The cold Jay had joined the other Challengers participating in the quest to claim [The Jay Family]'s territory. After he had been acknowledged by the leader of those Challengers, he had received permission to move as he wanted. Thus, he had ordered two men to sneak into the building to set up the trap for Jay, although he did not care what method they had to use.
As disguised policemen, his men had managed to get into Jay's room and create a path for the other Jay to enter. But having finished their jobs, they were ruthlessly killed as the other Jay wanted to prevent them from killing Jay before he could. He meticulously planned everything, and yet, the result was completely different from what he had imagined.
"I can see right through you. You're about to hit your limit." he stated sternly.
Jay's body slowly heated up, and he sensed his body stinging in a few spots. Still, he continued acting tough.
"So what? At least I'm in better shape than you." Jay scoffed, looking at the puddle of blood with a cut-off arm at its center.
Both Jays had a time restriction. While Jay sensed the effects of the healing potions reaching their limit, the other Jay would soon collapse from blood loss.
"Let's finish this already." the other Jay said, trying not to waste more time with some chitchat. He gripped the sword with his less-dominant hand and immediately rushed at Jay.
Jay crouched to evade the horizontal swing, and he followed with a counter. He attempted to strike his opponent with his fist, but the other Jay avoided that attack as well. That Jay tripped Jay and thrust his elbow into his face when Jay lost his balance.
With his vision slightly blurred, Jay tried to focus again. Just in time, he noticed the other Jay swinging his sword down at him, and rolled to the side. He summoned icicles in the air and shot them at the other Jay. While some were deflected, some of them managed to graze him. And when the barrage of icicles seemed to be over, Jay appeared from the other Jay's blind spot.
A sharp icicle was formed inside Jay's hand before it was rammed into the right side of the other Jay. His hand began to turn numb and ache as he held onto the icicle that he kept pushing deeper into the wound. However, he had to jump back when the other Jay tried to cut him down.
Jay was grazed vertically from his chest to his waist. Although it still burned, Jay did not let out a sound.
"Let's make this the final time we see each other." the cold Jay stated, closing in on Jay with his hand retracted.
Since he reacted too late, Jay could only move his body slightly to avoid a fatal injury. Thus, when the other Jay thrust his sword, he missed Jay's heart. Jay groaned in agony as he still ended up with a sword stuck in his chest, but he quickly turned the tables.
"I... I agree with you... Hopefully, it's the last time..." Jay said with a strained voice and a weak smile.
With his left hand, Jay grabbed the arm before it could be retracted, and with the other hand, he thrust his palm into the other Jay's chest. However, because his strength was leaving him, the other Jay was able to free himself. Still, Jay proceeded, and an intense cold spread from his palm. And just before the other Jay could jump back, a long, thick icicle emerged from Jay's palm, piercing the other Jay right through the abdomen.
A massive amount of blood flooded out of the other Jay's mouth as he looked down at the pillar of ice that was stuck in his body. He fell to his knees, with his mind on the verge of losing consciousness.
Jay gritted his teeth as he pulled the sword from his chest. He staggered toward his opponent, who apparently lost his will to fight.
"As if I would get killed by the likes of you...!" the cold Jay muttered.
When Jay was about to cut off his head, the other Jay suddenly jumped up and launched a headbutt on Jay's chin, making him fall to the floor.
"What a load of crap...!"
Barely able to stand, the other Jay headed toward the window. The liquid that the fake policemen threw on the window created a hole the size of a door. The other Jay looked down from there as if he was contemplating something.
Then, his feet levitated from the ground, with a strong breeze originating from that spot. The curtains fluttered wildly when the floating Jay slowly flew out of the room.
"Wind magic...?" Jay, who could not get up from the ground, muttered in surprise.
The breeze that was blowing strongly against his face was not strong enough to be considered a weapon in a fight, but it still managed to make the wielder of that skill float for a short amount of time.
"I will be back sooner than you think." the cold Jay stated. He glared at Jay one last time before he descended.
"H-hold on!" Jay yelled, wanting to finish their business right there and right now. He was already that close to finishing him off, and if it were not for the injuries he had received from the last quest, he was certain that he could finally kill that version of himself and absorb it.
"Damn it...!" he grumbled in frustration, punching the floor.
That frustration, however, made him forget at that moment that he was bleeding heavily. And before he could even realize it, he collapsed on the spot. The last thing he could perceive was Erik's voice, shouting his name in worry.
In the meantime, Scarlet was already on her way back to the reception desk where she was originally stationed. After having stormed Jay's room with Erik, who had dealt with most of the attackers on that floor, she decided to search for a certain individual.
"What is it?" she asked when a subordinate suddenly reported to her through the transmitter.
"Don't do anything! I will come right now!" she stated sternly.
With heels on, she ran to the second floor of the hospital. One hand was already on her sword's hilt as she slammed open all the doors in her way. And it did not take long before she noticed a few of her comrades standing ready in front of a room.
"One wrong step and I will kill her, you hear me...?" the cold Jay stated. Almost blacking out, he was grabbing a young, frail nurse by her neck, whereas an intimidated doctor was about to apply first aid to him.
He was the one who took over the room. The officers in the vicinity were already alerted, but they could not do anything drastically as he had a hostage with him. Because of that, they had contacted Scarlet, who finally showed up.
"Didn't you hear me...? I will really kill her...!" that Jay grumbled, frowning even heavier. He was already impatient as the doctor was working sloppily. His blood kept on flowing out from different holes, and if the doctor did not get a grip, then he would actually black out.
Scarlet stood at the door with her arms crossed and her eyes looking sharply at him.
"Be ready to rescue the people." she calmly told the officers beside her.
"Y-yes!"
Hearing that, the other Jay tightened his grip, causing the nurse in his hand to groan painfully.
"We promised not to get involved in your matters as long as innocent people weren't harmed." Scarlet said, her eyes not wavering.
"However, it appears to me that you've clearly crossed the line now."
She drew her sword.
"This time, I will put an end to you."