Marlon just smiled, looking straight into K's dark, menacing eyes, and offered a soft, almost casual reply.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't turn around, K. You are my designated opponent right now, and I am completely set on keeping you from touching a single one of my guys."
Even though Marlon maintained that easy, relaxed smile on the outside, his heart was pounding wildly against his ribs.
Deep down, he was desperately hoping that Axel would show up at any second. He was realistic about his own capabilities, and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was not on K's level when it came to sheer combat ability.
In a direct head-to-head brawl, a killer like K would easily overpower him and lay him flat on his back within four minutes, and he would be completely dead within seven at the absolute most.
Marlon understood the precise tactical reason why K had not already lunged at him.
