Paradise of Infinity: 341

Title: Tovarishch Time

It’s almost outlandish for others. One moment, the train moves as enough natural and artificial lights flow through the space. Then, at another moment, the train stops with any jerking momentum as if it never moved. The same is true for all the electronics powering off and the outsides turning pitch-black! Nothing electronic, including battery-operating items, can be used. It’s too shocking!

But Tadaomi believes his trusty pistol will allow him enough time to find answers. He isn’t alone. Irina, in her nightsuit—forced out of her fashionable garb by Tadaomi—points her mini revolver at the Russian entourage. As their vision adapts, the two teachers observe their ‘neighbors’ doing the same—only with larger, more dangerous firearms.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” the leading man offers with a tone steeped in a heavy Russian accent. With enough light, Irina and Tadaomi may have noticed a diagonal scar in the middle of the towering man’s face. Intimidated, the students huddle together. The students might have held guns before and tried killing their homeroom teacher.

But now?

Perhaps, except Karma, others feel a striking terror grip their hearts.

It’s stuffy.

A breath taken wrong might end their lives. Cold sweat break out of their bodies as Tadaomi tightens his nerves. Nothing was told to him this time. Would his superiors not know Koro’s ability? Such an ambush won’t work on him and might anger the target instead.

“My Japanese is not very good,” the Russian claims. “I’m Boris. Someone… asked me a favor. For now, the students must stay calm and not do anything stupid. Our task is to protect them. Could you translate it?”

“Boris… this voice,” Irina mutters. Her beautiful features contort in terror as Boris mutters, “Good day, Jelavic.”

“I-Is she here?” Irina almost wets herself, recalling something terrifying.

“Can you translate it?” Boris ignores her question. He’s well aware of why Irina might fear their Kapitan.

“I can,” a young voice chirps as Karma snickers. “Settle down, everyone. The big boys said they’ll fill us with more holes if we move from our seats.”

“That’s not what he said,” Tadaomi groans. There is a time and place for everything—a concept Karma wholeheartedly rejects!

“Who sent you?” Tadaomi frowns.

“You may know him as Nik Faran,” Boris calmly replies. “I suggest you move lower that gun.”

‘What a day to not know English…’ A few boys and girls feel fear and bitterness.

Their compartment can still hear the echoes of fearful screams. The whole room descends into a horrifying silence until Tadaomi lowers his gun.

“Hmm,” Boris nods and gestures to his teammates. “Secure the exits. I want two men on both sides.”

“You two will stay with the children,” Boris regards the duo. “And Jelavic. Don’t fail this time. Kapitan is invested in this matter.”

“Y-yeah…” Irina feels color slightly returning to her face as she curses Nik’s eighteen generations, even if she doesn’t know if the bastard knows about his ancestors! Fuck! She wouldn’t even lick the air around people ‘infected’ by Balalaika, much less kiss them! That monster can be too much! Yet…

Irina slightly squeezes her thighs before returning to her seat as Yukiko questions softly, worry lacing her voice. “Are you okay, Bitch-Sensei?”

“I’m fine…” Irina sinks into silence before she reassures, regathering her wits. “We’ll be fine.”

“Did Pedo-Sensei know something?” Karma voices out. “It’s kind of a burn at your agency, Karasuma-Sensei. What is the government doing?”

“Aside from scandals?” Koro questions with a snicker.

“Enough!” Tadaomi frowns. “Everyone, this is not part of the plan. This is also NOT any training exercise.” He emphasizes. “So, listen to the teachers only. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” the students answer. Depending on a mob of Russians is the last thing Tadaomi desires. But…

‘I didn’t know Nik had such connections. These men named Nik as their employer and not Ray. Given how they entered the school, I always thought Nik and Revy worked under Ray.’

Of course, Tadaomi glances at the calm Korosensei, who wriggles around and eases others’ worries by making octopus puns.

“Can you do something?”

“No,” Koro replies as he smacks the window. He speaks in English. “For some reason, hitting the confinements has a repulsive effect. I’d advise our Russian friends to not open firing at anything.”

“Woah… it can talk.”

“Not the time, Mikael,” Boris grunts as he walks to Korosensei. Nagisa and others around Koro feel intimidated.

“You must be the infamous moon destroyer. Nik had a message for you.”

“Oh?” Koro and Tadaomi blink.

“He says—if something unexpected happens, prepare for the worst. I’m likely nearby. But if I don’t arrive within a few minutes… it was nice knowing everyone.”

“Well, Pedo-Sensei has always been the dramatic sort. Remember how he blew his top when Bitch-Sensei almost kissed Nagisa? It was as if Pedo-Sensei wanted to kiss Nagisa first.” Karma hears it and translates it for others. However, others don’t feel like laughing.

Nik… has been kind to them. He’s taught them what he knows. If anything, after his outburst over Nagisa, others in the class cannot help but feel a firm bond develop for the man. It’s not every day you find someone capable of caring for another to such an extent. Even as he laughs, the darkness hides the tint of mortal helplessness in Karma’s gaze.

Just… what is going on?

“There’s movement, Serzhant. It’s… you gotta take a look at it.”

Boris nods at Koro and Tadaomi before moving to the upper exit. Their compartment is one of the last ones. Their intent of securing the two exit points is simple—every compartment for itself. Boris’ team is here to perform their job.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

*Drrrr*

Loud gunfire engages before Boris can get to the point. It’s not his men but someone else from the distant compartment. A girl starts sobbing. The sound of the shooting had never felt so… intense before.

The class couldn’t help but recall one of the crucial points Nik brought up during one of their classes.

Killers…

Being an Assassin means killing. Are they prepared for it despite how they have acted till now?

<<<>>>

Duck-Tape’s expression turns heavy as several men and women block his path. The darkness hides his blue-skinned features. However, his rough pants and growls indicate the slipping control of his mental state. “Get away!” He growls as sharp winds burst from around him. The copper ring on his finger dematerializes into motes of light as other mercenaries scream. Limbs and blood fly around, followed by hurried gunshots. However, Duck-Tape can see everything in these five seconds.

“Get away from me!” He roars at Nik, his eyes turning red. Regret blooms in Duck-Tape’s heart. If only he hadn’t been so greedy about it. He already had several slaves! Why didn’t he leave this world like his cowardly partner? Duck-Tape can’t even initiate the return sequence inside the Scar of Finite!

“Relax,” Nik momentarily stops. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

“I don’t trust you!” Duck-Tape snarls as Nik hides behind a seat, letting weakened gunshots land on his bulletproof hoody. If possible, Nik doesn’t want to reveal that Finite didn’t do shit to him. Aside from being unable to use AP to devour or mobilize his Scar of Infinity, Nik can bend elements and reveal his full power. So…

Duck-Tape is right to fear.

How can Nik ignore such advantages?

While killing an innocent bystander churns his stomach… the thought of ending a host’s life and retrieving the lost men and women is anything but disgusting.

There’s no need to rationalize his outlook.

Would a tiger stop hunting its prey?

Never.

He is Nik. Killing innocents will always make him skeevy. Killing others without hate, as he usually does… makes him tense. All his greatest ‘hits,’ for instance, Zhao, have been carried out of pure hatred. He slaughtered and tortured the triplets, too, accidentally catching an innocent trio in the crossfire.

‘But… am I always going to stay the same?’

Nik calmly observes Duck-Tape losing the effects of the limiter ring as he pounces at the nearby corpse before devouring its flesh!

‘Life and death had a meaning until I was taken by Infinity.’ He realizes something.

Inspiration is funny—it strikes at the moments you least expect.

‘What the fuck have I been doing? Iroh took me in and guided me. But how dare I pin my hope onto others? How can I protect the people I care about when I can’t resolve my issues? The fuck I was rattling on about with Koro, asking him to help me.’

His gaze turns as calm as it grows dangerous.

It only took a moment for a change to register inside his very being, including Mokshi. He quietly moves from the seat, stepping into the puddle of blood. His violet orbs glance at Duck-Tape, who looks feral. He’s lost control of his bloodline.

‘I was removed from the society that molded me the moment Infinity took me in. As Iroh would say, this is an opportunity more fortuitous than Mokshi.’ His resident spirit would take offense if it didn’t agree to it. ‘So, I should strive to learn from different societies and harmonize these gains with myself. I don’t want to be a piece of shit who can only get his rocks on from hatred.’ Nik recalls how Mai had been present when he beat Zhao to death.

If only he had been better then…

If only he could have executed Zhao with a clean slash.

Or rather…

‘If only I struck my stick on Zhao’s weak points, killing him quicker. Why did I torture him when he had nothing valuable to offer? Why did I torture the triplets, knowing full well others were caught by Regret? What if something had gone wrong then? Would I have Ty Lee, her sisters, Katara, and others?’

“How foolish,” Nik frowns, addressing himself and the feral Duck-Tape.

“I said—LEAVE!” Duck-Tape’s spine shudders when he meets Nik’s quiet gaze.

‘Letting hatred control me is the same as lust overpowering my senses through my bloodline. How is it any different? If I hate losing control due to lust… why did I empower my hatred so?’

Nik evades Duck-Tape’s attack.

Instead, he catches Duck-Tape’s wrist before faint but sharp gusts of wind rose from the devil.

Nik’s violet eyes glow a sharp violet.

He doesn’t even bother saying—sorry.

Would Duck-Tape care if Nik is apologetic right before losing his life? Fuck, no! So, what’s the point of saying those meaningless words aside from aggravating the opponent?

“Where are they?” Nik still keeps calm. He doesn’t kill Duck-Tape as a midnight bluish hue overtakes his glowing eyes.

[Twilight Thief]

Duck-Tape’s expression grows dull.

‘It worked,’ Nik blinks. He didn’t expect Duck-Tape’s mental prowess to be ordinary—

‘Is it because of him losing control of his bloodline?’ Nik recalls how a feeling of mental exhaustion would assail him once he lost control. He mentally notes this disadvantage of the bloodline as Duck-Tape mutters, “They are unconscious and inside my Scar of Infinity.”

“Would something happen to them if I kill you?”

Nik’s made this judgment after some thought. How can he be sure Duck-Tape will go through the trade or keep the same prices if he’s already unhinged? Since Garcia’s life objectively matters more to Nik, he’ll do things his way.

Duck-Tape shakes his head, sentencing himself, “No, it won’t. They will stay unconscious for another 13 hours.”

Nik nods. He momentarily exhales before cleanly slicing Duck-Tape’s head off. If he knows something about killing others… one should always target the head.

Nik feels something as he glances at the flashing Scar of Infinity around the base of his left forearm.

He cannot help but feel surprised.

First, the Scar of Finite suppressed the announcement of Duck-Tape’s death.

Second…

‘I truly don’t feel anything about it except relief,’ Nik glances at his hand. He calmly hides Duck-Tape’s body, planning on using the high-quality corpse as an AP farm. The one thing that annoys Nik is his lack of sense of personal space. He doesn’t know how the absorption of another’s Scar of Infinity will affect him.

‘Well, I can only trust them. Toph and others are also a tough nut to crack… I would have had time to ask Duck-Tape if his Scar of Infinity has any defenses, but…’

“There you are! Run! My fucker of a partner made a deal with Accu-mulet! That thing behind me is scary!”

Nik is in the third compartment, opposite Class 3-E. So, everything between Nik and Duc-Tape happened within moments, only allowing Nik to complete the most urgent task.

Feeling more relieved after the successful rescue mission, which one might even rank a perfect one, Nik suddenly closes the door leading to the other compartments, forcing Lava-Head to stop.

“What are you doing?” He hisses, yet the host grows alert. Instead of nearing Nik, he steps back as a ghoulish screech echoes from the compartment behind Lava-Head, followed by a heavy thud.

“How can I be sure you’re not teaming up with Accu-mulet?” Nik shrugs.

“I can ask the same,” Lava-Head smirks. “I can smell Duck-Tape’s blood on you. Did you kill him? Were you coincidentally prepared or…”

The duo instantly realizes they cannot trust each other… if these were ordinary times. After all, didn’t Lava-Head extort 30 AP out of Nik? They never had a credible foundation for cooperation.

But the monster behind Lava-Head is threatening…

To say the least.

But not as threatening as the host going berserk one compartment away. Nik can only hope Ray and others don’t get caught up by that host, who seems to have some paradoxical shit. After all, he’s burning those crazy yellow-red flames as if there’s no tomorrow!

“How is that creature so strong?” Nik frowns. “The effects of this World’s Will should have weakened it even if it wasn’t released when Accu-mulet used Will’s Collection. Unless…”

“Yep,” Lava-Head smirks bitterly. “The Scar of Finite mimics the same environment as Scar of Infinity. Accu-mulet first fucked us by using the Will’s Collection, and now those in cahoots with him can have limited access to Paradise’s functions AND the Scar of Infinity. Meanwhile, we’re still affected by the Will’s Collection. Do you get it? We need to kill Managed-Ant AND his devil’s spawn to have some respite.”

As Nik said, that creature FEELS strong. His expression hardens since he will also need to deal with another demented host before reaching Class 3-E.

“I’m not interested in your conflict,” Nik mutters as Lava-Head chuckles coldly.

“You think you can run?” He threatens and entices. “Help me deal with Managed-Ant. I will make it worth your while. Or we can both die right here. You’re still no match for me once you use your Limiter Ring. Besides, the amount of Limiter Ring on you must be limited.”

Nik frowns. He can try killing Lava-Head, but it won’t stop the monster behind. Besides, Nik isn’t sure IF he can kill Lava-Head. This bastard is too strong… like Ray.

“How confident are you in giving me a chance to deal with Managed-Ant?” Nik questions as pitch-black appendages tear away the metal door like a hot knife through butter. Salive and blood drips down its pitch-black, crystal-like jaws as the hunchbacked monster has a long, extended head that tilts backward, a spine-like, spear-ended tail, and…

—A ‘tongue’ with a mouth that instantly aims for Lava-Head’s head.

“You see this shit?” Lava-Head yelps and jumps behind a seat. “Who knows how many of these abominations lie within Managed-Ant’s Scar of Infinity? He’ll have us all killed because he CAN!”

Nik can… empathize with this advantage. He used such an advantage minutes ago. The only aspect affecting Nik’s decision is his lack of knowledge about this Scar of Finite. Although the idea of helping Lava-Head without a proper promise of compensation galls him…

Managed-Ant should know something, right?—if what Nik would ordinarily think. But he has a better target.

Nik dodges the attack as the creature hisses and fails to penetrate Nik’s chest with its deceptively long tail, which extends further with the spine-like locks loosening!

‘I can’t guarantee Lava-Head or this monster to stop chasing me.’ Nik’s gaze flashes. ‘Let’s establish trust.’

“Five limiter rings!” Nik demands. “I’m low on supply. I need five rings!” Lava-Head doesn’t know about Mokshi, and Nik intends to keep it this way.

“Fuck off! I only have three!” refutes Lava-Head.

“Fine. Three!” Nik demands shamelessly. Of course, the world is filled with shameless individuals whose depths know no bounds!

“Fine!” Lava-Head snickers. Of course, he has more than three. But the duo is smart enough to realize that a lengthy negotiation is counterproductive. “Remember the deal. I’ll get you that chance to kill Managed-Ant!”

As they say, an enemy in need is a comrade indeed.

***

Alternate Title: Insert ‘We’ Russian Meme; What Did Sofia Do To Irina?; *Russian Roulette Smut Intensifies*; Scared Girl; Irina Rizzing The Wrong Crowd; Boris Appears; Planning For The Students; Enlightenment; Not Pinning Hope on Another; Karma Do Be Freaky; Inspired; Steadily Changing… Growing; The First Proper Kill Not Out of Hatred; Benefits Do Be Eternal; An ‘Unschakled’ Nik; The True Fortuitous Path; Absorbing and Harmonizing Growth; Can’t Fear Your Own Body Count; Ironically, Nik’s Kill Count is More Than his Body Count Due To The Triplets; Snatching Advantage; Right To Fear; Taking Preventive Measures; A Slightly More Scheming Nik; Sokka: From Hit and Run to Such Thought Process… That’s My Bud! *Shed Manly Tears*; Lava-Head’s Issues; Threats; Promises; The Creature of Darkness; The Kinky… Tongue; The Tongue Bites?; Sharp Tail; The Threat; Managed-Ant’s Crisis; Nik: I’m Going To Put Metaphorical Sand In Your Eyes; Demanding Compensation; Each One More Shameless Than The Last; The Duo Threats; The Big Boss In The Others Compartment

***

Yukiko Kanzaki