With Lucci, Kaku, and Kalifa glaring at Alex, Benezia and Tereza, Alex remains calm as he analyzes the situation.
We expected that this might happen. So they are actually targeting us? Even after seeing what we are capable of? They are also injured... even Lucci looks a little exhausted.
Why are they doing this? Probably because... we talked with the players. That was way too suspicious. We also heard how they called him. CP9. They... probably won't risk letting us go. Especially with Iceburg rescued. They want us gone. Fine... we'll see who ends up dead!
Alex sighs, "What do you want to know, pigeon guy? Are you sure you're in the mood to talk? You three look a little roughed up."
Alex points towards them, "Also, don't you have to bury your partner? You should respect the dead."
Kaku and Kalifa look shocked at Alex's response.
"You... are you serious? After everything that happened?" Kaku asks, seemingly unable to comprehend Alex's defiant and confident attitude.
Alex shrugs. "You're the ones glaring at us... what do you want us to explain anyway?"
Benezia and Tereza position themselves behind Alex, ready to back him up at any moment.
"Pay attention," Benezia whispers, her tone serious.
"Now..." Lucci begins, taking a step forward and stopping directly in front of Alex. "Why did those people know about our identities, and how are you connected to them?"
"Well... they are some distant... enemies?" Alex says, frowning slightly. "Don't even know their names. I guess we know a little bit about their organisation. They are known as the Death Seekers, and their goal is to seek death. It seems we both gave them what they wanted. So why not be friends?"
"Shut up," Kalifa yells, her eyes full of doubt. "You mean they are not real Marines? Not a secret organisation of theirs?"
"Not quite," Alex says, unable to fully explain.
"That's all we can tell you," Benezia states decisively. "If you can't accept that... we won't back off. We have seen what you are capable of, and you are already exhausted. Do not test us. You don't want to take on that risk."
"I'm afraid we need to risk it, not that I foresee any problems," Kalifa says, smiling. "I need to ask for your silence on the things you have witnessed and heard about," Kalifa continues, her smile vanishing.
"Your eternal silence," Kaku adds, cracking his knuckles.
Lucci wordlessly throws Iceburg's unconscious body towards Kaku, who quickly puts it on a nearby flat rock.
Good thing I've kept exactly one Annihilation Grenade for a situation like this.
"Before we start with something entirely unnecessary and unpleasant, I have something that may change your opinion," Alex says, taking out the sole Annihilation Grenade from his inventory, using In to hide it. He also grabs an energy bar, then sets the timer to three seconds before activating it. He finally hands both the energy bar and the grenade over to Lucci.
"What is this?" Lucci asks. "Is this supposed to be a bribe? This is pathetic."
"Now!" Alex yells, and he, along with Benezia and Tereza, jumps backwards.
Immediately afterwards, the grenade explodes.
You have dealt 6 damage to Lucci
You have dealt 16 damage to Lucci
You have dealt 0 damage to Lucci
...
You have dealt 0 damage to Lucci
You have dealt 17 damage to Kaku
You have dealt 7 damage to Kaku
...
You have dealt 8 damage to Kaku
You have dealt 28 damage to Kalifa
You have dealt 11 damage to Kalifa
...
You have dealt 9 damage to Kalifa.
"Heh, only Lucci reacted," Alex says, as a small cloud of smoke hangs in front of him—one person standing perfectly still in the middle, and two of them having jumped back.
"Your arrogance is your weakness," Alex mutters.
Slowly, the cloud disappears, and Lucci stands there seemingly unharmed, his clothes slightly singed and burned, though.
Kaku and Kalifa, however, are bleeding all over, their clothes riddled with holes.
He probably used Tekkai... only took damage from the fire. Blocked almost the entire explosion damage.
Kaku and Kalifa were a little too slow, though. Hehe, nice start.
"You will die..." Lucci says in a quiet, frightening voice.
"I'll take that fucking Leopard!" Alex announces, drawing his [Executioner's Blade R2], and charging straight at Lucci.
Ko!
Alex instantly performs a fearsome overhead slash, targeting Lucci, the speed of his blade terrifyingly fast.
Lucci, however, instantly transforms into his hybrid form, becoming a towering Human-Beast Leopard, with a long tail and extremely deadly claws, his body now looking like a leopard with golden fur and black dotted spots.
Lucci smirks and decides to catch Alex's attack using both of his hands.
However, the moment he tries to grab the overhead swing, his expression turns serious. Unable to stop the blade, he desperately jumps backwards, but Alex's blade still catches him—briefly cutting through his skin and leaving a small, but visible cut on his chest, ripping his suit open.
You have dealt 11 damage to Lucci
You have caused bleeding (Chest)
Lucci's eyes turn cold.
"You... have some unique abilities," Lucci comments.
His expression briefly shifts, and the wound on his chest mysteriously closes, the bleeding stopping like it was never there.
That's Seimei Kikan... Life Return...! What a cheat!
"Thanks, you, on the other hand, are really boring and predictable. Just die, will you?" Alex yells, suddenly unleashing a Flying Fira Sword.
Lucci stands completely still, using Tekkai again to block it.
The flying slash crashes into his chest, and Lucci acts as if he stopped it cleanly, not showing even a hint of pain.
You have dealt 49 damage to Lucci
Heh, nice acting! I almost fell for it, but the system doesn't deceive me! You can't block my attacks. You will take damage! Your Tekkai can't block my strongest attacks, that's good to know.
He'll probably dodge next time... even he will go down if I keep hitting him with those attacks. I need to play this smartly.
As Alex fights against Lucci, the giant Leopard roars, "Take care of his crew! Leave him to me!"
At the same time, Benezia unleashes a powerful Warp, targeting Kaku. He tries to dodge, only for the biotic blast to change direction at the last second, crashing into the agent and blasting him away into the distance.
Benezia immediately gives chase, calling out, "Keep him occupied, Alex. I'll join you shortly. There is no reason to take a risk."
"You damn witch!" Kaku mutters as he draws his two swords. "I'll slice you up!"
Benezia draws her own Asari sword and even grins. "I suppose, I'll educate you... infant!"
Meanwhile, Tereza, in her hybrid bat form, lifts off into the sky and begins to cast spells, aiming at Kalifa. "Diffindo, Flipendo!" she chants, one after the other, not giving her room to breathe.
Kalifa does her best to dodge as the spells graze her, ripping through the air and forcing her to keep moving.
She uses Geppo to jump into the sky, aiming directly for Tereza, following after her.
They seem busy, guess I get to fight against the boss. I almost feel like Luffy, having my group deal with the weaker crew, while I get to take on the leader. Honestly... I don't need this... fuck... no choice now. I gotta do this. I need to deceive him and act like I am above him. Hopefully, Benezia can help me... ambush this fucker, please!
"Hmmm, heard that? I should take it slow," Alex says, walking forward. "However, that's not my style... how about I'll put you out of your misery quickly? Just hold still for a second, and I can release you from your suffering, you lowly animal...!"
"I have never met someone as arrogant as you..." Lucci says, now smiling. "How entertaining... especially because...."
Suddenly, Lucci disappears from Alex's vision.
Soru?!
"You are so incredibly weak." Lucci's voice sounds from behind him.
Instinctively, Alex steps forward, away from his opponent, towards the open ground, then spins in a circle, performing a spinning slash, trying to catch him the moment he reappears.
As he turns, he spots Lucci behind him—already moving—jumping over the blade and stomping down toward Alex.
Fuck
Lucci hits Alex, causing him to get blown backwards, crashing onto the ground hard.
You have received 31 damage
Using his giant blade, Alex pierces it into the ground to stop his movement, scraping himself to a halt and managing to instantly get up.
"That supposed to hurt?" Alex asks, cracking his neck.
It hurts like fuck....
"Not yet," Lucci replies, disappearing again. "But soon...."
I can't keep this up. I'm not that fast, I don't have any movement technique, and I'm also not an expert at dodging, without any skill supporting me. I need to act... now, I can't lose the initiative.
Alex, instead of trying to dodge again, decides to switch tactics. He quickly activates Sealion's Icewing Embrace, shielding himself with his trusty icy frost armour.
Despite the new armour coating his body, he still feels sharp pain in his back—not once but twice, like something is stabbing him in the back.
You have received 21 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -2
You have received 24 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -2
Groaning, he spins again, whirling his sword around in a wide slash, yet missing his opponent again.
He's fast... bastard. Damn that Shigan hurts... it's like getting stabbed with a knife.
What can I do... I've never fought against someone that fast! For now....
Alex quickly sheathes his [Executioner's Blade R2] and grabs his [Draining Meteor Sword], then conjures Mustrano's Malice Mauler without wasting another second.
"Back again sssssso ssssooon? I like it, Human! Feed me more tassssty blood! Let'ssss kill them all!" Mustrano yells in a twisted, yet delighted tone.
No need to hesitate... I use it all!
Alex also activates [Drakul's Vitality R2], using up a [Blood Essence].
You have recovered 120 HP
All stats increased by 6 for 1 hour
Now, with his stats increased and his health topped off, still wrapped in his frost-armour, Alex's face finally returns to one of confidence.
"Come on," Alex says, raising his claw-hand and doing the standard beckoning gesture, provoking his opponent into attacking.
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