"W-What...h--how are you...alive?" The stunned Nathan questioned with an audible stutter. "And why...are you wearing...the super soldier...uniform?"

"What's with that dazed look, Nathan?" John sarcastically questioned. "I guess you remember me by that expression, heh."

Is that John Walker? But how? How the hell is that bastard alive? Nathan attempted to process this mind-numbing reality that was suddenly presented to him.

"I-I watched your truck tumble down that cliff," Nathan remarked. "How could an old bastard like you survive that!?"

"Ah, you're stuttering less now. I suppose you're starting to accept it. You're right, though. I am a man in my sixties...I shouldn't have survived an accident like that," John agreed. "If it weren't for my burning hatred for you and your family, I'd have died. This hatred is the only thing guiding me."

A few moments of silence passed as Nathan gazed with furrowed eyes before suddenly scoffing.

"...Heh, your hatred is the only thing guiding you, huh? With all those nasty scars on your face, I guess it guided you to a pretty dark place!" Nathan mocked as he finally accepted John's survival. "Let me guess, did you become a super soldier to get revenge?"

"... You're fast on the uptake," John replied. "I did become--"

BANG!

Giving no room to hear his explanation, Nathan suddenly materialized a revolver and shot his nemesis in the face.

"Ugh!" John grunted as his head recoiled backward from the bullet. If he was the super soldier he said he was, Nathan likely had utilized super piercing ammunition he received from the blacksmith long ago.

"I don't give a damn about a freaking old fart like you! Nor do I care about what you did to yourself!" Nathan yelled. "You did something with that smoke field, didn't you? Where the hell is Lilith!?"

"...You dare shoot me?" Ignoring Nathan's question, John muttered as he wiped his apparent bleeding face. "You goddamned bastard..."

In a quick burst of movement, John suddenly appeared at Nathan's side. John was unaware, but Nathan's eyes had perceived and tracked his movements.

Knowing John was sufficiently angered and ready to attack, Nathan preemptively manifested the force gloves, made by the blacksmith, around his arms and put up his guard.

"I'll murder you!" John declared as he attempted a straight punch to Nathan's face but he blocked in time. This generated powerful wind pressure in the environment.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Urgh!" Nathan grunted. John gave him no time to breathe from the first attack as he repeatedly delivered more punches.

He attempted punches around Nathan's body, whether face or body shots, but Nathan expertly blocked them all. These strikes did prove some level of difficulty with blocking, as Nathan slightly staggered with each blow.

Urgh...this bastard's punches are strong as hell. He really did become a super soldier despite being so damn old... Nathan pondered as he stayed on the defensive side of the hand-to-hand exchange. I guess his hatred pushed him to survive the modifications...but neither the intensity of his hatred nor his reasons for hating me come even close to my hate.

"You can fight better than I thought, bastard!" John remarked. "This will make the end more rewarding!"

Tch, just listening to this bastard is pissing me off...but I can't take my mind off of it. Nathan pondered. Dammit...I need to find Lilith--

Carelessly preoccupied with his thoughts and not the battle, Nathan was punished with a devious roundhouse kick to his side. Repeated crashing was audible as Nathan was sent through a building before crashing into another, severely damaging the infrastructure.

"Ugh..." Nathan uttered as he was bleeding.

"Haha! Is something on your mind, Hayes!?" John yelled as he darted towards Nathan. He ran through the damaged buildings and grabbed a large chunk of the destroyed wall.

John leaped towards his opponent with the large chunk in hand, but Nathan perceived his actions the entire time. John attempted to slam the chunk on his head, but Nathan countered by placing his hand upwards.

Like a magician, Nathan made the large object disappear. He had instantly placed it in his inventory.

"That damn bless--"

Nathan immediately followed up by manifesting several cluster grenades, along with his blessed shield for protection.

BOOM!

John had no room to move, only to express an onset of surprise as the grenades spat out countless tiny balls before releasing a cluster of explosions. The blast launched John through buildings as well.

"Such an...annoying blessing..." John stated as he pulled himself out of the building rubble. "Everything about you...pisses me off, Hayes."

John had suffered burns and bruises and was bleeding from the concussive force of the cluster grenades. Nathan, who was slightly injured, got up and approached John.

"You were asking about your dear Lilith a few moments ago, right? Well, I don't know where she is, to be honest!" John remarked. "Heh, she probably ran off and left you to die! I suggest you stop being so preoccupied with her!"

"...I know you're trying to shake me, but that won't work," Nathan replied.

H-He's being honest...right? Lilith is fine and running away, right? Nathan internally told himself. Y-Yeah, she's fine...the developer may be a damn sadist, but he wouldn't want his game characters to die. He'd have said something to me on the phone if she was in danger. Let's just...focus on killing this bastard.

"As long as Lilith isn't in danger, I'm fine with her running off," Nathan stated. "So, it's just me and you then."

In response, John oddly smirked.

His striking strength is a problem. It's like getting struck by Ryzen. But he's still old as hell, so his durability and stamina can only be modified to a certain extent. Nathan analyzed. All I need to do is not let him get close...then I'll ensure he dies by decapitating him.

Hehe...he. You cherish your little girlfriend, huh, Nathan? John pondered. Ah, that makes me so glad...