Section 1: The Clash of Power
Location: Vangard’s Family House
Time: Evening
Scene One: The Battle Within the Hearth
As George stepped into the living room, his heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination. Skull’s presence loomed large, casting a shadow over their once peaceful home. With a glance at Ella, he conveyed the urgency of the situation, urging her to take the kids and flee to safety.
Skull’s chilling words cut through the tense air, his confidence matching the darkness of his intentions. George knew they were facing a formidable opponent; one whose resolve matched his power.
In this confrontation, George’s mind raced with the knowledge Dan had given him during his battle with Skull. Every technique, every move—Dan’s telepathic communication had provided valuable insight, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity.
As Skull unleashed his devastating Core technique, George stood firm, fortified by Dan’s guidance. His internal organs shielded by a layer of mana, he remained impervious to Skull’s assault.
With a steely resolve, George faced Skull head-on, ready to protect his family at any cost. Though the odds seemed stacked against them, he refused to back down, determined to defy fate and emerge victorious.
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"Damn it!" Skull's frustration echoed through the room as he realized Dan had shared intricate details of their battle with George, exposing some of Skull's most potent techniques. In response, George, quick-witted as ever, summoned duplicates of himself, each mirroring his abilities with uncanny precision, albeit incapable of further replication.
"Duplication technique. Just what I needed, more complications," Skull grumbled, recognizing that Dan's teleportation had already presented a formidable challenge.
"I haven't fully recovered from my last fight. Opening my domain isn't my optimal choice right now. But I have no other option now. I can't risk going all out on this guy, not yet. According to facility data, he can absorb others' energy. Maxing out right now would just be feeding him energy to absorb, putting me at a disadvantage. I suppose my domain is my best bet for now," Skull contemplated softly, weighing his options with a strategic mind.
With swift precision, Skull enveloped George within his domain, immediately neutralizing the duplication technique. Unbeknownst to George, Skull utilized Blaze Shaper discreetly, affixing a tracker onto the vehicle just before Ella departed with the children.
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"So, this is the ominous domain technique of The Five. Not impressed," said George, eyeing Skull with a mix of skepticism and determination.
"I can't use Duplico within his domain. How interesting. Guess I'm down to my specialty," George thought to himself, contemplating his next move as he assessed the situation.
George proceeded to mold weapons, carefully selecting the best ones using Blaze Shaper. However, unlike Skull's yellow flames, George's flames were blue, adding an intriguing contrast to the battle unfolding before them.
Skull, observing George's prowess with Blaze Shaper, realized that George posed a greater threat than Dan. Not only did George possess knowledge of Skull's fighting techniques and abilities, but he also demonstrated an unexpected proficiency with Blaze Shaper. As Skull's mind raced with thoughts and strategies, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern.
"This can’t be possible. There is no record of him being capable of wielding Blaze Shaper in the facility's database. How can this be? Could he be hiding some other ability? I need to be cautious. I also need to be quick with this. I must catch up with his wife before she notices the tracker I placed on the vehicle, Skull thought, his mind racing to keep up with the unfolding events.”
Skull's thoughts were interrupted by George, who questioned whether Skull was scared or just shocked by the revelation of his Blaze Shaper abilities.
"How come the facility has no record of you being able to wield Blaze Shaper?" Skull asked, his tone laced with a hint of suspicion.
"Easy, all I did was create a duplicate of myself during the test and chose not to implant this technique into it. So, the only thing the sensory device could read was my duplication technique, which my duplicates are unable to perform. I admit, it took great mental strength to deceive the sensory device, George explained, his voice calm and confident.
"What else are you hiding?" Skull inquired, slowly molding his flames into a formidable weapon, his eyes narrowing in anticipation.
"Why don't you come find out?" George responded, his flames flickering with intensity as he prepared for the impending clash.
Without any further words, Skull dashed towards George, the air crackling with energy as the two adversaries demonstrated impeccable fighting skills. It was a clash of blue versus yellow flames, a mesmerizing display of power and technique.
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The showdown was indeed a display of parity in the wielding of their flames, with neither seeming to dominate the other. However, as in the case of Dan, Skull faced the same issue holding up the realm while engaging in combat. He slowly began to lose his grip, giving George a slight advantage in the battle.
With the information relayed to him by Dan from their last battle, George knew he could not afford to let Skull break the realm's confines, inevitably raising his power level to the second level. He intended to use Skull’s realm against him, exploiting its weaknesses to gain the upper hand.
Not giving Skull a chance to power up, George overwhelmed him with a barrage of attacks, each strike aimed with deadly precision and intent to kill. Overwhelmed, all Skull could do was defend, knowing that to raise his power level would be to leave him vulnerable to George’s relentless assault. He also realized that releasing the realm would grant George the ability to duplicate, a scenario far worse than their current stalemate.
"Is this the end for me?" Skull thought to himself, grappling with the unexpected turn of events. "Who would have expected this from such a mere employee? Damn! What to do, what to do?" Skull continued to ponder, his mind racing as George pressed on with his relentless assault.
George, undeterred by Skull's internal struggle, continued his barrage of attacks with unwavering focus and determination. He had no worries about losing mana, knowing he could always absorb Skull’s energy to replenish his own. After several minutes of George’s relentless onslaught, he then began siphoning Skull’s energy, further tipping the scales in his favor.
“Why didn’t I think of this from the start?” George pondered to himself, realizing the strategic advantage of draining Skull's energy to bolster his own.
Meanwhile, Skull found himself in a precarious situation, his thoughts racing as he tried to devise a plan to turn the tide of the battle in his favor. He knew that if the energy siphoning didn't stop, the realm would eventually release itself, leaving him vulnerable and in a weakened state. Not only that, but it would also mean he would need more time than usual to level up, a luxury he couldn't afford in the heat of battle.
“Should I use my ultimate form?” Skull pondered, weighing the risks and consequences. “No. That would be a stain on my honor. I can’t let a mere low life like him push me to such an extent. Damn it. I can’t believe I am about to do this. This is a mockery. You’ll pay for this, George.”
Without further hesitation, Skull made a bold decision. He jumped straight to the third level of power, bypassing the intermediate levels in a desperate bid to turn the tide of the battle in his favor. Instantly, the realm released itself, granting George the opportunity to create multiple duplicates of himself.
Seizing the opportunity, George unleashed a flurry of attacks, each blow landing with devastating force. However, to his astonishment, Skull stood unfazed amidst the chaos, his resolve unbroken as he weathered George's onslaught. As the battle raged on, George's living room became a battleground, destroying his entire home in the process, with Skull's determination matching the destructive power of George's relentless attacks.
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With multiple duplicates scattered around him, Skull understood that it was only a matter of time before George closed the gap between them. Swiftly, Skull launched attacks at each duplicate of George, intent on locating and destroying the original. However, with each duplicate destroyed, George seamlessly transferred his consciousness among them, skillfully evading any harm to his true self.
"Damn it!" Skull exclaimed in frustration. "Where is the real one?" Despite his best efforts, Skull found himself unable to discern the true George from his duplicates. Unbeknownst to him, George's ability to transfer his consciousness allowed him to remain elusive, perpetually out of reach.
As seconds turned into minutes, Skull grew increasingly frustrated with his lack of progress. Determined to gain the upper hand, he shifted his focus, homing in on the subtle energy fluctuations surrounding each duplicate. Spotting a telltale blue energy spark, Skull leaped backward, narrowly avoiding any incoming attack. With a surge of realization, he identified the true George among the duplicates and launched himself towards him, intent on delivering a decisive blow. However, George had already absorbed enough energy to swiftly evade Skull's strike, leaving him grasping at thin air.
Now enveloped in a radiant golden-red aura, George marveled at the immense power coursing through his veins. "This power... it's incredible," he declared, his voice tinged with awe. "Now, let's get serious." With newfound determination, George dashed towards Skull, creating duplicates of himself with each movement. Once again, the tide of battle shifted in his favor as he relentlessly pushed Skull to his limits, raining down blows from every direction.
"This is disgraceful," Skull grumbled, his pride wounded by the relentless onslaught from his seemingly inferior opponent. "I have no choice. I must end this now. I've wasted too much time on this battle."
Before George could comprehend what was happening, he found himself lying on the ground, stripped of his strength and utterly helpless. Confusion and disbelief clouded his thoughts as he struggled to comprehend his sudden defeat.
Without hesitation, Skull unleashed his Core technique on the incapacitated George, engulfing him in searing flames that consumed him from the inside out. As George writhed in agony, Skull's frustration simmered beneath the surface, tarnishing his pride and reputation among his peers.
However, amidst the chaos and intensity of the moment, Skull seized a fleeting opportunity to gain insight. Before the flames consumed George, Skull took a daring peek into the dying man's memories, hoping to extract valuable information.
With George defeated Skull turned his attention to Ella, relying on the tracking device he had cunningly planted on the vehicle to lead him to his next target.
Scene Two: The Highway
Upon successfully locating Ella and the others, Skull stood suspended in the air, a palpable tension lingering around him as he observed Ella's frantic attempt to escape in the vehicle.
"How unfortunate," Skull murmured to himself, his thoughts racing as he contemplated his next move. "If only you hadn't witnessed my encounter with George, I wouldn't have to eliminate you. But now, you leave me no choice. I cannot afford to leave any witnesses."
With a heavy heart, Skull unleashed his core technique upon the vehicle, enveloping everyone inside in searing flames.
The screams of agony pierced the air as the intense heat consumed them, rendering them helpless. Ella, overwhelmed by pain and panic, struggled to maintain control of the vehicle, veering off course and crashing along the road. Amidst the chaos, the children cried out to their mother, their voices filled with desperation and fear.
"Help us, Mom!" they pleaded; their words echoing in the tumultuous aftermath of the crash.
The scene was heart-wrenching, a devastating tableau of suffering and loss that left a deep impression on anyone who bore witness to it.
After witnessing the family's tragic fate, Skull, now bearing his wounds from the ordeal, retreated to his home, acknowledging the need for rest and recuperation.
"I cannot afford to engage in another battle," he mused wearily. "I must recuperate first. As for the mechanic Bob, I will deal with him in due course."
With a heavy heart and weary soul, Skull retreated into the shadows, haunted by the events that had unfolded and the weight of his actions.