Chapter Text
Five trash beasts which were about 10 feet tall, meandered around the outskirts of the town.
These beasts resembled a lion pride, staying together and hunting in a group. They had spotted the cleaners.
The ones who had been laying down now stood up in a position getting ready to spring into action.
Being disturbed by the presence of people, they roared, sending a huge wave of sand and wind. Their gape revealed a set of sharp, rusty metal teeth on each beast.
The beasts lunged towards the cleaners, crunching and rattling at every step. The cleaners activated their vital weapons, separating so each one had a beast of their own.
They spread apart the land so they wouldn't accidentally intervene with the others' fight, and the beasts followed.
This was a simple job, these beasts were nothing compared to the giant flying raider trash beast they had faced some time back.
A ray of blue light emanated from Lovely Assistaff as Zanka lifted her up to block the bite of the beast charging at him. The trash beast roared and struggled as lovely was harshly pushed under its neck. Metal screeched against metal, Zanka pushing back at the beast.
Before Zanka could command Lovely’s spikes to attack, the Lion took a step back and charged at him again.
Zanka dived to the left, turning smoothly and swinging lovely under the beast, sending it flying to a pile of trash. He quickly shoved the beast down again before it stood up, sending a final strike down with lovely’s spikes.
With that blow, the beast fell apart. Zanka stood proudly over what was left of the beast as it dissipated. He turned around to look at the rest of the group finishing off their parts of the job.
While Gris pinned down one of the beasts, Riyo swung around the Ripper with her feet, lunging down to finish the other. Now Gris let go of the beast he had a grip on, letting Riyo finish the job. With a twist and turn of her legs, the scissors cut through the beast in a smooth final strike.
Enjin twisted his open umbrella, sending a strong gust of wind towards the trash beast.
The beast braced itself, claws digging deep into the ground to try to resist the force of the wind.
Yellow electricity sprung alive from Umbreaker, sending strong currents of it towards the beast. The beast curled in pain, twisting and turning, trying to escape it somehow.
But to no avail, it collapsed on the dirt and broke apart.
Enjin placed Umbreaker over his shoulder and chuckled in success, a nonchalant grin plastered over his face as he waved over at Zanka and Riyo.
Rudo had found an old tire, using it as his first weapon. This brought him back to his first day on the ground as spikes grew out of the tire.
The tire was tied around a chain, and Rudo used this to his advantage. He grabbed onto the long chain, using it as a whip. He swung around the tire to get some momentum before launching it at the trash beast who aproached.
The spikes attached to its body, growing larger as it got a solid grip on the beast. The spikes traversed through the beast's body, reaching an immense size. It growled in pain before crumbling to dust.
“Well,” Enjin approached the group of teens. “Another job well done. Lets head back now, maybe we can get something to ea-”
The ground below them began to grumble and shake. Enjin used Umbreaker as a walking stick so as not to lose his balance.
The trash began to move and rattle at the strength of the shake.
“What the hell?” Enjin yelled out.
“Well, well, well, if it isn't the cleaners!” Zanka tensed up at the sound of that familiar voice. Everyone turned their heads to look at the source of the voice and earthquake.
Jabber Wonger, along with 3 trash beasts at least 4 times bigger than the previous ones approached.
Jabber's locs fluttered in the air due to the wind caused by the speed of the trash beasts. Everyone returned to their fighting stances at the sight of the raider.
“Spoke to soon Enjin!” Exclaimed Riyo sarcastically.
“Yeah, Yeah, lets get this over with.” Ejin said lazily.
Zanka’s grip on lovely increased. Jabber was now here, this made things a bit more exciting. Sure, he had just come over here for a simple job, but he hadn't trained all this much just for a couple o trash beasts.
Though a bit nervous, a sense of ecstasy filled Zanka. He was going to beat Jabber's ass good this time.
The beasts instantly stampede at the sight of the cleaners, aiming directly at all of them except Zanka. Jabber jumped off the beasts as they passed Zanka, Jabber's claws extending and aiming at his head.
Zanka raised Lovely, blocking the blow and pushing him back. As Jabber’s feet hit the ground with a satisfying thud, With a twist of Zanka’s wrist he maneuvered Lovely behind him and in front, then stood in a guard stance.
“Seems like you healed well from my poisons huh? But don’t worry my dear Zanka, I have more I would like to test out on ya.” He let out a crazed giggle.
Jabber ran in zig zags before launching up and down at Zanka. Zanka blocked and sent a solid kick at Jabber's stomach. Jabber’s feet dragged along the dirt as the friction of his shoes slowed the force of the push.
“Tryna break my ribs again you sadist?” Jabber chuckled.
Zanka didn't say a single word.
Jabber’s smile dropped and his eyebrow raised. “What's up Mr. Bad Attitude? Too good for me now?” He fixed his posture slightly.
It seemed like the cleaner wasn't reacting at all to any of his comments. He was more serious, more focused today.
Seeing no movement from the raider, Zanka charged at him. Waves of blue anima flowing out of Lovely Assistaf, twirling around Zanka as he lifted her to attack.
Jabber grabbed on to Lovely, Both of them pushing their weapons to the other. They stared deeply into each other's glowing pupils from the anima– Jabber's wild purple and Zanka’s radiant blue eyes– never losing eye contact during the altercation. Jabber Laughed. He could tell Zanka had gotten better.
Zanka dove to the right, and tried to knock Jabber off his feet. Yet before he could, Jabber clawed at his neck, barely missing as Zanka retrieved from his attack and leapt back.
He quickly used the mouth of Lovely to hook Jabber's extended arm. Zanka flung Jabber up by his arm, then threw him against the trash similar to how he did the beast.
Jabber landed harshly on the ground, sending a deep burn of pain all through his back. Jabber chuckled.
Drunk off the pain, Jabber quickly stood back up again, his claws striking at Zanka as he blocked every scratch.
“Dang you're getting better, I can tell you’ve been practicing for me” Jabber said smugly.
Jabber wasn't wrong, Zanka had specifically been working on his defense for him. He knew that if at any moment Jabber's claws touched him once, he was done for.
One cut of his claws and who knows what kind of poison would enter his system, and he would instantly lose. But not anymore, without having the upper hand with his claws, Jabber had to now resort to other ways of offense.
Jabber attacked and Zanka blocked, both of them moving as if in a synchronized dance.
“But you’re still holding back.” Zanka flinched at those words. Jabber smirked and used this opportunity to strike at Zanka.
With a quick smooth whip of his leg, he made Zanka drop to his knees. He jumped and kicked him in the chest, sending Zanka straight towards a pile of trash.
“Come on Zanka, Fight me with all you got, I'm getting bored!” Jabber whined.
Zanka– recovering from the whiplash of the kick– stood up, using Lovely as a support. He took a deep breath, and got back into an offensive position. He had to win this one. He had to.
“Man, I really am getting tired of this.” Jabber sighed.
“Cmon, where is your anger, where is your thirst to kill me? Why are you holding back?”
Sweat trickles from Zanka’s forehead. He grits his teeth as he starts to get impatient. He rushes at Jabber, lifting Lovely as if he were going to hit him from above.
Jabber blocked, but Zanka turned–delivering a high back kick directly at Jabber's face. Jabber fell back to the ground with a loud bump.
Zanka quickly leapt over him, Lovely pushed upon Jabber's neck now. His hands trailing down Lovely’s shaft till the very edge, pinning Jabber down further.
Red crimson blood driped down a trail over Jabber's nose and lips. Grinning from ear to ear, his teeth now a mix of white and red liquid, with a soft pink flushed over his cheeks as well.
“Man I love it when you get on top of me like this” Jabber muttered, looking directly at Zanka’s eyes with pure Euphoria as both the men’s faces were pretty close.
Zanka is weirded out by the comment and recoils back, a bamboozled face of both confusion and fluster.
Once again gaining an opportunity to escape Zanka’s grasp, Jabber grabbed the mouth of Lovely and used it to launch himself back to his feet.
Jabber holds tightly to Lovely, swinging her around with Zanka holding on as well. He lets go, throwing Zanka away, yet somehow doesn't fall to his feet.
Sweat begins trickling faster down Zanka’s face. He’s getting tired, this has been going on for too long.
“Zanka!” Zanka stares behind Jabber, the rest of Akuta now running towards his fight.
They had finished fighting the beasts, It was only him left now.
Zanka stuck lovely down to the dirt, pulling her back and launching himself towards Jabber.
Jabber watched as Zanka flew over and past him, landing back to back. Zanka quickly swung Lovely below Jabber's feet, yet with a fast reaction time he jumped and kicked Zanka on the nose.
Zanka’s face swung violently to the side from the impact, grabbing at his nose as blood violently gushed down his face.
Zanka quickly turned around, but before he could react, Jabber had blasted a crescent kick to the side of Zanka’s head. With the immense force of the kick, it left Zanka on the floor.
Shit! No no no!
He was losing consciousness. Everything was blurry, his vision was fading.
He could barely see but before he went under he caught sight of the other cleaners jumping at Jabber before he could approach Zanka again.
“I.. need to… win…” Zanka muttered to himself as he slowly faded. He tried to sit up, but the viscous buzzing in his head caused him to fall back. His blue pupils fading to dark dulled voids of black.
Lovely Assistaf laid pitifully next to Zanka, the blue anima fading as it reverted once more to its original state.
It was all too similar to his last fight with Jabber. It always ended the same.
Why was he so weak? No matter what he did, he could never beat a genius. Why was he even trying? He was such a waste. Why did Enjin have to save him from that well? He would never sum up to anything. He wasn't a Nijiku, he wasn't a cleaner, he wasn't an average joe, he wasn't even mediocre. He was less than that. He was nothing.
…
Zanka stood up. His head screamed at him, it felt as if it was vibrating, as if it was burning.
There was nothing in his eyes, he couldn't feel anything right now.
His body moved without his control, picking up Lovely and unconsciously walking forward.
Blood dripped from his face, drops of red spilling on the ground and leaving a trail after each step he took.
His face was dark, there was nothing in his mind right now.
Everything he was doing was coming from somewhere he couldn't recognize.
How had he even stood up after a hit like that?
…
Rudo, using a rope as his second weapon, had gotten a hold of Jabber as the other cleaners distracted him. Jabber, now tied up from his arms, squirmed around trying to break free. Rudo pulled, trying not to lose his grip on him.
Then, Jabber stopped.
Rudo looked at Jabber, who was now giggling to himself as he stared off behind the cleaners.
Confuzzled, he turned around behind him.
A flash of blue and grey passed by Enjin and Riyo before they could fully turn.
Zanka sprung up into the air, bringing Lovely Assistaff up with him. Jabber looked at him in awe–absolutely hysterical– now laughing so much he couldn't control himself.
Zanka’s arms thrusted down.
The weapon hit the very top of Jabber's head with immense momentum.
Then, there was a crack of wood that resonated through the air.
The cleaners stared at the horrible site, their eyes widened in shock.
Shards and splinters of wood and cloth flew through the air.
It seemed as if time had slowed down for everyone.
Zanka’s eyes dilated, widening as he came back to full consciousness.
A thick piece of wood flung across, barely missing his bloodied face.
Jabber dropped down to the floor flat onto his side, still tied up.
Everything stayed quiet for a minute as the cleaners tried to process what had just happened.
Bits and pieces of Lovely Assistaff were spread all over the dirt in disarray.
Zanka stood in shock, still in the final position after he had struck Jabber.
His eyes were bloodshot, almost bulging out, perhaps still processing what had just occurred.
After a moment of absolute quiet and stillness, other than from a slight breeze Zanka finally moved.
Zanka’s hands began to shake.
He fell hard on his knees, his hands shaking even more violently now. Unstable gasps for air and exasperation left his mouth.
He held on to the base of what was left of lovely, looking down at his hands in absolute mortifying inconsolable anguish.
“W-What have I done?”