Returning to Amber, she and Altius stood off against Theodore and his group. Both sides were patiently waiting for the other to make the first move.
"What? Are you guys scared?" Luna questioned. Neither Amber nor Altius entertained her mock-filled questioning. "Well, we'll make the first move, then!"
Strangely, a jade green color irradiated from the bodies of Luna, Theodore, and the gang of mafiosos.
"Ah! I'm feeling better than ever!" A gang member excitedly remarked. "Thanks, boss!"
Better than ever? What exactly does he mean by that? Altius pondered.
"You're welcome. Just fulfill your role of pressuring those bastards," Luna advised. With energetic grins, the black-suited men rushed the duo. They split themselves evenly among the duo.
In response, Amber activated her justice blessing, and they readied themselves for combat. Simultaneously, Theodore followed the rhythm of his men and charged at Amber.
However, Altius quickly swapped places with Amber to engage Theodore in combat.
Tch, what is with this bastard!? Theodore wondered with an annoyed expression. Can't a guy just kill a person he has a grudge against in peace!?
Both Amber and Altius were engaged in combat with groups of mafiosos. It was more difficult for Altius, as he also had to deal with Theodore.
With bat swings, knife slashes, jabs, and kicks, Amber could avoid the group's onslaught due to the difference in physical prowess. However, she realized something strange in their fight; the individuals possessed rather good physical capabilities despite not displaying any apparent blessings.
Am I finding it more difficult because it's many of them? Amber thought. No, the reason doesn't matter. I need to hurry up and help Mr. Altius with Theodore!
Meanwhile, Altius was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Theodore. Unlike his fight with Amber back at the casino, Theodore seemed to be laying the pressure on Altius from the start.
Due to being pressured by the high-powered strikes of Theodore and the mob group, Altius found it difficult to avoid many attacks, more so from the mafiosos. He prioritized evading Theodore's strikes due to his absurd striking strength, even if it meant being struck by bats and slashed by knives.
The bat and knife attacks only left superficial wounds on Altius, a testament to his superhuman durability.
"What's wrong!? You aren't doing too hot, and the fight's just started!?" Theodore mocked. "You're the one that stopped me from attacking Amber first, so you should be prepared for the consequences!"
"Shut the hell up! Your incessant talk is annoying me!" Altius responded. Amber and Altius strangely began irradiating a purple glow from their bodies.
The purple aura mixed with Amber's yellow radiance to create a shade of grey, much to her surprise.
"Huh?" Amber uttered.
"I bet you guys thought our men wouldn't have been the slightest problem for you guys," Luna stated as she walked up to Amber amid the fighting. "Our men have trained their bodies to the peak human condition. Add my blessing, which stalls any effects of fatigue and stress, giving them physical boosts, and you get actual hindrances to you."
What is she talking about? Is her blessing influencing their performance? Amber thought. Oh yeah, she's Luna Dexter with a blessing that controls stress!
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While Amber was avoiding the attacks of the mob group, she suddenly felt a strange fatigued sensation. This broke her focus, which allowed the group to get multiple bat strikes and knife slashes on her body.
However, the light of her blessing which hardened her body, minimized the damage.
What was that? Amber thought as she quickly jumped onto the trunk of a car to gain distance from her enemies. Luna stood beside that same car, which Amber noticed too late.
"Of course, my blessing also affects enemies!" Luna stated as she hopped onto the hood of the car. She applied so much force that she destroyed the hood and lifted the back of the vehicle into the air.
Ugh! Amber thought as she was slightly catapulted into the air by Luna jumping onto the car. Luna immediately followed up by jumping, spinning, and delivering a kick right to Amber's gut in the air.
"Ugh!" Amber uttered as she was sent into another vehicle.
"Tch!" Altius uttered in response.
"Hey! Cool it with the destruction!" Theodore yelled as he fought Altius. "Those cars are expensive!"
"Yeah, yeah. My blessing allows me to apply stress and fatigue to my opponent, decreasing their physical prowess over time," Luna stated. "And I've been applying it to you guys this whole time."
Amber attempted to stand up but found it difficult, much to her bewilderment. Instead, she experienced all the symptoms of fatigue and stress: muscle aches, difficulty catching her breath, blurred vision, a breakout of sweat, and stress.
"W-What...?" Amber muttered.
"Oh? You must be wondering how you're drained of stamina already, huh?" Luna assumed. "Well, you can thank the Enlightenment Program for training and increasing the potency of my blessing."
"N-No..." Amber muttered before falling to the floor. I can't be floored this easily. But I feel like I haven't slept in weeks...
"Since the girl is down, let's focus our efforts on the other one," Luna advised her men. "We can let Theodore finish her off."
Why...Why am I always on the ground... Amber pondered. I'm always letting others fight. I need...to get back up!
Altius continued to contend with Theodore and the mafiosos. It was evident Luna's 'magical' fatigue inducement affected Altius drastically, as he failed to evade or block many attacks.
While his natural durability could hold up against the mafiosos' onslaughts, the damage was starting to accumulate. Not to mention, the strikes he received from the main threat, Theodore.
With every punch he received from Theodore, blood flew from Altius's mouth. Theodore became ecstatic as he witnessed this.
"Haha! Look how much blood is leaving your mouth, mate!" Theodore mocked. "This is all your fault for thinking you could take us down!"
This freaking bastard! His punches are getting damn stronger! Altius thought. He has a morale blessing, so he's likely becoming more confident seeing my battered state. Piece of shit!
"You last longer under my stress inducement than Amber," Luna remarked. "That's impressive, but this is as far as you'll go."
"Shut your damn mouth--" Altius retorted but was interrupted by a powerful right hook by Theodore. The strike carried him into the hood of a nearby car and was so strong that Altius was sent very deep into the hood.
The hood of the car almost immediately started to smoke.
"M...Mr. Alt...ius!" Amber muttered in her extremely fatigued state.
"Haha! Perfect hit!" Theodore said. "That bugger won't be getting up back from that!"
"Sigh, who's the hypocrite who told me not to destroy the cars? Whatever, good job," Luna commented before commending her cousin. The mafioso group also chuckled among themselves from their apparent victory.
"Now, it's time to get my revenge," Theodore said as he turned to Amber.
No...not like this! Amber thought with a frustrated expression.
Stopping everyone in their tracks, the sound of metal breaking was audible in the room. Upon turning around, Theodore noticed Altius pulling himself from the car's hood.
"Huh? He's still up!?" Theodore questioned with raised eyebrows.
While Altius stood up once more, his injuries were clear to everyone as blood ran down his forehead, down to his face.
There was a strange feature to Altius's body, however. Purple, pulsating veins surfaced all over Amber's instructor.
"You made me damn angry..." Altius said with a deranged expression. "You don't like me...when I'm angry..."