Chapter 5
Scander looked at me with a faint smile, his shotgun resting on his shoulder as if this was nothing more than a casual encounter.
"Kid," he said, his voice calm but mocking, "I know it's hard for an old man like me to fight bare hands. Do you want weapon against weapon instead? That might be more enjoyable."
My grip tightened.
'This old punk is really getting on my nerves.'
"Come on," he continued, stepping forward slightly. "Let's make this fight interesting."
I let out a short breath and smirked.
"Fine," I said. "If you want weapon against weapon, I'll accept it."
His smile widened.
"Good. That's what I like to hear, young man."
The moment he finished speaking, his expression changed.
Serious.
Cold.
He raised his shotgun instantly.
"Fire."
Chk. Chk. Chk. Chk.
My eyes widened.
'An automatic shotgun?'
'And he can control the recoil perfectly... this is bad.'
I moved immediately, dodging to the side as pellets tore through the space where I had been standing.
Without hesitation, I rushed forward and pulled out my knife.
"Oh?" Scander's eyes lit up. "A knife?"
I closed the distance and swung.
Swing.
Swing.
He blocked effortlessly, using the body of his shotgun to deflect my attacks with precise timing.
'Not even a scratch...'
I gritted my teeth and increased my speed.
Slash.
He stepped in instead of backing away, turning defense into offense as he slammed the shotgun toward me with full force.
I barely managed to block, my arms shaking from the impact.
Then he stepped back slightly.
"Reload."
Boom.
Chk. Chk. Chk.
'This old man is insane... he's fast even while reloading.'
"Hey, young man," his voice came from behind me.
"I'm here."
My eyes widened.
"Shit."
I turned instantly and fired.
"Take this."
Brrt. Brrt.
The rifle in my hands roared, bullets tearing toward him, but he had already moved, his body slipping toward the wall with unnatural speed.
He looked at me with interest.
"An M16, huh? Not bad."
"Shut up," I snapped. "If you're strong, stop hiding and fight me properly. Or I'll blow this entire place up."
He chuckled, his eyes narrowing.
"Careful, kid. Don't make me angry."
Then, without hesitation, he threw his empty shotgun aside.
It crashed through a broken window.
"I should have brought more ammunition," he muttered.
Then his expression turned completely serious.
"Now," he said, stepping forward. "Let's fight properly."
I exhaled slowly.
"I said no," I replied, but a small smile appeared on my face. "Still... I'll give you some respect."
'Let's see what this old monster can really do.'
He clenched his fists.
"Enough talking."
"Come here, kid."
I moved first.
I dashed forward, knife ready, aiming for a clean slash.
But he dodged every attack.
Effortless.
Precise.
"Is that all?" he asked.
'This old man...'
My frustration built up.
"Fine."
I raised my hand.
Snap.
Time froze.
Scander blinked.
"…What?"
I stepped closer, breathing slightly heavier.
'This ability is draining me more than before.'
"You know," I muttered, "I can use this as many times as I want... but it's not free."
I picked up a gun nearby and aimed at him.
Even while frozen, his lips moved slightly.
Still resisting.
I pulled the trigger.
The bullet moved slowly through the air.
Too slow.
I fired again.
And again.
From his head down to his body.
'This should be enough.'
Scander's eyes shifted.
"Oh, young man," he said slowly. "What are you thinking? This won't be enough."
My eyes widened.
'He's still reacting...'
'This is bad.'
I clenched my jaw.
"Release."
Time resumed.
Bang.
The bullets surged forward instantly.
Two of them hit his shoulder.
Blood splashed.
Now he's bleeding too.
He rushed forward immediately, pulling a machete from his back.
"Now we fight properly."
I raised my knife.
"Fine."
Steel met steel.
Clang.
Clang.
Slash.
Our blades collided repeatedly, sparks flying as we exchanged attacks at close range.
"Let's finish this," I said, my voice rising.
"Come," he replied.
Our voices echoed through the building.
Far away, both teams heard us.
Footsteps rushed toward our location.
I moved around him, sliding low and slashing toward his leg.
The blade cut through.
He staggered slightly.
"Ugh..."
'Got you.'
Before I could follow up, his attack came down.
A vertical slash.
I blocked it, but the force was overwhelming.
My arms trembled.
'He's still this strong at his age?'
He saw the hesitation.
Then kicked me straight in the chest.
I was thrown backward.
Air escaped my lungs.
'Ugh...'
I struggled to regain balance.
Then I realized
My position.
"…No."
Behind me was a broken window.
Below it
A deadly drop.
'If I fall, I'm dead.'
He rushed toward me again, pushing me further into the corner.
My space was shrinking.
I couldn't move freely.
His blade came again.
I barely avoided it, my body tilting dangerously near the edge.
'This is bad...'
Gunshots echoed.
Footsteps followed.
Scander paused.
"…Who's there?"
The door burst open.
Hunters rushed in.
But something was wrong.
I narrowed my eyes.
'They look weak... too weak.'
Louise stepped forward.
The hunters behind her collapsed.
Dead.
Scander's expression shifted slightly.
"…I see."
"Looks like this turned into a two against one."
I let out a breath.
"Louise, help me."
"Quiet," Scander said sharply. "Don't speak."
Louise raised her weapon.
"Try that again," she said coldly, "and I'll shoot you where you stand. Give me Tyron, and I'll let you leave."
I shook my head slightly.
"No," I said. "You don't understand. This guy is dangerous."
Scander's eyes narrowed.
"That's your last warning."
Suddenly
He pushed me that hard.
And I lost my balance.
My body fell backward.
But I grabbed the edge just in time.
'Shit...'
I hung there, my grip tightening.
Above me, gunfire erupted.
And then
A hand reached down.
"Grab it," Louise said.
I grabbed her arm.
"Damn... you're heavy," she muttered as she pulled.
With effort, she lifted me back up.
I collapsed on the floor, breathing heavily.
"…Thanks."
I looked ahead.
A body lay on the ground.
"…Who's that?"
Louise glanced at it.
"Idiot. That's Scander. He's still alive. I only shot his legs."
I looked closer.
He was down.
But conscious.
"…Good."
Then I remembered.
"Rudolf."
Louise nodded immediately.
"I'll handle it."
She activated her earpiece.
"Everyone, move to the top floor. We need extraction now."
"Copy."
I walked toward Scander slowly.
"…Looks like you lost."
He chuckled weakly.
"Yeah... looks like it."
Then he looked at me.
"So what now? Are you going to capture me?"
I shook my head.
"No."
I glanced at one of my teammates.
"You. The one with pink hair."
He stepped forward.
"Search him. Take everything. I want information."
"Got it."
While they handled that, I turned to Rudolf.
"…You alive?"
He slowly opened his eyes.
"…What happened?"
Then he saw Scander lying on the ground.
His expression broke.
"I couldn't even fight him…"
He started tearing up.
"…I'm so useless."
I sighed.
"It's fine," I said. "You're alive. That's enough."
I stood up and looked at everyone.
"We're leaving."
"This place isn't safe anymore."
Louise nodded.
"Move out."
We lifted Rudolf carefully and began moving.
The mission wasn't over.
But for now
We survived.