and the floor cracked beneath them. The wave shot forward, aiming to crush Eliza under its overwhelming force.

But Eliza, in her berserker state, met the attack head-on. Her aura thickened, the madness within her pushing her body beyond its limits. She screamed in defiance, punching straight into the wave of sound. Her fist collided with the invisible force, splitting the wave in two. The energy tore at her body, blood spraying from fresh cuts that appeared along her arms, but she didn’t stop.

“You think some sound can stop me?” she roared, surging forward. “I’ll tear you apart!”

Her fist collided with Hummingbird’s cane, the impact sending sparks of energy flying. The force of the blow was enough to stagger Hummingbird, but they quickly regained their footing, stepping back and swinging the cane in a defensive arc. Another burst of sound followed, but Eliza was relentless, dodging the attack and rushing in with a spinning kick aimed at Hummingbird's side.

The kick connected, sending Hummingbird skidding across the floor. They quickly recovered, twirling the cane and planting it firmly on the ground. “You're stronger than I thought,” Hummingbird admitted, their voice calm despite the damage. “But strength alone won't save you.”

Eliza, her body trembling from the strain of her berserker ability, spat on the ground. “I don’t need saving. I’m here to destroy you.”

The tension in the room grew thick as Eliza’s grin widened, her berserker aura flickering with violent energy. Her breath became shallow, and ragged, but her eyes never left Hummingbird.

“What an annoying ability,” Hummingbird muttered to themselves, their voice barely audible under the hum of power in the air. “Turning madness into raw strength… it seems I’ll have to use all of my power.”

Eliza tilted her head back, a guttural laugh rumbling in her throat. “You think I’ve shown you everything?” she spat. Her mouth opened, and with a sudden roar, a torrent of fire erupted from her lips. It was no ordinary flame, the dragon’s fire burned with a heat so intense that the surrounding air distorted. The room lit up in a blazing inferno, the flames barreling straight toward Hummingbird.

Hummingbird’s eyes widened under their mask. In a swift motion, they slammed their cane into the ground, unleashing a wave of sound meant to counter the incoming fire. The two forces clashed, but the fire continued to push forward, fueled by Eliza's rage and madness.

Without hesitation, Hummingbird reached for the necklace around their neck. A brilliant flash of light exploded from it, filling the room with an overwhelming brightness. The searing light pierced through the haze of flame, blinding Eliza mid-attack.

“Argh!” Eliza snarled, stumbling backward as the light overwhelmed her senses. She thrashed, shielding her eyes with her arms as her fire sputtered and died. Her berserker rage fought to overpower the sudden blindness, but the light was merciless, cutting through her focus.

Hummingbird seized the opportunity. They spun their cane, the soundwaves amplifying as the very air around them began to vibrate violently. They aimed for Eliza, launching another concentrated blast of sound, the force crashing into her like a tidal wave. Eliza grunted as the impact sent her skidding across the floor, her body rattling from the force of the blow.

But even blind, even wounded, Eliza refused to yield. “You think… light’s gonna stop me?” she growled, pushing herself to her feet. Her body shook with fury, her berserker aura flaring brighter as her sight began to return. She coughed, blood staining her lips, but her grin never faltered.

Hummingbird twirled the cane once more, readying their next move. “I’m just getting started,” they said, their voice a cold, distorted hum beneath the chaos.

“I’m going to break you, you damn Pinocchio,” Eliza growled, her eyes wild with fury as her berserker aura crackled around her.

Hummingbird’s head tilted slightly, their red mask hiding most of their expression, but their voice betrayed a flicker of confusion. “Pinocchio? How did you know that's what my creator named me?”

Eliza froze for a second, her rage faltering. She blinked, caught off guard. “I—I was insulting you.”

“Insulting?” Hummingbird’s tone shifted, sounding almost wounded. “My name is an insult?”

Eliza hesitated, her fists lowering slightly. “Just… forget it. Damn, this is awkward.”

But Hummingbird wasn’t about to let it go. They stood there, motionless for a moment, before their voice, once calm and detached, cracked with emotion. “My name is an insult… insult… insult… How dare you,” they seethed, the distortion in their voice deepening with each repetition. “How dare you besmirch the beautiful name my creator graciously gave me.”

Without warning, Hummingbird removed their cloak and hat, revealing the full extent of their mechanical form. Their body was sleek, made of polished metal and gears that clicked and whirred with every subtle movement. Despite the artificiality of their design, there was an eerie elegance to them, like a perfect doll brought to life. They still wore a black button-up shirt, meticulously tailored to fit their angular frame, with black dress pants and polished black dress shoes completing the almost disturbingly human-like appearance. But the red mask covering their face remained in place, the one vivid reminder that whatever Hummingbird or, Pinocchio, was, it wasn’t human.

The atmosphere shifted as Hummingbird’s mechanical body stood in stark contrast to Eliza’s raw, flesh-and-blood ferocity. “You dare mock the name Pinocchio?” they hissed, their voice trembling with rage, the once calm and cold persona cracking under the weight of their fury. “My creator cherished me, and I am perfect!”

Eliza’s eyes narrowed as the tension spiked once more. “Oh, this just got a whole lot weirder,” she muttered under her breath, but the thrill of battle surged through her again. “Doesn't matter what you're called. You're going down all the same.”

The tension in the room thickened as Pinocchio stood, mechanical limbs gleaming under the dim lights, the fury in their voice still echoing. Their hands twitched, fingers tightening around the cane as they muttered, “You dare mock perfection? Then I will show you what true power looks like.”

Eliza’s body tensed, the fire in her eyes glowing hotter. “Come on, you doll-faced freak,” she snarled, the berserker energy around her flaring.

With a sudden click, several compartments within Pinocchio’s arms and legs popped open, revealing hidden weapons embedded in their mechanical frame. Thin blades extended from their forearms, gleaming as if freshly sharpened, while small, sleek barrels jutted from their shoulders, humming with energy. Tiny circular saws whirred within their palms, ready to tear through anything they touched.

Eliza’s eyes flicked over the weapons, and a twisted grin stretched across her face. “Now we’re talking!”

Pinocchio wasted no time. They surged forward, their body moving faster than before, sound waves rippling off their frame as they closed the distance between them. The whirring saws sliced through the air, aiming directly for Eliza’s midsection.

Eliza ducked at the last second, her enhanced reflexes allowing her to narrowly avoid the blades. She spun on her heels, launching a punch at Pinocchio’s side. But before her fist could connect, Pinocchio’s shoulder-mounted cannons fired off a burst of sound, sending her stumbling back from the sheer force.

“I’ll break you apart, piece by piece,” Pinocchio intoned coldly, their voice devoid of the previous anger. They were in battle mode now, efficient, precise, and deadly.

Eliza barely had time to regain her footing before Pinocchio’s next strike came. They lunged, blades flashing as they aimed for her throat. Eliza twisted, the tip of the blade grazing her neck but not cutting deep. She retaliated with a roar, her throat igniting with dragon's fire as she unleashed another torrent of flame.

Pinocchio countered with a wall of sound, the flames flickering wildly in response but unable to reach their target. Pinocchio then dashed forward, bringing the saws on their palms down toward Eliza’s head.

Eliza, now fully immersed in her berserker state, caught the blades mid-strike with her bare hands, the metal screeching as it struggled against her raw strength. She grinned through gritted teeth, her eyes wild. “You're tough, but not enough.”

With a roar, she pushed Pinocchio back, forcing them to retreat a few steps. Before they could recover, Eliza opened her mouth wide and expelled a blast of dragon fire straight toward them.

Pinocchio staggered under the intensity of the flames, the heat warping the surrounding air. But as the fire licked at their form, a bright light suddenly erupted from their chest—Pinocchio had activated their necklace. The blinding flash filled the room once more, burning through Eliza’s vision and forcing her to stumble back, momentarily disoriented.

Taking advantage of her disarray, Pinocchio's hidden blades retracted, and they launched a rapid series of strikes, their mechanical limbs moving with impossible precision. They slashed at Eliza's sides, tore at her defenses, and delivered bone-crushing punches, each one enhanced by the vibrations from their sound-based attacks.

Eliza grunted in pain as the strikes connected, blood spraying from new wounds, but each hit only seemed to enrage her further. Her berserker aura flared brighter, and she roared as the madness overtook her completely. “You can’t stop me! I’ll burn you to ash!”

Despite her blinded state, Eliza’s raw power surged, the flames within her throat igniting once more. She released another blast of dragon's fire in every direction, the sheer force of the flames shaking the very foundations of the room.

Pinocchio skidded back, narrowly avoiding the full brunt of the attack. But now, their once pristine suit was singed, their mechanical limbs showing signs of wear from the heat. Yet even in the face of Eliza’s overwhelming power, they stood tall, their calm demeanor never faltering.

The air grew thick with tension as Pinocchio’s mechanical body hummed, their weapons primed for another round. But as Eliza stood there, a feral grin stretching across her blood-smeared face, something darker began to stir. The room seemed to hold its breath in anticipation.

“This fight isn’t over yet,” Pinocchio whispered, their cold voice carrying an eerie calm as their limbs clicked, and the hidden weapons shimmered under the faint light. Each of their movements was precise, and calculated, a testament to their mechanical perfection.

Eliza chuckled, low and guttural. “Good. Neither am I.”

Her words hung in the air, but there was something more—a sudden shift in the atmosphere, a storm gathering around her. She lifted her head, and her eyes, now glowing with crimson madness, locked onto Pinocchio’s.

“Those artifacts of yours,” she growled, pacing slowly, her voice dripping with malevolent excitement, “they’re fun. But I can tell, neither of them are grade 0, are they?”

Pinocchio remained silent, the red mask covering any expression they might have had. But beneath the mask, something flickered. A hint of wariness, perhaps?

Eliza raised a hand to the blade at her waist, her fingers trembling with anticipation. The surrounding air began to swirl, dark and violent, as if reality itself bent to her will. Her voice, steady and deliberate, began to chant, each word carrying an ancient power that reverberated through the room.

“Oh, king of kings, I beckon your power.”

Pinocchio’s mechanical eyes widened ever so slightly, gears clicking as they instinctively shifted into a more defensive stance. They knew, something powerful was coming.

“Let your might pierce the heavens,” Eliza continued, her voice rising. “Let your light blind the stars.”

The ground beneath her began to tremble, faint at first, but growing stronger with each passing moment. The sheer force of the aura gathering around her was suffocating, oppressive. It was unlike anything Pinocchio had ever encountered.

“From the sacred stone to my hand, I call your name.”

Pinocchio’s gaze flickered to the blade at Eliza’s side, their sensors picking up an immense energy radiating from it. They could feel it, something ancient, something beyond comprehension, stirring within.

“By your ancient oath, arise from slumber,” Eliza's voice boomed, her eyes burning with a holy light as she gripped the hilt of the sword. “And once more, cleave the skies with justice and light.”

Pinocchio's systems were now in overdrive, processing every possible outcome of the next few seconds, calculating the risks. But there was no data for what was about to unfold. This… this was a power beyond logic.

“Grade 0 artifact,” Eliza declared, her voice filled with raw ecstasy. “Excalibur, awaken!”

In one swift motion, she unsheathed the blade from its scabbard, and the world itself seemed to shudder in response. The instant the sword was freed, an explosion of light filled the room, so bright and pure that it seemed to burn away everything in its path. The radiance wasn’t just blinding, it was oppressive, as though the very essence of the weapon was pushing against reality itself.

Pinocchio staggered, their sensors overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the light. Their mechanical frame, designed to withstand immense pressure and force, groaned under the weight of Excalibur’s presence. The sound of twisting metal and straining gears echoed as Pinocchio’s body struggled to maintain balance in the face of such raw, untamed power.

The sword itself was breathtaking, a long, gleaming blade that seemed to hum with ancient energy. Its surface shimmered like molten gold, and flames of radiant light danced along its edges, casting shadows that flickered like living beings. The hilt was intricately designed, adorned with symbols of a forgotten age, each one pulsing with a heartbeat of its own.

Eliza grinned, the berserker madness now fully intertwined with the power of Excalibur. Her body surged with renewed strength, the crimson aura around her blazing even brighter as the sword’s power coursed through her veins. “You feel that? This is the might of a true artifact—a blade meant to cut down anything in its path!”

With a sudden movement, she swung Excalibur downward. The force of the swing alone caused the air to ripple, and a wave of burning light exploded from the blade, tearing through the room like a storm of fire and lightning.

Pinocchio barely had time to react. They dove to the side, but even their enhanced speed couldn’t fully escape the wrath of Excalibur. The edge of the light wave clipped their shoulder, sending sparks flying as the metal of their arm was sheared away, exposing a mass of wires and circuitry.

A sharp, distorted gasp escaped Pinocchio as they stumbled, clutching their damaged arm. For the first time in the fight, they felt vulnerable. “This… this is impossible…”

Eliza didn’t relent. “What’s wrong, Pinocchio? Not so perfect now, are you?” She raised Excalibur once more, the light surrounding the blade crackling with destructive energy.

Pinocchio’s gaze flickered towards their cane, the artifact still gripped tightly in their hand. They had to act fast. Their mechanical voice, now tinged with desperation, whispered, “I must counter… now.”

They slammed the tip of the cane against the ground, sending out a wave of sound, stronger than anything they had used before. The shockwave pulsed through the room, causing the walls to tremble and the air to vibrate with deadly intensity.

But Eliza, now emboldened by Excalibur’s power, merely grinned wider. “Sound? You think sound is going to stop this?” She swung the blade, and the light from Excalibur tore through the soundwave as if it were nothing, dispersing it into harmless ripples.

The battle raged on, Excalibur’s light casting eerie shadows across the room, painting the walls with fierce streaks of radiant fire. Eliza’s feral grin seemed to stretch impossibly wide as she prepared to swing the sword once more, its divine energy crackling with destructive potential.

Suddenly, a voice, clear and commanding, shattered the chaos. “Excalibur!”

The room’s oppressive heat and blinding light faltered as the words echoed through the air. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Time seemed to slow, and the very essence of reality quivered in anticipation.

From above, as if summoned by divine will, a figure descended with a grace that defied the laws of physics. The man appeared amidst a crackle of energy, like a bolt of lightning descending from the clearest blue sky. His entrance was nothing short of otherworldly, a flash of brilliance cutting through the tumultuous scene.

His long, golden hair flowed behind him, a shimmering cascade that danced with each movement. Crimson eyes, glowing with a malevolent intensity, scanned the battlefield with an air of cold authority. The sheer force of his presence was palpable, an oppressive aura that blanketed the room and twisted the air with an almost tangible dread.

Eliza’s sword halted mid-swing as she looked up, her eyes widening with a mix of awe and alarm. The oppressive power emanating from the newcomer was unlike anything she had ever encountered. The light from Excalibur dimmed in comparison to the overwhelming aura that surrounded the man.

Pinocchio, already struggling under the relentless assault, looked up, their mechanical frame freezing in stunned silence. Every component of their body seemed to hum with anxious energy as they processed the intrusion.

The man’s descent was effortless, his feet touching the ground with a fluid, almost ethereal motion. He landed softly, yet the impact seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of the room, a subtle but undeniable force that bent the surrounding air.

“Be afraid, be very afraid,” The Boogeyman’s voice echoed with chilling finality. “For the only thing you should fear in this world is fear itself. And I am its embodiment.”