The ocean roared like a feral beast, its claws of spray lashing against the jagged cliffs of Istoria. Somewhere on the horizon, the fiery glow of a battle lit up the storm-heavy skies. An airship plummeted, its flaming carcass casting a stark shadow against the clouds. Below, a figure in vivid red and black was sprinting across the rain-slick cobblestones of an ancient, crumbling city square, gripping a gleaming, blood-streaked warhammer in one hand and a shard of a glowing artifact in the other.
Luna Vael, infamous rogue of the Red Veil Rebellion, cut a stunning figure against the ruinous backdrop of Istoria’s war-torn skyline. Her surface-bonded corset of ebony volcanic gloss and crimson-tinted alloy hugged her athletic frame, each of its panels bearing the dents and scorch marks of combat. Matching leggings streaked with ash clung to her sculpted legs, allowing her the agility she needed as she navigated the chaotic terrain. Her hair, jet black on one side and bright crimson on the other, whipped wildly in the storm. What truly set her apart, though, were her eyes: piercing, with an unnatural luminescence, the left blazing red, the right a spectral white, as if charged by the artifact shard pulsing in her grip.
The market square was a haunting tableau of destruction. Stalls once brimming with exotic goods now lay crushed under debris, while ancient marble statues, half-toppled and worn, looked up at Luna like silent witnesses to her desperate flight. Lightning illuminated the cracked towers of Istoria’s old citadel, and the smell of scorched metal and wet, charred wood mingled with the sea’s salty tang. A massive explosion from the docks rattled through the air, signaling that her pursuers weren’t far behind.
A guttural metallic roar snapped Luna’s focus back to the moment. Out of the gloom emerged three automaton Enforcers, hulking constructs of steel and alchemical mechanisms. Their armored limbs hissed steam as their glowing eyes scanned the rapidly clearing market square. One pointed at her, its voice a monotonous proclamation, “Luna Vael, thief of the Crowned Shard, surrender or be terminated.”
Luna smirked and wiped rain from her painted face, her bold red lipstick unbothered despite the downpour. “Oh c’mon, tin can. Don’t you bots ever lighten up?” Her voice was playful, teasing, though there was steel behind her words. She spun the warhammer effortlessly, the weapon’s bright red and black engravings catching what little light spilled from the fires around her. The head of the hammer, an intricate lattice of energy-conducting crystal and alloy, hummed with raw power.
She didn’t wait for them to charge first. With a battle cry that echoed off the ancient buildings, she bolted forward, slamming the hammer down on the cobblestones mid-stride. The energy unleashed a scarlet shockwave, destabilizing two of the automatons and sending them crashing into an abandoned stall. But the third machine, larger and more imposing than the rest, barreled toward her with all the grace of a battering ram.
The hammer’s energy had dissipated momentarily, leaving Luna defenseless as the automaton’s massive fist arced toward her. Everything seemed to slow as old memories clawed back to her—the heat of her village burning, the laughter of her brother before the dark days began, the taste of rebellion when she first vowed to take back her world. The blow was inches away when the shard in her hand flashed brighter than the storm itself.
A rift tore through reality. Time fractured, the storm paused mid-roar, and Luna found herself in another place—another memory, but this one wasn’t hers. She was standing on the deck of a grand airship, its sails trimmed with red and black like her own armor. A man’s voice boomed beside her, deep and warm, commanding yet familiar. “You will need this, Luna,” he said, pressing the shard into her hand. She turned and saw a face she didn’t know yet somehow loved deeply—a face she’d forget after this moment. “You’ll know when the time comes to use it,” he had whispered, his lips brushing her ear as the memory dissolved again.
When reality snapped back, Luna’s grip around the shard tightened, and its power surged into her entire body. The automaton’s strike collided with an invisible barrier that rippled like water but held fast with the strength of the ages. Luna vaulted over the machine in a single, fluid motion, landing with the elegance of a dancer. She struck with her warhammer again, this time cleaving clean through its core.
The marketplace fell silent but for the whisper of the soft rain that had replaced the storm. Luna stood alone among the wreckage, bent over and breathing hard. Her reflection glimmered against a puddle at her feet, her red and black silhouette vivid in the watery light. She looked down at the shard, its glow waning now but still alive—and still a mystery. “I hope you’re worth it,” she muttered to the artifact before tucking it into a pouch on her belt.
She turned toward the distant cliffs, where the citadel of Istoria loomed like a dark star. Her next move awaited her there, and she had the unshakable feeling that whoever or whatever had entrusted her with the shard was waiting for her as well.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Action-Adventure
The Source…check out the article that inspired this amazing short story: Harley Quinn Red and Black Corset Cosplay – Costume Ideas & Inspiration
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations and reviews are always independent and objective, aiming to provide you with the best information and resources.
Exclusive Stories, Photos, Art & Offers - Subscribe Today!
Post Comment