by L. M. Kerr
And right now, Prime was suffering from a similar backlash, here and now. The man’s body had been well protected, but so too were the bodies of the various beings on the Second Layer at the site of this future battle. Unless one had specifically prepared to block such a backlash, it was impossible to dodge.
The potency of the spiritual attack was much weaker here due to the limited Elemental Energy Micheal could summon. Still, it was more than enough to work here on the First Layer, dealing a blow to Prime that couldn’t be mitigated. The man’s Soul wasn’t destroyed, but it was likely riddled with injuries that would directly kill a lesser man and would take Prime weeks, at least, to heal from.
As for Micheal… he was completely fine. His consciousness, and his Soul with it, was hidden away in a mystical place, awaiting his return to life.
The spiritual backlash was very powerful and nigh unavoidable. However, to be hit by it, one had to be physically present in the area.
By the time the backlash came into full effect, Micheal’s body had already been destroyed and his death had already arrived. His Soul was nowhere the Mire Wicker Poison could find, leaving him completely unharmed.
Of course, dying to avoid being injured was a rather unconventional approach. In fact, most people would question that sort of logic. Micheal’s setup was definitely something very few people could follow.
As he saw Prime grapple with the serious injuries to his Soul, Micheal took action.
One of his two remaining Life Orbs shattered as he came back to life, spawning in several meters away from where he had died, near the back of the theatre stage.
As soon as he appeared, he sprinted off to his left, taking only a split second to reach where a long, black blade had wedged itself, set against the back wall of the stage.
With his right foot, he kicked the blade up into the air. In the same motion, he tapped on the Spatial Ring that had just materialized on his hand, pulling out a large, black pill.
He swallowed the pill down instantly while simultaneously grabbing ahold of his Ashari Blade in his free hand and putting it in a guard position. He then assessed the state of the blade, noting several long burn marks on it as he felt the Bracken Enhancement Fluid he had just taken begun to take effect.
‘I need to save my last Life Orb for what comes after this.’ The thought floated in his mind as he took a small step forward,
“Come, Director.” Micheal smiled slightly as he pointed his Ashari Blade forward,
“Let’s finish this.”
.. .. .. .. .. ..
Meanwhile, back at the Nightrunner’s Nest B skyscraper…
.. .. .. .. .. ..
Shin’s breath wheezed out of him as he looked at the scene before him.
He was no longer hidden away up in the rafters of the large gymnasium, but down on the ground, near the edge of the room. His Heaton Sniper Rifle lay in shambles on the ground nearby, sliced into several pieces.
Blood pounded in his ears as he tried to focus, his mind clearing as sweat dripped down his forehead, stinging his eyes.
The fight between the Cell Captains of the Nightrunners and Admiral Cardell’s team had grown to a standstill in the background. While there were more elites from the Godfather Organization in the fight, each of the Cell Captains appeared to be the absolute strongest ones in the Nightrunners.
Knives clashed against swords, axes smashed against glowing shields, katanas swung against metal staves. A myriad of colored energies clashed as Abilities were unleashed in a chaotic storm.
While the Godfather Organization still held the advantage, the Cell Captains were strong enough that the fight was more of a battle of attrition. The men from the Nightrunners were gradually losing, but at a slow enough rate that neither side would be able to interfere with anyone else for several minutes.
Shin had no time to split his focus on the battle that was happening off to the side between Number 10, Sophia, and the rest of his team as his gaze zeroed in on his target.
Number 6.
After Shin launched out his sneak ambush, and found that ambush subsequently returned, he had prepared himself to launch another volley. Before he could prime his Heaton Sniper Rifle, though, Number 6 had managed to launch an ambush of his own at Shin, using his mystical portals to stab his spear directly at him while simultaneously fending off Admiral Cardell.
Shin had ended up using his Heaton Sniper Rifle to block the attack, sacrificing the weapon to buy him time to teleport. The gun had exploded right before he left, however, dazing him as he warped over to a different, empty part of the gymnasium.
It had taken him only a brief time to recover from the explosion, and he’d managed to keep his guard up throughout it, prepared to teleport if he was attacked again. But in that time, instead of attacking him, Number 6 focused on Cardell.
And in that time… things had taken a dire turn.
Admiral Cardell truly was the strongest A Ranker. He was ranked well above Number 6, and possessed a level of skill and might that had stood unchallenged for quite some time.
But despite that, when Shin’s vision cleared, he saw a fight that looked completely the opposite.
Number 6’s arms were a blur as he unleashed strike after strike, cleverly redirecting the Admiral’s anchor in sinuous movements. The man’s spear slid around almost like a snake, far from the ‘tiger’ his Spear Tiger nickname proclaimed, but effective nonetheless.
Admiral Cardell’s huge anchor swung about in lightning-fast strikes that could only seem crude in comparison, like a rushing bull that was flailing about wildly. Their fight moved extremely quickly, so fast it was hard for Shin to clearly make out.
What he could see, however, were the large gashes appearing on Cardell’s skin, and the spatters of red blood as the Admiral took multiple serious injuries in a matter of seconds.
Loud clangs and bashes rang out from each impact of the two’s fight, a furious battle that shook the air itself. Just from listening to their duel, Shin realized that if even a single one of those attacks landed on him, he would be dead, Bracken Enhancement Fluid or not.
Shin wanted nothing more than to back up and retreat, taking cover as he let off a few long-range bullet attacks. He still maintained his newfound determination to face his fears and enemies head-on, but that didn’t mean his entire nature would change in a day.
However, as he looked on at the deathmatch, he grit his teeth and took a tentative step forward. He clenched his fists as his trusty Soul Pistol appeared in his right hand, armed and ready to fire.
Before he left on this mission, Micheal had given Shin a single task and nothing more.
“No matter who or what we find, your job is a simple one, Shin.” Micheal had explained, back when they were going over their final plans.
“I need you to find the biggest, the baddest, or the strongest guy there, the one that is causing the most trouble for our mission.” Shin had listened attentively, taking in every word Micheal said.
“And I need you to take him down.” Micheal then went on to outline several plans, each one different in its own ways depending on the possible enemies and areas they might encounter.
Shin had taken all of that information in and made a firm promise.
He was going to complete that mission. Because if he didn’t… that could mean the end of everything. He had absolute faith in Micheal. If Micheal said this was something they absolutely needed to do, that meant it was something they absolutely needed to do.
Shin took a deep breath, his gaze rapidly becoming calm as he looked at Number 6.
The man was engrossed in his battle with Admiral Cardell. While the fierce spear-wielder was clearly winning the fight, even a single mistake could prove fatal. Cardell was a legendary expert on the First Layer for a reason, after all.
Shin watched them fight for a few seconds. And then watched some more. And some more.
His eyes never left Number 6’s figure as he watched their duel continue, ignoring the oth
er battles around him. He knelt down on the ground, assuming a quiet posture, gradually hiding his presence as he stared at Number 6.
Screams of pain, the screeches of metal, and the sounds of battle continued to echo, but all that faded to silence as Shin put his complete focus on Number 6.
Every stretch of the man’s arm, every sweep of the man’s spear, every shift of the man’s stance… Shin took it all in, missing nothing.
The battle between the two top tier A Rankers was accelerating at a far faster pace than the other fights. Cardell seemed to be barely holding on, a look of sheer horror and astonishment mixed on his face, as if Number 6 held absolutely unbelievable power.
And finally… at a completely random point, where Number 6 had just lashed out with his spear, leaving a deep cut on Cardell’s abdomen, and was recovering while Cardell tried to fend him off…
At a time where no one would reasonably try to attack, where Number 6 was readying himself to unleash another attack…
Shin teleported behind Number 6 and hugged him.
.
Chapter 81
Shin’s arms latched around Number 6’s waist with all of his might, settling into a vice-like grip as his enhanced body went to work. The Bracken Enhancement Fluid he had taken showed its strength as it empowered him, making his grip steely and sure.
Number 6 was completely caught off guard by Shin’s abrupt arrival, and even further surprised that Shin didn’t appear to be immediately attacking him. Shin wasn’t trying to seal Number 6’s arms and prevent him from attacking Admiral Cardell, nor was he trying to crush Number 6’s chest in.
The powerful A Ranker was wearing a set of tough armor that would’ve made such an action difficult, but Shin didn’t even try.
Instead, he just sat there and huddled up.
Shin’s decision to not do much of anything at all was very intentional.
Every time he teleported, he had to wait a certain amount of time before he could teleport again. That number was gradually growing smaller and smaller, especially as he grew more experienced, but it still was something he couldn’t ignore.
If he wanted to both teleport and take Number 6 with him, he would need to wait roughly four full seconds before he could move.
That meant he would need to be latched onto Number 6 for the entirety of that time without letting go, and also without dying. Unlike Micheal, Shin couldn’t just come back to life after being mortally injured. He still felt faint, phantom pains from his newly replaced left arm, a steep reminder of the danger he lived in.
After a brief spate of thinking it over, the best plan Shin could come up with to hold on to Number 6 for four seconds without dying ended up being one of Micheal’s early-planning suggestions.
‘Just be a wimp.’ Micheal’s advice had been rather succinct and direct.
Shin’s heart pounded in his chest as he held on with all of his might and, as soon as he could, yelled out loud,
“Admiral! Quickly attack, I’ll hold him still like we practiced!” His voice echoed out as he ducked his head as much as possible, shielding his lower neck and skull with his Melding Plate Arm. He Expanded the arm slightly, taking on as defensive a posture as possible.
Part of this was an act, intentionally trying to look weak. The other part, however, was genuine. Shin really didn’t want to get his head bashed in.
“Impudent, but at least you aren’t boring.” Number 6’s voice was full of mild amusement as he took this all in. His tone made it clear he didn’t see Shin, or even the ferocious-looking Admiral Cardell, as a serious threat.
Shin felt Number 6’s body shiver as the man flexed. Abruptly, Shin felt as if his arms were about to rip apart as a huge amount of pressure knocked into his body. Just holding onto Number 6 was suddenly extremely difficult, almost forcing him to directly lose his grip.
Just as all of his effort was about to go to waste, however… Cardell took action.
The Admiral didn’t know exactly what was going on, but through the years of experience he had accumulated as a veteran warrior, and the trust he had in the young Sub-Executive he had personally recruited, he reached a very quick conclusion.
Shin was up to something. And, given how the fight had been going thus far, he might as well play along.
“Excellent work, lad!” Cardell’s voice shook the air as he jumped forward, bringing his large anchor up and then directly down in a full-powered bash. The powerful warrior moved quicker than usual, exposing himself to a counterattack as he sought to strike before Number 6 had time to injure Shin.
“Bahahaha!” The Admiral’s slightly crazed laugh sounded off energetically as he attacked.
And, true to the Admiral’s expectations, Number 6 was forced to ignore Shin and defend himself.
Number 6 whipped his spear up and smashed it against Cardell’s anchor. The reverberations of their clash rumbled through Shin’s body, setting his teeth on edge as he desperately continued to cling to Number 6.
Shin absolutely failed in regards to holding Number 6 still or blocking the warrior’s movements. A good part of that was because Number 6 didn’t give Shin a chance to do anything, preemptively blocking him from obstruction. The other part was from how strong Number 6 had become thanks to the boost he had received from destroying a Permanent Nest.
The clash between the two giants was over in an instant. Number 6 successfully fended off Cardell’s attack, sending the man flying back several meters.
A large, brutal gash appeared on the Admiral’s chest, exposing bone and gushing blood. Cardell’s face paled as he felt the full impact of the injury, one that joined many other cuts and bruises. Despite that, the man never wavered, his gaze boring into Number 6. If looks could kill, the Nightrunner member would’ve long since been skewered through.
All of this took place in just a few split seconds. The exchange lasted only a brief period and, in that time, Number 6’s defense was impeccable. Even Shin, who had latched on to the man’s waist, would have been completely unable to damage the warrior.
If he had used his Soul Pistol, Number 6 would have broken his arm and knocked the gun away before he got a chance. If he had tried to stab Number 6 with a weapon, Number 6 would’ve responded by ripping his arm off. If he tried to do pretty much anything at all, he would’ve suffered dearly.
But because he just sat there ineffectually…
For roughly four seconds, Number 6 ignored him.
It was then, as Number 6 was drawing his spear back and still focused on Cardell, that it happened.
Shin and Number 6 teleported away, vanishing instantaneously.
Admiral Cardell’s mouth fell open when he saw this. Right after that, he opened up his Spatial Ring and swallowed several Mid-Tier Healing Pills, not wasting any time as he shook the confusion from his eyes.
As for Shin and Number 6…
The teleportation process felt like it lasted ages, but was over in far less than a microsecond. In one moment, Shin and Number 6 were standing in the gymnasium, in the middle of a large-scale battle.
In the next, they both reappeared, floating in the middle of a large aquarium…
.. .. .. .. .. ..
Meanwhile…
.. .. .. .. .. ..
Sophia’s heart was currently full of venom as she glared at the vine-like cocoon that now covered and protected Number 10.
She was forced to interrupt that glare as, for the fifth time, she jumped and rolled to the side, activating her Wind Sweeper Ability to quicken her step. She winced slightly when she landed, keenly feeling several bruises in the process of forming on her legs.
A heartbeat later, a large, green vine slammed down where she had been standing, colliding with enough force to easily shatter bones. The vine thrashed down for a few seconds in jerking patterns, making it very clear that if it had hit her, she would be dead for certain.
The battle between Number 10 and the Godfather Organization teams had moved forward at a very different pace compared t
o Cardell’s battle with Number 6.
Unlike Cardell, none of the fighters that were facing up against the Permanent-Nest-boosted Number 10 were elite A Rankers at the edge of S Rank. There were a number of fighting geniuses present, but all of them ranked in the upper standard A Ranks at best, with the potential for much more.
As a result, no one here could face up with Number 10’s direct attack, and the battle turned into one of ambush and retreat. And right now, it was only the Godfather Organization’s team that was retreating.
“The Minifire Cannon can’t penetrate her vines! We’ll need to try something else!”
“My Eldritch Fire also isn’t working!”
“Will Mountain Reigning Lightning work? Does someone have a spare Mountain Wand?!”
A series of voices, interspersed with the sounds of various vine whips crashing down, sounded off in the air as Sophia’s allies hurried talked out various plans of attack.
The battle was still in its initial stage. A few Abilities and weapons had been used in an attempt to take down some of Number 10’s vines, all to no effect. Everyone present was able to dodge the attacks, but that was just right now.
If the battle continued this way, people were bound to become tired and accidents were bound to happen.
Already, Number 10 had taken over a full third of the gymnasium, taking on all of the combatants at once. While she seemed eager to target Sophia, the large number of enemies had forced her to play a slightly more passive role, relying upon her vines to shield herself while she attacked from afar. She was playing things slowly, taking her time.
“Just get me close to her. If I can just get her within range of my Ability…” Asim’s voice was cold as he landed on the ground next to Sophia, his saber in hand.
“We can’t even get halfway. Her vines are too dangerous.” Vlad sounded harried as he joined them, cutting off his words in short bursts. His spear glowed faintly as he held it at the ready, wavering in the air around him.
