After the soda went down, a sudden warmth spread through his body, and the fatigue from the battle instantly vanished.
"Wait, this isn't right!"
However, it was too late. An unlucky Hana Association Fixer who had gotten a grape-flavored soda had already drunk it and vanished before their eyes amidst the sound of waves and seagulls.
"Damn it, is this soda machine one of the monsters too?"
Olivier angrily threw the can of Welch's-brand soda at the machine. But in the end, they could only swallow this loss and haul the machine back to the Lobotomy Corporation branch along with the others.
"Speaking of which, who was the client for this commission? Can you say?"
While helping the Association Fixers carry the Abnormality eggs, Roland asked the still-angry Olivier.
"Ah, I can say. The client didn't seem to mind. It was an employee from L Corp's main branch. I remember his name was... Ye Lan?"
"Who?"
A sense of unease fluttered in Roland's heart, followed by a Hana Association Fixer running towards them from the entrance of Backstreet 25.
"There's trouble in District 9! A pianist who turned into a monster has already killed 60% of the population!"
"What?!" Hearing this, Roland immediately dropped the soda machine he was carrying and looked at Olivier. "Olivier, I..."
"Don't say it, just go!"
...
...
Let's rewind time a bit, back to the moment the Pianist just Distorted.
On the other side of District 9, Ye Lan and Luna stood on top of a tall building, quietly listening to the faint, yet distinct, piano music echoing through the Street of Music.
However, the Distorted Pianist playing this music was currently on the opposite side of District 9, almost completely opposite to their location.
Ye Lan cursed inwardly. Damn it, the Pianist Distorted so far away from here. Angelica is a freaking Black Silence Fixer. Even pregnant, she shouldn't have been unable to escape. How did she die at the hands of the Pianist?
The sound of the piano seemed to grow a little louder. In the gaps between the buildings, Ye Lan could almost see the twisted figure and the notes of flesh and blood around it.
If he could see it, then so could Mrs. Angelica. The pregnant woman immediately left her house with a light bag and ran towards the District 9 exit, away from the Pianist.
Luna, who had been watching the door, tugged on Ye Lan's sleeve. "Brother Ye Lan, Mrs. Angelica is out."
"Let's go, we'll follow her."
With that, Ye Lan, having already changed into the Small Beak E.G.O. via his ring, picked up Luna with one arm and leaped onto the roof of a building Angelica was passing.
After following Mrs. Angelica for over a thousand meters, the piano music surrounding them doubled in volume again.
Ye Lan took a moment to look back. The twisted figure had grown to the size of a tall building in District 9. Around it were dozens of flesh-and-blood humanoid guards, also playing pianos, and hundreds of blood-red notes arranged in the air like a musical score.
But even with the Pianist's Distortion having reached such a terrifying state, having already massacred 40% of District 9's population, it still couldn't harm Angelica on the other side.
Voom—
Just as Angelica turned a corner and entered a small alley, a sound, almost imperceptible amidst the piano music, reached Ye Lan's ears.
"Something's wrong!"
Protecting her from the shadows, he immediately jumped from the roof into the alley. The pistol-shaped E.G.O. in his hand fired continuously in mid-air, a hail of sharp, fang-like bullets sweeping toward the purple figure approaching Angelica from the darkness.
The bullets were then blocked by a greatsword, more like a club, that the figure had unslung from her back.
Landing on the ground, Ye Lan placed Luna by his feet and spoke to the figure. "Would the esteemed Color Fixer, the Violet Tear, really stoop to ambushing a pregnant woman?"
"Heh, as expected of the variable that could disappear from my observation."
The figure, speaking as she dodged Ye Lan's second volley of shots, wore a mocking smile. It was indeed the Violet Tear.
Only then did Angelica, whose state had been compromised by her pregnancy, finally react. She quickly retreated behind Ye Lan to stand with Luna. If it weren't for Ye Lan's two rounds of fire, she would likely have been severely injured in the Violet Tear's first ambush.
"Thank you."
Although she didn't know how Ye Lan knew the Violet Tear would attack her, Angelica didn't forget her manners. Unarmed and needing to protect the child in her womb, the most she could do was pull Luna back and try not to interfere with Ye Lan's fight.
"If you want to stop me, you can't do it with that shabby gear of yours."
Iori smiled sarcastically, then moved like a lithe snake through Ye Lan's line of fire, closing the distance between them in a few steps.
"Grave of Cherry Blossoms."
Ye Lan whispered the name of the Abnormality. A blooming, blood-red cherry tree shot up from the ground in front of him, blocking Iori's original path of attack.
Iori had already grasped the hilt of the tachi at her waist. With just one more step, she could have easily sliced through Ye Lan's armor. But the appearance of the cherry tree forced her to change her footing, circle around it, and draw a rapier to stab at Ye Lan's armpit.
The snake-like thrust failed to connect. A crimson iron fan, adorned with countless cherry blossom patterns, snapped open in front of her rapier, blocking the fatal pierce.
"I'll have to return those words to you."
The fan danced in his hand, striking Iori's rapier in time with the rhythm of the Pianist's song, creating a clanging sound.
This E.G.O. set, named "Fallen Cherry Blossoms," which had the ability to make those who looked at it feel subconsciously uneasy, had transformed into a flowing robe on Ye Lan's body. Faint cherry blossoms fell from the plain-colored clothes, yet never reached the ground.
"Heh, all talk."
Iori withdrew her rapier. The cherry tree had vanished like an illusion, and there were no more obstacles between them.
The black tachi at her waist was unsheathed, and a violet moonlight flashed between them.
The iron fan in Ye Lan's hand instantly snapped shut. The folded fan only held against the moonlight for a few seconds before he, along with the fan he held with both hands, was knocked back to where Angelica and Luna were.
A trace of blood appeared where the E.G.O. armor had been cut. Even though Ye Lan had blocked the sword itself, the accompanying sword wind had still slashed his chest.
"It seems using a TETH-class against you was too arrogant of me," Ye Lan said with a pleased smile, casually dismissing the equipment on his body.
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