Bangs rang out as the massive Spider-drone pounded on the bars of Sam's cell.
It kept firing the syringes, filled with cyan-colored Quirk Suppression Drug, like bullets. However, because of the small gap between the bars, it couldn't swivel the machine gun attached to its head enough to target the only moving target within the cell.
Burdened by the increased gravity and still holding a passed-out Nyx, Luke kept jumping left and right, up and down, to dodge the bullets.
Till now, he was really putting his enhanced strength to the test, countering the weight.
However, he didn't have infinite stamina to back up that strength. The drone wouldn't get tired, for sure. Sooner or later, one of the syringes would find its way into his body, and that would be it for him.
Instead of extracting Dr. Sam, who was laden with syringes on his bed now, he would be joining the Detention Center, instead, then.
I should have kept my cursed mouth shut! Luke lampooned, sweat drenching his back. What to do now?!!
Things should never have taken such a bad turn.
Luke had divined the danger many times before entering the Inner Zone. Sure, there was danger… high danger. But it had never exceeded his bottom line, making him go ahead with it.
In retrospect, Luke found every single step they had taken till now perfect.
Then how could everything have gone so wrong, so fast?!!
It all started with the appearance of a man where the Spatial Barrier should have been, Luke contemplated, gritting his teeth and shooting himself to the other end of the room.
As he, Kazuho, and Iwao were connected through the comms, he had heard the conversation between Iron Mentor and Alex as well.
Initially, that had changed nothing.
It didn't matter if the Spatial Barrier was due to a machine or due to a Quirk. In the end, Iwao was tasked to take it down. However, who would have thought that this Alex would come out to be this strong, instantly defeating a Swindler?!
Luke hadn't forgotten how strong Mr. Iwao was, even before becoming a Beyonder.
Then, there was the boom that had rattled the ground beneath Luke's feet, making Alex act on the other side of the comms.
A third party?! Luke's eyes narrowed, his movements slowing down. Alex had clearly mentioned that he had thought Luke's group to be of the subtle type. Perhaps that's why he hadn't activated this Spatial Barrier earlier, taking things slowly?!
With this chain of thoughts, Luke couldn't help but conclude that someone else had infiltrated the Detention Center as well.
And that seemed like a bloody coincidence, if there was one, ever!
Which meant that Luke's initial Divination had been a flawed one, to begin with!!
Which, in turn, suggested that something had interfered with his Divinations, knowingly or unknowingly!!!
And Luke had only two names that could be potent enough to do such a thing —
— Conformity and Singularity!!!!
Either of the two Entities was here, Luke believed.
Given the ridiculous, booming arrival, he could bet his life that it was Conformity — coming after Dr. Sam as well.
Fuck! Luke cursed. He had never liked to curse, but, recently, the world was putting his patience to the test just too much, it seemed.
If he was being honest with himself, then he was truly screwed.
A Magician's entire act depended on preparations.
Luke had thought of escaping the Detention Center from all angles, no matter if the Spatial Barrier was stationary or mobile.
He hadn't taken measures against Conformity's Claws' sudden arrival, though.
Because if he had taken those measures, he couldn't have infiltrated the facility. Not as subtly as the members of the Apostles of Mr. Fool had expected him to be, at least.
Suddenly, the hair on the back of Luke's neck stood up.
It seemed, in the time Luke took to consider all possibilities that had led to this fucked up situation, the massive drone had analyzed his movements.
Also, as the Reinforced Steel Bars spanned the entire front part of the Cell, Luke didn't even have a corner to protect himself.
Just as Luke's foot landed this time, the huge Spider-drone fired three syringes, blocking Luke's escape routes.
One syringe came right for him, his eyes widening as the needle became bigger in his vision.
Luke couldn't use his Quirk because of Nyx succumbing to the Quirk Suppression Drug. Also, he couldn't use his Beyonder Powers to escape this Cell, either.
Door Opening wouldn't work as the walls on the three sides were just too thick.
Using Flaming Jump, he could save himself, but then Nyx would get crushed under gravity. Also, once he teleported to the corridor, he would have to face even more drones. At least, only one of these things was after him at this moment.
Paper Substitute was out of the question as well, for the same reason as Flaming Jump. Because he was still carrying Nyx, actively canceling the weight upon her.
Illusions and his Marauder and Swindler abilities were useless against this machine, anyway.
Not much was left with Luke after considering all his options.
Just as the syringe was about to strike his throat, he made a PAW sound with his mouth.
With a bang, the syringe was knocked back by his Air Bullet ability.
But this momentary escape didn't make Luke feel good in the least. Now that the drone knew of this ability, Luke was sure it would calculate for another use of Air Bullet.
Time… was literally slipping from Luke's hands. And not only his and Nyx's lives, but even Trick*Step and Iron Mentor's lives depended upon him.
Luke gasped for breath, the Spider-drone denting the Bars with another strike.
[Luke…]
Miss Justice… Luke thought, jumping to the other side of the Cell.
[… You are forgetting something…]
Luke bit through the pain, almost ripping his muscles to dodge a syringe. What?
[You…] Miss Justice screamed in Luke's mind. [… are Mr. Fool's Blessed! WHY AREN'T YOU ASKING FOR HELP?!!!]
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