(Libertatem 1, 59 / 4:58AM)

(David, Jenny, Briggs, and Alexandra)

(Spartan Alexandra) Who the hell is that!?

(Jenny) That’s Kenichi…

(Spartan Alexandra) What is a Kenichi?!

(David) You’ve gotta be kidding me!

Seeing the ginger-haired man on top of the black giant creature, David clenched his jaw shut as he put the wheel in a death grip.

All around them were nothing but newly abandoned mansions, mansions that had many golden decorations and gnomes on the front porches. Along with the house lights starting to turn off in the early morning, it seemed as if the lights were on an automatic program, a vast improvement of technology despite them barely seeing TV in color.

Ignoring the lights, Briggs squinted his eyes in front of him, hoping to see a mansion that far surpasses the others around them.

(Agent Briggs) We need to head to that mansion!

(David) The one on top of the biggest hill!? Yeah, good luck with that. That bastard will get us midway.

(Agent Briggs) Unless…

Looking into the left side mirror of the truck, Briggs analyzed the ginger-haired man who was chaining the creature like a big guard dog. He repeatedly tapped his jawline, letting out a huge abundance of air from his lungs.

(Agent Briggs) You or me could stall that thing for a little bit.

David swiped away his forehead with his left sleeve, his jacket taking in a whole load of sweat that was sucked into the material. Loosening his right foot, he slowly managed to decrease the speed of the truck, causing Briggs to make a “tch” sound with his mouth.

The rest of the other soldiers saw the creature now starting to pick up the pace, leading to them shouting out toward the driver in front. Jenny and Alexandra also gritted their teeth as the creature’s thumps to the ground managed to get louder.

(Jenny) David! Put the pedal to the metal!

(Spartan Alexandra) I don’t think I could go for round two with that beast!

(David) … Briggs, take the wheel.

(Agent Briggs) Me?!

David took his right foot off the gas pedal, leaving the truck to drastically slow down as a result.

Having both of his knees on the seat where he’s sitting, David placed his left hand on the door handle, feeling the contents of the metal. Thrusting the door open, he placed his right hand on the edge of the door, having his body hanging onto the adjacent metal that stuck out.

As a replacement, Briggs took command as driver, immediately putting his right foot on the gas pedal.

(Agent Briggs) Just what are you doing!?

(David) What does it look like I’m doing?

(Agent Briggs) Being a moron!? You’re hanging onto the edge of the door!

David then motioned his body, putting his right hand onto the roof of the truck with his left still holding the door. He then narrowly pushed both of his legs, sending him a foot high.

Upon moving his left hand in a swift motion, he managed to get it onto the edge, pushing himself up so that his body wouldn’t dangle in the air.

(David) Got it! Briggs! Keep the truck going no matter what!

His heels gripping the metal of the truck, David steadied himself against the howling wind. Having both of his hands inside his black leather jacket, he then noticed the ginger-haired man glaring straight at him.

Remaining still on the roof of the truck, David then spread both of his feet apart, swaying his head a couple of times until he had his body hunched forward.

(Kenichi’s thoughts) What is he doing? Is he steadying himself on a moving truck?

With a simple thrust of his feet, he became one with the wind.

But in Kenichi’s eyes, he was quick even for him.

Barreling straight toward him, Kenichi yanked the chain that controlled the black creature causing the creature’s head to flinch upward. Since David wasn’t that high up, when the creature had its tilted upward, it only just…

Helped David have a better leverage.

Having some surface to dig his heels into, David then swiftly jumped forward, ignoring the creature’s jaws that widened from the smell of his body odor. David quickly pulled two objects out of his leather jacket.

On his right, there was his standard pistol.

And on the other, was nothing but tightened knuckles.

(Kenichi’s thoughts) Wait, he wasn’t like this during the ambush—

Silently, David thrust his left hand straight at Kenichi’s nose, his knuckles popping out like sore thumbs.

His knuckles made contact, and he thrusted his hand deeply, causing Kenichi to be thrown out of the black creature’s neck.

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Falling on the pavement, Kenichi landed on his back as he rolled a couple of times on the pavement, his shoulders bruised and gushed from the two-story fall. His head facing the fading truck, his vision caught a glimpse of a stopping black creature, sniffing the air around him.

(Kenichi’s thoughts) Where did he go…?

Placing both of his palms flat on the concrete, Kenichi grunted as he pushed himself off the ground, his fingers being picked on by the small particles of asphalt and rubble. Having his head up, his eyes glanced at—

(David) So you’re finally up I take it?

Letting himself hit the concrete on his bottom, Kenichi had his body sitting up, his breathing fastening under the rocking motion from his brain. His eyes barely able to keep him awake, Kenichi flared his nostrils upward, his face creating a frown that defied the softness of his cheekbones.

Having his pistol in his right hand, David pointed it right at Kenichi, his finger already on the trigger.

(David) I don’t know how I almost lost to you during that ambush. I guess I’m not good with surprises.

(Kenichi) What’s your goal here anyway?

(David) I could ask the same thing.

Kenichi looked down onto the black and freshly paved asphalt that he sat on top of, smelling the fragrance of chemicals and materials that were needed.

Curling his fingers an inch toward his palm, his fingernails started to scrape against the pavement, creating a small screeching sound. Looking up toward David, his breathing started to decrease, his chest feeling at ease with the cooling wind that plowed through from the north.

(Kenichi) I don’t have a goal. I just follow orders, the same as usual. Like you do too.

(David) And who’re you following orders from?

(Jenny) Kenny!

From the back of them, a monolid girl swayed her arms in a hurrying motion, her legs pushing off the asphalt as she managed to widen her eyes at the scene unfolding.

Turning his head toward the voice of Jenny, David clenched his left fist as he then glared at her, his stomach contracting tenfold. As she then managed to be right in front of David himself, she slightly bent down as she started to catch her breath.

(David) What are you doing here!? Why did you jump off!?

(Jenny) I want to see him!

(David) Forget it, Jenny! … We have no—

Jenny then thrusted her right hand onto David’s right wrist, her fingernails digging into his bones which caused him to clench his jaw. Taken aback, David arched his head back, his right wrist letting out a bit of blood as her fingernails continued to stab him.

(David) Let go!

(Jenny) He can still be saved! We must find a way—

Grinding his teeth together, David let go of his enclosed fist, using his flat left palm to push her to the cold asphalt below. Falling on her right shoulder, a single tear came out of her left eye, her watered eyes widening at David as she started sniffling.

Immediately after that, David widened his eyes as he let his left arm motionless to his side, as well as wielding his gun down at the ginger-haired man.

(David) Wait … I didn’t mean to …

Forgetting about Kenichi, David focused his attention on the teary-eyed Jenny, bending down right where Jenny had fallen. Extending out his left hand, he traced along the left shoulder and arm of her body, feeling the fabric of the clothing.

On the verge of letting out a teardrop from his right eye…

The sounds of a chainsaw revving up can be heard.

(David’s thoughts) That bastard…

Turning his head around, his eyes widened at the motion of the blade that was barreling toward him, his nose tingling from the smoke and sparks of the blades of the chainsaw.

In slow motion, David arched his head back as he then placed both hands onto the asphalt, the blade of the chainsaw barely able to graze the edge of his nose. Standing up nearly instantly, David swiftly put his hand back inside his jacket, pulling out his standard pistol as he then pointed it straight at Kenichi.

(David’s thoughts) I guess this is how it goes.

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(Kenichi’s thoughts) He’s moving with precision and ease. Was he holding back that much?

Effortlessly dodging the slashes coming from the ginger-haired man, David still wielded his simple handgun in his right hand. The air bursting with every stroke of the chainsaw blade, only led David to clench his mouth shut, his eyes unwavering from Kenichi’s ballad.

In one particular stroke that Kenichi thrust at David, he grabbed his right wrist with ease, crushing the bone with just his fingers. Piercing the air around him with his cracking bones, Kenichi shut his eyelids, his mouth foaming with drool as he buckled his knees from the pain.

Until he thrust his left sword.

(David’s thoughts) Oh, forgot about that sucker.

Letting go of Kenichi’s wrist, the blades of the chainsaw barely grazed the ends of his jacket.

His feet spread apart like before, David then pointed his gun straight at Kenichi, focusing his pupils directly at him. With a push of a trigger, he quickly fired six bullets in the blink of an eye, all of them leaving the barrel at supersonic speed that rippled the air around them.

Kenichi, having both of his swords already in front of him, wielded them as if they were shields.

(Kenichi’s thoughts) He’s shooting? Coward.

In slow motion, the bullets hit the metal of both his swords, with most of them being splintered and cut open by the rotating blades.

A few bullets, however, found themselves digging into his chest, causing Kenichi to lower his swords to his sides with a grunt.

Kenichi bit the innards of both of his cheeks, blood spurting out of his mouth combined with his bloodshot eyes. Soon after, blood trickled down from his chest, his mouth soon spurting out more blood along with his face turning a ghostly pale.

(David’s thoughts) Unfortunately for him, he’s still human.

With his left hand, David pulled out an ammo box that contained his weapon’s ammunition, his left hand scurrying six other bullets in a hurry. Pulling out six bullets, he then unlocked the grip of the gun which dropped the chamber, his right hand holding both of them at the same time.

Clucking all six bullets into the cartridge, he locked and loaded his gun as he fired all of his ammo straight at Kenichi again.

Kenichi didn’t have the strength to swing his swords, as the hot metal continued to burn the inside of his pectoral muscles. Seeing the firing of another rapid wave of bullets, his arms and hands didn’t hold the strength to even block them.

(Kenichi’s thoughts) Is this … Is this …

The six bullets barreled their way toward the defenseless Kenichi.

Widening his eyes at the surprise, Kenichi continued to stream a river of blood from the corners of his lips, splattering onto the asphalt below. His legs on the verge of collapsing, the only thing that he could do at the moment was…

Just let it happen.

As the six bullets finally landed straight toward his chest.

Only the sound of smoke emitted from the barrel of David’s handgun.

Taking many steps back, Kenichi drunkenly wobbled his head and body until he stopped several feet away from David.

Crouching down, he bent down as he placed his swords near his knees, opening his mouth as blood soon started to drip from his nostrils. His mouth vomited out an abundance of blood from his insides, he then finally let go of both his swords, the two clunking metals denting the asphalt created a loud crack.

His breath fastened from the bullets that pierced the insides of his chest and upper stomach, Kenichi tilted his head up to see that David remained still.

(Kenichi) You … cough cough … Are you … cough cough … going to finish me off?

David had his face darkened, his gaze lowering down onto the ground as his right hand trembled along with the gun. His finger still on the trigger, he slowly lifted his gun toward the standing Kenichi, his finger stalling as his eyes unwavering from the man.

Clenching his jaw shut, David remained standing as then placed his left hand onto the grip of the gun, having both of his hands helping each other. As for Kenichi, his lips created an upside-down U shape, his nose letting out a stream of blood that soon started to smear his lips.

Unable to wield his gun, David’s throat quivered as his vocals held in the words that wanted to come out.

(David) Oh, Kenny…

(Kenichi) cough cough … Just shoot your shot.

His finger trembling as he caressed the trigger with it, David began to breathe deeply as he aimed the gun right where his heart was. Swaying his head once in a slow stroke, David grit his teeth as he slowly tried to pull his finger to push down on the trigger.

His palms were coated with the stench of sweat, followed by the grip of the gun being stained by the humidity of his hands.

If time was still moving onward, then time had stopped for just David alone.

Closing his eyes softly, David let in a breath of the fresh cool summer air inside of his pink lungs. Opening his eyes, he then pushed the air out of his body, his hands remaining still despite time for his return.

Until a gust of wind blew through the air.

As it landed full force straight at David’s chest and stomach.