After killing Cryostasis, Nathan and the gang still found themselves in combat. With bullets flying through the air and destructive explosions ruining the environment, the game characters found themselves amid gunfire against military forces.

While Zack was driving a military vehicle, Nathan fired at the military cars pursuing them.

"Damn! They keep on coming!" Nathan stated as he fired. Although Nathan felt no hesitation when it came to shooting them, he ensured to only incapacitate the soldiers and not kill them. He also pelted the wheels of the armored vehicles with super-piercing ammo, which caused the soldiers to lose control of the cars and crash.

"Tsk, why can't we just bring the fight to them?" Zack questioned. "We're stronger than those guys..."

"We could do that if you want to take stupid risks, Zack," Nathan retorted. "We just got done from fighting a super soldier. It's not just a few soldiers, and I'm not putting Lilith in danger!"

"So, what should we do to--"

BOOM!

A missile fired from a soldier's rocket launcher exploded rather close to the game characters' vehicle and surprised them.

"Tsk, so persistent!" Nathan remarked. "They'll keep chipping away at the vehicle's armor!"

"W-When can...we go find...Jack?" Olivia questioned.

"Tch! Again with that-- wait...that may not be a bad idea," Surprising Lilith and Zack, Nathan said.

"Wait, it is?" Lilith questioned.

"Well, getting as far away from here as possible would be nice," Nathan responded. "And considering that big ass explosion we saw, Jack and Charles may have already killed off the big threats. It wouldn't hurt to regroup with them now."

Olivia's face brightened in response, and Nathan noticed.

She sure got weirdly happy all of a sudden. Nathan thought. I'll never understand these guys.

"Let's find someplace to get out so I can take an aircraft from my inventory," Nathan said.

* * *

Returning to the main battle of this 'game mission,' Jack had just told Amber his true motivations for killing, and in her rage, Amber solidified her resolve to end her nemesis. Amber was so angry that it was visible in her expression.

The rainy weather matched the mood, as the duo were drenched in the rainfall.

My daughter, remember what I told you. Do not let yourself be controlled by your anger. Amber's goddess spoke. I understand the terrible trials that you're going through. I do. But don't let this evildoer plague your mind.

Amber's anger quickly pacified due to her goddess's help, and her expression relaxed. Jack casually performed knife tricks with his durability negators as they stood off.

Yeah, you're right...goddess. I shouldn't lose myself to anger. I'll only do worse if I run on rage. Amber pondered. For peace to return...for my family...and Mr. Altius...I will defeat you, demon.

As Amber regained her focus, she placed herself in a combat stance. Amber leaned forward slightly and kept her feet at shoulder width. Amber's knees were bent, and she extended her arms outward, with her hands open and ready to grab or block. She had adopted this stance from her master, Meu when doing jujutsu training.

Seeing this, Jack ceased his knife tricks and kept his arms and body in a stance best suited for quick slashes.

"I know you still won't understand why I kill people, but it doesn't matter," Jack commented. "I never cared about a brat understanding me in the first place!"

Jack suddenly began by sending several air slashes towards Amber, which she quickly weaved and rushed him. In response, Jack attempted to thrust his blade into Amber's face.

In a smooth motion, Amber steered Jack's blade to the left by moving his arm away, and she attempted a justice-blessing enhanced straight punch to Jack's gut. Jack reacted quickly, however, and blocked her fist with his second arm. Although he blocked, there was a slight flinching in Jack's eyes.

Tch, even though I blocked, this brat's punches still hurt and burn. Jack pondered. She's pissing me off.

Suddenly, wires created from Amber's radiance wrapped themselves around Jack's arm, which surprised him. The ropes were connected to Amber as they were coiling around her fingers.

Huh, these wires are burning my arm, too. Jack thought before smirking. You learned something new to make yourself seem strong, huh!?

Completely disregarding the wires around his arm, Jack used his other arm to swing his blade at Amber's head. Much to his surprise, Amber dodged this as she fell to the ground.

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What the--

BAM!

As Amber fell, she successfully executed a devious spinning heel kick to Jack's chin. Jack, who was visibly disoriented and staggering, coughed up blood. Amber wasn't finished, however, as she quickly got back to her feet. She followed up by dragging the hand that the radiant wires coiled around backward and pulled Jack into a high kick.

As Jack got blasted away from the kick, more blood flowed from his mouth. Amber continued the pressure by throwing Jack to the top of a multi-story building using the wires wrapped around his arm and swinging him. Finally, she removed the ropes, and they dissipated.

My combat knowledge is helping me keep up with this monster. Amber thought. Thank you, Ms. Sharma...and Mr. Altius.

So, her punches and attacks are taking longer for me to heal. They also damage me even if I block them. Jack pondered as he menacingly looked down at Amber from the multi-story building. But there's something else...I can't put my finger on it. It's like this brat wants me to take her seriously. I even lost all my other knives because of that jester's explosion, so I can't use them to trip her up. But no matter!

Amber attempted to hop up the building, but Jack intercepted her by sending more air slashes at her mid-jump. Due to being mid-air and the sheer speed of the slashes, Amber had no choice but to block.

Visible cuts appeared on Amber's arms, and the sleeves of her military combat suit got cut up.

Ugh, he's doing those weird slashes again! Amber thought. It doesn't seem like they ignore durability as opposed to being slashed directly with those knives...but it's still pretty strong!

As Amber arrived on the building's roof, Jack sent more air slashes at her. Amber quickly defended with several radiant wires, but Jack had expected this. While Amber focused on blocking the air slashes with her radiant wires, Jack suddenly rushed behind her.

It was a feint!? Amber thought with a surprised expression as she frantically turned around. It was too late, as Jack executed an axe kick to the top of Amber's head. The axe kick sent Amber through roughly twenty building floors before crashing into the ground floor. Amber's body created a large hole through every floor. Jack was able to look at the ground floor from the roof.

"Heh! How's that for--"

Suddenly, several yellow energy balls quickly traveled up the building floors through the holes, shocking Jack. Jack narrowly avoided them and hopped off the building. The energy balls traveled into the dark skies before disappearing.

Jack began running athlete style, and Amber, who exited the building, chased him down. As she closed in on him, Amber materialized wires to restrain Jack. It was evident that he wasn't at full speed, as Jack instantly disappeared before the wires reached him.

Amber had no time to react as Jack delivered a powerful flying knee to her temple and sent her through multiple buildings.

"Ugh," Amber groaned as she leaned on a building. Due to being kneed in the temple of her head, Amber was in a delirious state.

"Sigh, you can't beat me, ya know," Jack said condescendingly while walking up to her. The developer was wrong about there being anything special about her.

"After I kill you, I'm going to kill your friends!" Jack declared as he drew near. Upon hearing that, the delirious state Amber was in quickly disappeared as she regained her focus.

Completely catching Jack off guard, Amber's body instantly emitted light in a large area.

This light...Ugh! It burns! It's far different from the burning sensation I felt from that jester! It's even more...unpleasant! Jack thought as he was engulfed by the light. How the hell is this brat doing this!?

After temporarily illuminating the area, Amber's radiance quickly dimmed and returned to its usual level. Jack, who was stunned by the light, found himself restrained by wires all around his body. Amber was also right in front of him.

"H-Huh?" Jack uttered.

"It doesn't matter...if you think I can't beat you," Amber remarked as she grabbed his head. "For everything you've done...I will kill you!"

BAM!

With her yellow aura of her justice-blessing enhancing her body, Amber struck Jack with a strong headbutt.

"GUH!" Jack uttered as excessive blood flew from his nose. Amber didn't let up and performed another headbutt. Each headbutt, which sounded like an explosion, emitted bright light. After executing six headbutts, Amber finally stopped.

The wires dissipated as Jack began to fall over. Not only was his face heavily bruised and his nose broken, his forehead was bleeding excessively.

Keeping true to her intent of killing him, Amber followed up with multiple high kicks to Jack's face and chest before he could fall. She had imitated her master, Meu when she executed the multi-kicks on their first sparring session.

Immediately, Amber's fist began glowing intensely as she charged energy.

"Hallowed Crushing--"

Shluk!

Before Amber could perform her next blow, Jack came behind her and stabbed her right in the abdomen.

"Ugh!" Amber uttered.

"Ah, finally, brat," Jack remarked with a sincere smile despite his bruised and bloodied face. "I can finally kill you."

Jack swung his other durability negator at Amber's head but suddenly stopped and redirected the swing to his left side. Kreuger, who arrived just in time, swiped at him with one of his bloodbath daggers, but Jack blocked it with the side of his knife.

Amber, who saw this, wasted no time. She quickly turned around and delivered a straight punch to Jack's gut. That slammed Jack right into a nearby building.

"Urrrggghhhh, haha," Jack groaned as he leaned on the building with one arm.

"K-Kreuger?" Amber questioned as she gazed at him.

"...Looks like I made it back in time," Kreuger responded. "Ryzen splitting us up was a pain in the ass. What's the situation?"

Amber's expression became downtrodden in response to his question.

"Mr. Altius...died. I was too late...to save him," Amber muttered in a low tone.

"Tsk, I'm talking about your condition," Kreuger replied. "You're not too knackered, are ya?"

"No, I can still fight," Amber confirmed.

Hearing that, Kreuger shifted his gaze to Jack. Seeing the bruises and injuries that Jack sustained made Kreuger widen his eyes.

What? Kreuger thought. "Amber, how is that bastard bleeding?"

"Huh? I kinda just punched...and headbutted him," Amber answered with slight confusion on her face.

"And he hasn't already healed?"

"W-What does...that mean?" Amber asked.

"I-I'm not sure," Kreuger replied. "But if I had to guess...maybe your justice blessing works well on that bugger.

"Heh, what are you two whispering about?" Jack questioned. "I'm getting annoyed at having my prey saved. You get me, Kreuger?"

Suddenly, a smirk formed on Kreuger's face.

"This is a gamble, but in case your blessing works on him," Kreuger continued while completely ignoring Jack. Kreuger also took out his second bloodbath blade. "We will murder him right here...right now!"

"Yeah!" Amber agreed.

While Jack leaned on the building, he stared at the two with a rather unhinged smile.

Man...I want to kill her.