"Hey, Alisha… we're almost there. How much longer are you going to ride on my back?"
"Just a little further, my noble steed," Alisha whispered with a grin, munching on a popsicle atop Axcel's shoulders.
"Hey, what do you think those idiots will think the moment they see me with you on my back? I'll lose all my street cred."
"Don't worry, my knight, that won't happen," she kept her voice low, finishing her popsicle.
This girl has zero respect for me and never listens.
Using his extended vibration, Axcel effortlessly repelled any direct attack from the creatures they encountered.
To the left… several Minions lunged at him, their heads disintegrating the moment they brushed against his body.
To the right… a Gigan swung a powerful punch, its hand shattering instantly on impact.
To the left… a Runner attacked with its legs, its limbs snapping immediately.
To the left… two Arachnes burst from the earth, slamming their front legs in unison against four reinforced barriers humming with vibration and electricity, blocking their path.
Heh… looks like these bastards don't know their place. Alisha remained resting on his back, completely unbothered.
Axcel walked forward slowly and raised his right hand, extending his index finger. His hand and finger began to vibrate violently as a small current of compressed air
spiraled across his palm.
"Wolf Fang: Wind Gale Tear," he whispered. A piercing blast of wind erupted from his finger, tearing right through the barrier and piercing straight through the skulls of both Arachnes, instantly shattering their legs.
Axcel then raised his finger to the mouth area of his helmet.
"Shh… Alisha is sleeping. Don't wake her up, you wretched beasts."
….
Axcel and Alisha arrived at the scene. Axcel surged electricity directly into the building.
There are three ants inside. Fascinating. But I'll crush the boy myself; I'll leave the rest to Alisha.
"We're here, Alisha. Wake up already and lift the building. I want to go in."
"What… what's happening? Red bear was fighting blue bear and they were totally evenly matched…" she mumbled, her eyes half-open as she wiped drool from her mouth.
Ugh, she was dreaming about that never-ending bear fight again.
"Time to wake up, Alisha. Lift the building and deploy the barrier. I don't want any trash interfering," he commanded, his vibration beginning to spike.
"Fine… you don't have to be so intense about it," she grumbled, sliding off his back and walking toward the building.
"Levitato: Gravity – Partial," she called out, raising her right hand and slowly tracing two fingers from her leg up toward the sky. The building began to slowly lift into the air.
…..
"Hey, you little piece of trash. I know that's not enough to finish you off. So get up and show me what you've got. Or, if you prefer, I can just slaughter you right where you lie!"
Jack forced his gaze up toward the helmet of the enemy standing before him. The sun blurred his vision, his eyes looked vacant, his body was utterly exhausted, and every breath felt like suffocating. Blood poured from his mouth and his torn-open back,
dripping onto the dirt.
I'm so tired. Even if I were in perfect shape, I don't think I could beat this guy.
His vibration is insanely powerful, and he hasn't even shown his full capabilities yet.
This guy is stronger than any monster I've ever faced.
"If you don't stand up right now and face me, I will give the order to execute this girl," Axcel said coldly, keeping his eyes locked onto him.
"Don't do it!" Jack cried out, his face contorted in agony as he tried to force himself up, but his legs refused to respond.
Damn it… I can't move! But if I don't, Valentine dies… and I couldn't live with myself if she died because of me.
"Alisha… it's time. Kill her."
"Copy that!" Alisha replied, slowly pressing the tip of the knife into Valentine's neck.
Valentine lay on the ground, forced onto her knees, staring intently at Jack as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Stop! I'm up!" Jack roared, wheezing from the sheer exertion. "Hold, Alisha."
"Understood…"
"By the way, little girl… you didn't even let out a single scream," Alisha whispered into Valentine's ear, pulling the knife back.
"I promised I would try to be stronger… so Jack wouldn't have to worry about me so much…" Valentine mouthed the words, her eyes locked onto Jack, a faint smile gracing her lips.
I know, Valentine. I have to fight to get us out of here… or at least to make sure you make it out alive.
Tears fell from Jack's eyes. He dropped his center of gravity, took a slow, deep breath, and curled his hand into a claw. His veins bulged, and instantly, his body completely regenerated from all its wounds.
He extended both arms like claws in front of him, one behind the other, as crackling electricity cloaked his body and his hands erupted into raging flames. The earth began to tremble, and the surrounding rubble started to melt from the sheer, radiating heat.
[ALERT!]
[Threat Level 4 detected.]
[Abnormal Hybrid Type: Augmenter… detected.]
…
[ALERT!]
[Threat Level 4 detected.]
[Abnormal Hybrid Type: Augmenter… detected.]
*Shut up already… I don't even remember when I started using Horux instead of Leonardo.
Leonardo, evaluate this hybrid.
"Good afternoon, Axcel… where have you been?"
Damn it! I forgot I was supposed to report back this morning.
"Forget about that and just analyze him, please. I'll check in properly later, I promise!"
"Understood. Commencing analysis… Analysis complete."
Name: Jack Walker.Age: 14.
"I don't care about that… skip to the end."
"As you wish… Mr. Impatient."
Abilities: Vibration, fire, electricity, and abnormal traces of a potential high-ranking entity known as 'High-Rank Cocytus'.
"That's all, Axcel… analysis concluded."
"Wrap up the hunt and return to base. That is an order." "Understood!"
Wow, impressive. He's at Alisha's level before she became a Helix. But what shocks me most is that he can combine two elements simultaneously. That's practically impossible for a hybrid… yet he's doing it effortlessly.
Man, life is always worth living when things get this interesting.
Kid… you're a freaking genius. I'm actually jealous.
"Alright, kid. If you're ready, it's time to hit me with everything you've got," Axcel raised his voice.
"I only need three fingers to handle you."
Bastard, he's mocking me.
Jack took a step forward, channeled his vibration into his feet, and lunged.
Left side: A kick to the neck… blocked with three fingers.
Right side: A fire-cloaked right fist… blocked with three fingers.
Front: A double vibration kick… blocked low with three fingers.
Back: A left-handed fire-claw strike… blocked behind his back with three fingers.
Axcel spun around effortlessly.
"What's wrong, kid? Is that all you've got?"
"I'm not done yet!" Jack yelled, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood twice.
No way… this guy is an absolute monster. Even with everything I threw at him, I couldn't even scratch him. I'm running out of time. In a few more minutes, I'm going to collapse.
"You're brave, kid. But it's obvious you're at your absolute limit," Axcel noted.
"You're right. I can't beat you, especially not in this state," Jack wheezed, gasping for air.
"So, I'll give you two options:"
"First: hand over the 'RHX-32' and I'll only kill you."
"Second: if you manage to dodge one of my attacks, I'll only kill you."
You bastard… no matter what I choose, I'm the one who dies. And what the hell is the RHX-32 anyway?
"No need to make such an ugly face. Come on, choose already."
"I pick the second option. I don't even know what the 'RHX-32' is."
…
You stubborn brat, so you have no intention of handing it over.
…
"Fine. The second option it is," Axcel boomed, cranking his vibration to the max.
Oh no… this guy hasn't even been trying."Alright, brace yourself, kid."
Axcel dropped his center of gravity, spreading his feet shoulder-width apart, his fists clenched tightly at his waist. His vibration exploded violently, fracturing the earth and causing pieces of stone to lift into the air. He then expanded his compressed air throughout his entire body, causing the conduits on the arms and chest of his suit to glow a deep, dark blue.
…
What's happening?... I feel like I can't breathe. Valentine was slowly losing consciousness.
…
Jack forced himself back onto his feet.
Here goes everything I have left.
Jack took another slow, deep breath. Lowering his center of gravity, he crossed his palms into claws, and his body was instantly engulfed in a violent cocktail of fire, vibration, and electricity. The ground tore open beneath him, and the surrounding debris dissolved into dust the moment it lifted into the air.
Jack smiled… as Valentine slowly began to regain her senses.
…
Wow… this kid is insanely strong. He actually countered my vibration at 43%. But you better dodge this blow, or you're dead.
…
Jack threw himself forward with the absolute last of his strength, charging straight at Axcel. However, to Axcel, Jack's speed looked like a snail's crawl. As the boy closed the distance, Axcel rapidly concentrated a gale of wind and vibration into his left fist, driving it straight toward Jack's chest.
"Wolf Fang: Wind Fracture!" Axcel roared, his fist colliding dead against the palm of Jack's right hand.
Crack, crack, crack.
"AHHHH! AHHHH! Ahh, ahh…" Jack shrieked in agony as he was slammed violently into the dirt, his arm completely shattered. His heart rate plummeted within seconds, sending him straight into cardiac arrest.
"JACK! NOOOO! Please don't leave me!" Valentine wailed, trying to crawl toward him, her body shaking, her face twisted in pure desperation. But Alisha kept her pinned firmly to the ground.
If Jack is gone… what's the point of living?
"If you're going to kill me… just do it already. Make it quick, please," she whispered, her eyes completely vacant. "But promise me you won't hurt Alicia. She has nothing to do with us."
Alisha froze, closing her eyes for a brief moment.
…
Commander… what's taking you so long? We've already taken one life, and we're about to take another.
…
…
Excellent… you managed to soften the impact with your arm. But that was a mistake from the very beginning.
…
….
"Alisha, do you hear me?"
"Commander?..."
"Don't react too much, Axcel can't find out."
"Understood. What's the plan?"
Alisha remained cold and stoic, her eyes locked onto Axcel while keeping the knife pressed to Valentine's throat.
"You're going to use the serum I gave you a while ago and inject it right into Axcel's neck… do not hesitate. We're going to take advantage of his absolute trust in you. Got it?"
…
Though that trust is both a gift and a curse.
…
"But… Commander, we need to stop Evergreen first, and we can't do that."
"Don't worry… I'm on my way to apprehend her right now. We finally found the definitive evidence we needed to relieve her of her command. But there's no time to relax. The moment we have Evergreen secured, I'll give you the signal. So no matter what happens, do not move."
"Copy that, Commander."
….
"What are you waiting for… end this pain," Valentine whispered, tears pouring down her face as she stared blankly at Jack's lifeless body.
Suddenly, Jack's left arm twitched.
Valentine gasped, her tears still flowing, but a smile broke across her face… right before she blacked out.
"Hey… hey, now's not the time to pass out!" Axcel raised his voice slightly, shaking Valentine's shoulder with his left hand.
Damn it, she's out cold.
Jack began to slowly push himself up, spitting up blood multiple times. His breathing was in critical condition, and his eyes were completely glazed over. He spread his legs, dropped his center of gravity, and extended his palm into the air toward Axcel. He didn't utter a single syllable, his face entirely blank.
Alisha stood by, completely disoriented and bewildered.
I can't believe a hybrid actually blocked and survived Axcel's technique at 43%
….
"Axcel, that vermin is still alive… eliminate him immediately."
"As you command, Evergreen."
….
Axcel turned back around to face Jack.
"You piece of trash… you should have stayed dead," he growled, quickening his pace.
Reaching him, he extended his right arm and grabbed Jack by the throat with terrifying force. Crack, crack, crack… the sickening sound echoed straight to Alisha's ears.
Jack's trachea was completely crushed. Axcel hoisted him up into the air without an ounce of mercy.
…
Impressive. You're still breathing; you're tougher than you look.
…
Damn it… why is the Commander taking so long?!
Axcel began to channel wind and vibration into his left fist, pulling it back to aim straight for Jack's face.
"Any last words, boy?" he raised his voice, though his left hand began to tremble slightly.
Jack noticed the tremor and snapped back to consciousness. He stared directly into the visor of Axcel's helmet, blood pouring heavily from his mouth. With the absolute
last shred of his energy, he raised both hands and gripped Axcel's arm. Axcel looked down at his own trembling arm.
"Don't think your compassion will…" Jack coughed out, a bloody smile spreading across his lips while Axcel's arm shook even harder.
…
Don't do this… you bastard. If you do this, I'll never be able to forget you. With your death, that makes two people I'll never be able to get out of my head.
…
Tears began to stream down Axcel's face behind his visor.
…..
"What's taking so long, Axcel?..."
No response.
"Hey, that's an order! Kill him now!..."
No response.
…..