1700 hours, 25 June 0145...

Scott was staring menacingly at Florent, and I could feel the tension in the air as I glanced back. But Florent maintained his composure at Scott's enraged scowl as he mocked back.

"Fool?! Hahahahahahahaha! Don't you realize you're a fool instead?"

With an angry scowl and a low growl coming from his throat, Scott slowly approached Florent.

"You have killed my friends! And now, you must pay the price!"

Something sprang into my head, and I recalled Scott describing the infected android that had infected him and murdered his previous companion. And Florent seemed to be the one responsible for his actions, as I glanced at him closely.

Due to the fact that Florent was no pushover for Scott, I had to restrain him from taking unnecessary risks. I flashed a warning and snapped his right shoulder.

"Back off, you piece of fuck! You're getting in my way!"

But he suddenly slapped my arm and retorted.

"I DONT CARE!!! I saw him take away my friend's life and shove this stupid virus into my throat."

I felt immense fury at his inflexibility as his comment hit me like a frigid splash. I braced myself to whisper a question as I continued to look at Scott's irate expression.

"So, what's the deal with that?"

His expression, which twisted into a scowl as I could sense the animosity in his response, never took off his gaze.

"He must pay for what he did!"

I could only look at the floor and moan in excruciating agony. Despite his obstinate resistance to my cause, I had no choice but to accept his assistance, knowing that his skills were crucial in the battle ahead.

"Do whatever you want if you're bored with life."

As Scott threateningly approached Florent, the clang of his greatsword resounded ominously throughout the blackened warehouse. But Florent was unfazed and made fun of Scott, despite his warning.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't the clumsy Scott. Hell, even I remember you as a massive-"

With a menacing sweep of his greatsword, Scott hushed Florent and caused him to stiffen in fear.

"ENOUGH WITH YOUR BULLSHIT!!! I'M GONNA KILL YOU RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!!!"

Insert Music: The Qemists - Lost Weekend

Scott could feel Florent's scorn as he scowled at his carefree behavior. In the next split second, he drew his revolver dangerously close to Scott's face and fired two thunderous shots.

BANG BANG

He fortunately parried Florent's shots and stormed into his face, swinging his greatsword and feeling its weight as a counterattack.

DJSHING

But he out-intuited me with a lightning-fast, stylish evasion flip from my devastating Nakajima swing.

When Scott's greatsword suddenly gave up under the strain of its weight, it slammed down with such force that it shook the earth.

BSRYAK

Scott's muscles ached from fatigue after failing to hit Florent, who had a knack for evading his attacks. Florent's expression became menacing, and a low laugh escaped him as he observed Scott, who was visibly fatigued.

"What's wrong? Tired?"

Scott's face erupted like a Krakatoa, and he spit back as he repeatedly missed his strike.

"Enough, DAMMIT!!!"

As he raced towards Florent, the earth rumbled under his boots. To further aid him, I sent bullets from my Kiryu at his face while simultaneously smashing my Nakajima against his flaming dual butcher blades, creating a deafening clang.

Scott continued missing as I stood by and watched the battle unfold, as if Florent's flaming slashes were too intense for anybody to parry them.

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In the midst of the heated battle, Axel's unexpected call crackled through my communications channel, disrupting the intensity of the fight. It was tempting to ignore his call to continue the fight, but I could already hear his harsh words reprimanding me.

Silently slipping away from the fight, I chewed on my lip and responded to his call.

"Tsuyuki! This is Axel! Can you hear me?!"

"Worst, fucking, timing!"

The displeasure in Axel's voice was palpable as he scolded me.

"Leader, how many times has the commander told you to restrain from acting on your own?! Do you even care about the teamwork?!"

I turned aside from the violent fight between Scott and Florent for a second before responding with a furious warning.

"First of all, this guy is not what you'd think! And you'll be dead meat if you come here!"

"We don't care! We're coming to you!"

I closed the communication link and was ready to rejoin the combat. But I suddenly heard a great rumble behind me, which made me jump.

BSRYAK

Hearing someone slash the boxes with considerable power that created immense havoc, I dove between the splinters with a stylish flip. And I could hear Scott's second greatsword charge and feel his intense grunt as the smoke gradually dissipated.

BSRYAK

As the maelstrom had passed, I watched him kneel down, hammer his greatsword into the ground, and take a deep breath from his immense fatigue.

I saw Scott panting with heavy breaths after his failed attack against Florent, but there's something wrong with his exhaustion. The black veins crawled onto his neck and body as his virus infection relapsed.

But this infection was spreading at an abnormally high rate, as if someone had controlled it. In the moments before the virus devoured his body, Scott drew back in and moaned in agony.

I could feel the remorse seeping into my thoughts when I let Scott tackle Florent along with me. My voice was oozing with disdain as I locked eyes with Florent, glaring at him coldly.

"You used that spell, didn't you?"

He proceeded to respond with an arrogant grin, as if his psychotic behavior were normal.

"What do you mean by that? I'm just toying with him."

He then vocalized the contained magic, which caused it to hollow out against the hall.

"Terzos, Avtorat, Khulbyask."

Scott suddenly screamed out in agony as he could not control the searing anguish coursing through his body.

I felt Scott's torment as I watched him scream and writhe in pain, causing my thoughts to halt in horror. I wanted to lend him a hand, but Florent stood in my way. I mumbled my frustration under my breath as I watched Scott suffer and get my right hand on my Kiryu.

"Toying, you said..."

BANG BANG

But Florent remained unfazed with a sinister smirk, pulled out his revolver in a flash, did a stylish spin like a cowboy, and easily parried my bullets after he fired two rounds.

Once things had calmed down a little, he put his revolver back in its holster and put forth an explanation with a hand gesture.

"Do you know why the scorching virus is powerful? King Sakorcha conjured this virus in the depths of hell as a response to humanity's relentless destruction, all in the name of God's will."

I stood in silence, holstering my gun back to let this idiot's talk.

"Thus, King Sakorcha demonstrated the futility of such hypocritical God's will scum. The reason being, those blessed by God were no different from the accursed demons they vowed to vanquish."

"It's never all about compassion; it's always been about projecting their unlimited foulness to trample others while claiming themselves to be the divine good guys."

"As soon as these God's will fouls get their hands on what they want, they'll slaughter each other. Because when evil disappears, one will make another evil."

"And that's why pride is a sin."

His reasoning continued to annoy me, despite my agreement. And if he really wants the world to be devoid of possessions, he should simply break his skull and cease his own existence like a piece of fuck!

After that, I made assertive eye contact with Florent and pointed my Kiryu in his direction.

"Unfortunately, your shithole organization acts no different from what you have cursed on."

"Of course you're right that evil will keep taking birth. If you wish to fight evil, you must become eviler than that. However, you are lacking a crucial element that makes you more vulnerable than ever."

Without warning, Florent arched an eyebrow and spoke with a menacing tone, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Gratitude? First of all, you should realize that you might control everything. Without it, you won't be able to protect anything. Let alone yourself."

I scoffed in anger and responded gruffly.

"Don't be such a dumbass! Might is completely useless without wisdom! Without wisdom, the wrath of nature will consume you like rusty steel."

In the midst of my argument with Florent, I suddenly heard Scott croak.

"Sarah… Carter…"

I turned around and witnessed Scott sprawled on the ground, his fists tightly balled up in a display of agony as he clutched his chest. Witnessing the virus wreak havoc on his body increased my resentment for Florent.

As I strode up to Florent, I aimed my Kiryu at his face and gave him a threatening, icy gaze.

"You have crossed the line. And it's your responsibility if this deadweight slices your head into pieces with his cucumber!"

Yet Florent kept his composure and sardonically answered after letting out a venomous chuckle.

"Like if that would happen."

BWOSH

He suddenly dropped a smoke grenade, filling the warehouse with acrid smoke and instantly masking his surroundings. And by the time the smoke slowly cleared, Florent had vanished into thin air. The gentle, gray mist that lingered was the only trace of it.

Experiencing a fleeting sense of relief, a wave of fear washed over me as the realization of treating Scott's illness dawned, conflicting emotions swirling within. It wasn't until Scott moaned under his ragged breath.

"Sarah… Carter…"

I knelt and delicately touched Scott's neck for his pulse rate as I gently approached him. As the infection spread throughout his nervous system, it caused his heart rate to become irregular, leaving him anxious. However, my lack of medical knowledge left me helpless, so I resorted to calming him down by gently holding his hand and offering what little comfort I could in the moment.

"Just hold on; our friends will arrive in a few seconds."

Scott managed a pained smile, his eyes reflecting agony, as he weakly responded.

"Yeah…"

I could still make out his muted moans of agony when he squeezed his chest. In the meantime, I held my breath, anticipating the swift arrival of the others.