Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 13, H.O.T.D 2

Shin: "...Just how did it come down to this? I can't say that I hate fighting, but why do I have to engage in a serious fight with Takashi because Saya's father said so? That damn old man even asked to see Team Japan's full power as well. We did have to reveal it at some point how powerful we were, but-"

Komaru: "Isn't this just the fate of the main character? I had to deal with it before, and now it's your turn. It's kind of enjoyable to see others in my position as well. I'm sure the battle will inspire me when it comes to drawing my own Manga. I'm kinda stuck on the second arc in Alien."

Shin: "Were you a character who could enjoy my pain like this? I thought that was Sachi's role. Well, it does kind of make you cuter in a way. I definitely just want to-"

Hikari SL: (Fuck! Why are you forcing me to watch this from another car!? Also, can you not make moves on one of your own women in a car filled with people? This isn't the time or place, gross otaku!"

Shin endured the yelling of the woman screaming into his mind. He, Komaru, Hikari, the other members of the team, and one human creation were currently driving to the undeveloped outskirts of Tokonosu City. Four cars were driving side by side, each a modified Humvee made by Kohta which could withstand a surprise attack from either the undead or humans with ease. The four Humvees had even come across a few zombies on the road that had slipped by and would normally be dealt with by a regular patrol team, but without stopping or slowing down they ran through them all and the passengers inside barely felt an impact. This was impossible for even the state of the art military Humvee from before the apocalypse, so this was both a statement for the performance of these modified humvee and as well as Kohta who built them with the skills acquired from his Mechanics class.

Riding the lead Humvee were the main character driven by Shizuka-sensei, another carrying Saya's parents and were escorted by their elite and most trusted soldiers, and the final two were occupied by the members of Team Japan driven by Aqua and Drake. The passengers in the car driven by Aqua were Shin, Komaru (Wishing to see my cool side in action, so I had to have her tag along), Sachi and Shuai, and in the car driven by Drake were Hikari, Connor, Jin and Kisara. Grim Ash stayed behind at the manor to protect the other human creations and the three Newbies still being kept asleep. They were moving away from the city so that Saya's parents could see first-hand strength the power of Team Japan who was creating one miracle after the other, and they came out all the way here so no one could observe the fight between Takashi and Shin. Putting aside deeper reasons anyone would be curious.

Aqua: "You know this is a pretty good Humvee that Kohta modified by himself. Far better than the military grade ones I saw in my time with the JSDF, so you can take my word for it. I think a normal military grade Humvees which can withstand gunfire and explosions to some extent, will cost 2500 points and D rank reward in the exchanges, but this one is much better in comparison. According to Kohta this baby can go 300 Mph, has a man operated Gatling Gun installed on the roof, could tank a surface to air missile and still run if it's flipped back over, has some low level magic resistance, and can even cross a deep river of water and can operate under water for a few hours. Something like this would cost at least a C or CC rank reward and a whole lot points to buy, and if it weren't a land based vehicle this machine would be a BB or A tier transportation tool."

Jin: "Is that so? Then this was a valuable treasure that we've come across. I thought about suggesting for the team about investing in a transportation tool one day, but the cost is high for flying transportation tools and to equip possibly twenty members is... I just wasn't for it yet. Like a 3000 Points and CC rank reward Hover Board which can fly over the terrain up to fifty feet. It's a convenient tool if we're in a city like this littered with abandoned cars and undead crawling through the streets, but they can only reach max speeds of 100 Mph and you need to exchange an expensive 100 Point battery every few hours. Also, its a flimsy product that can break too easily to compensate for its ease of use. I would prefer to get an AA or S tier magic flying ship, but ultimately the 4500 Points and B rank reward Sky Stick is my preference. It can reach much higher speeds, travel at a height above skyscrapers with ease, function underwater for some time, and even has some good weapons such as mounted machine guns and a flamethrower. For what it can do I'll call it a steal even if it requires you to switch out expensive magic batteries every now and again. When we can afford it without hindering our normal enhancements each one of us should exchange for one."

Sachi: "You can't make one? Aren't there design papers in the exchanges? The Four Pillars have their members exchange them early on and are told to build one. Not as good as the ones made ready by God, but a just degraded copy which can still function as a transportation tool."

Jin: "Huh? I'm trash so it doesn't matter if I'm inept at a few things, but do I look like a scientist or engineer to you? I'm only good with magic which is part of the reasons I grasped how to craft high-grade magic bullets so quickly. It's hardly just a copy and paste action like low-grade magic bullets. Team Germany didn't have such a tool as well, so they didn't have an engineer to build one either. The Sky Stick is a bonafide sci-fi tool with a magic energy core, for crying out loud. Even a degraded version should require the know how on what to cut back on and what not to. Design plans are hardly step by step directions to build one. It's best for us to just buy Sky Sticks for the whole team unless we one day encounter a scientist or engineer to build the degraded copies for each one of us."

Aqua: "Don't put all your hopes on a flying tool, Jin. A Sky Stick would certainly be convenient, but someone with military training like myself would point out how easy it would be to get killed. Humans are land based creatures who are far from adept at dealing with flight, or 3-dimensional combat. Connor or that Zero guy from "Btooom" would be able to snipe at you riding on top of a Sky Stick with ease even if you had Reaction Speed rivaling Shin and myself. It's the same problem Shin has with Void Movement. He's not comfortable without the earth under his feet and he's moving at extreme high speeds and has to watch all possible angels for danger, requiring a very high spatial awareness. Watch Gundam, or any robot or space fighter Anime too see how often pilots get one shot and die without ever seeing their killer... Shit, he's infected me if I can sprout out Anime crap without a second.... No, as I was saying, on a Sky Stick going who knows how fast, I bet it would be hard to react to a sniper's bullet. It's hard enough, almost near impossible to do so on the ground. On the ground all you have to worry about is you left, right, back, front, above and any combination of those directions and that's already very difficult. Now flying high in the skies, well, you have to more than double your awareness than on the ground."

Jin: "Is that so? Then maybe investing in a magic ship is really for the best, or a combination of the two. What do you think, Shin?"

Shin: "...We can just use these two Humvees for now. Unless we get hit by a nuke or B tier or higher sci-fi weapon we can avoid instant death at the very least. This should be able to withstand 5-10 seconds of continuous fire from a EMP Rifle as well. Anyways, I'm more worried about this sudden fight I have to take part in. Just how far should I go in this fight? I think that I'm more than just a bit stronger than Takashi even if he has unlocked the Second Stage and is a Dual Evolver. He lacks an energy to raise his stats further like Ki and he lacks a mutation that allows him to go beyond human limits. I also have a Hidden Class like his Flame Knight, but I have all the skills available for the entry Dark Walker. Despite saying all of that, Takashi has developed a mentality and skill level from constant struggle without rest which is superior to my own. I might have to resort to revealing my trump cards, the Deltoid Z-Saber and Adell's Legacy."

Aqua: "Oh, it should be fine. I think that completely dominating him in a fight would be too big of a shock for the others to accept, but if you're not stronger than Takashi by that much they should be able to accept the loss. It'll also allow them to believe in the back of their head that they can handle you if they have to."

Shin: "That's comforting."

Aqua: "That should be comforting for both sides if our allies can trust us. It's easier to trust someone you know that you can kill than someone that you can't. For someone you can't you would then have to start scheming of a way to do so, and there may be no turning back once you start. Whatever the case, Shin, we're here, so get ready."

As Aqua said this the lead Humvee driven by the main characters began to slow down and eventually came to a stop by the side of the road. The other Humvees followed suit and parked as well and the passengers disembarked their vehicles. Shin and the other Players looked around and found this part of the city in ruins. It wasn't just abandoned and left untended, but was battered from a big fight. Rei saw Team Japan's confusing and explained that this was the site of Tokonosu City's first defensive battle. Before the 5 Military Heads and the Mayor joined the camp, the Takagi's still growing organization and the Walking Dead Unit joined hands to repel 100,000 zombies lead by a Z1 Zombie from overrunning the city.

Takashi: "How nostalgic. Back then we lacked ammunition and the Takagi Faction and the rest of us weren't too powerful as Enhancers. We weren't Evolvers yet either. It was a hard fought battle that claimed many lives and showed us the terror of an organized army of THEM."

Alice: "But it was Zeke who saved the day! We diverted the Z1's attention and he ran around the zombies and, *chump*, bit off its head! Zeke and I share XP, so I finally reached level 30 with that kill!"

Connor: "...Good job, but sniping would have been less dangerous."

Alice: "No way! Zeke is better than some stupid sniper! Me and Zeke have killed so many that we've lost count. Isn't tht right Zeke!"

Zeke: *BARK*!!

Takashi: "...Sometimes I forget, but children in the apocalypse are scary."

Shin: "Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice."

Just as Shin, Takashi, and everyone else took a step back in fear as the child soldier and orphan of the apocalypse as they began to talk about their kills, Saya's parents walked over to the two protagonist. 

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Mr. Takagi: "It'll be suspicious if were gone all day without leaving a good enough reason, so let's get to it. Shin, fight Takashi here in front of us all. Takashi is the most powerful human of the God and Devil System who've I've come across, including myself. He's the highest standard of power that we know of, so I can judge how strong you are from your fight. Don't kill each other, but don't hold your punches. Win or lose, our cooperation is already decided, so this is really just for all of us here to see you in action."

Saya: "Then this is really unnecessary! You're being rude to my friends!"

Mrs. Takagi: "I know Saya, and we apologize for this type of approach, but this is the kind man I've married and when decided something he sticks with it. It also troubles me that my daughter has that side of her as well."

Saya: "Like hell I'm so force- (She just saw the dead stares of her comrades)... Never mind."

Mr. Takagi: "Shin, Takashi, begin whenever you're ready."

Aqua: "Try not to get beaten too badly leader."

Hikari: "If you die I won't grieve over you forever."

Kisara: "Your the one I promised my everything to I know you won't fail, but if you do, I, your sword will become an avenger for your sake... And it's kinda romantic."

Komaru: "Why is his harem rooting for his defeat!?"

Shuai: "I'll take the lead in your funeral, leader, so rest assured!"

Connor: "..."

Jin: "Will our leader show us his tyrannical might and amaze us all, or will the hero of this story show us what it means to be the protagonist? Ah, I can't wait! Also, I'm not holding a grudge about being blasted away and tumbling down a mountain, so I'm rooting for your victory. Definitely!"

Sachi: "Please don't die on us. I... I want to try out my latest technique with the Xian Needles on your half dead body."

Drake: "You can't send off our Leader like this. Shin, good luck... Not that I think you will lose. Get beaten to the floor by that hammer of his. Not at all!"

Shin: "...This team is the worst."

Shin wanted to cry and only cry thanks to his cheering section, but doing his best to look unaffected he walked forward towards Takashi.

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In the middle of an abandoned and battered street Shin and Takashi stood face to face. There were abandoned cars everywhere which seemed to either be destroyed or scavenged for workable parts by the survival camp. Team Japan, the main characters, and Saya's parents and their personal guards were watching down on the two combatants from nearby by rooftops. They didn't want to get in the way of their fight in case it grew too big and they wished to watch the surrounding in case they were being watched. This was not an issue for Team Japan who had Hikari's scans, but as they did not reveal this power just yet they, so played along with the surveillance role. Everything was prepared for the two on the ground to fight without worry, yet the two were unmotivated. Shin only cared about not embarrassing himself rather than who won or lost, and as he looked at Takashi, he saw that he wasn't in the mood for a fight and even looked slightly annoyed as well.

Takashi: "Ahh, what a pain. Saya's father is always like this and made it such a big deal. He also won't be satisfied unless I give it my all either. Well, if we're doing it let's get to it. Shizuka-sensei is quite skilled medic with a few a healing skills and potions, so as long as we don't kill each other we'll be fine. We can even lose an arm and leg and could be reattached good as new in a few hours."

Shin: "Really? Our Sachi can do the same thing... but I'll rather get healed by your doctor rather than mine for certain ethical and emotionally scarring reasons, but enough joking around (Wasn't). Let's just go all out and the first to fall wins... I'll win in the end anyways."

Proclaiming his victory before the fact Shin entered the First Stage of Unlocked Mode and readied himself for battle. Takashi watched Shin enter Unlocked Mode and took a deep breath to calm himself. As Shin had stated himself, his fighting spirit was not as tempered as someone like Takashi, yet from where Takashi stood the aura of strength radiating from Shin and the danger it represented were nothing to laugh at. From a Na Ring, Shin retrieved Gravity Blade and already wearing the boot set of Adell's Legacy, he retrieved the glove set. Shin planned on first using Gravity Blade to test the waters, and in an emergency he would use Adell's Legacy. They had the appearance of normal black boots and gloves, so Takashi or anyone else wouldn't suspect that they were magic weapons. Maybe even the Player of another team wouldn't realize they were actually B tier magic weapons. 

Takashi: "Confident, huh? Well, I'm not one who likes to lose, so don't mind it when you're beaten to the ground!"

Releasing a killing intent of his own that put Shin on edge, Takashi did the same as Shin and entered the First Stage and took out an item for his dimensional ring. He was already wearing his type 3 mutant beast armor under his clothes so all he needed was a weapon, yet unlike Shin who brought out a sword he took out a war hammer. Apprising the weapon Shin saw it was the very same one that the man had used to smash L2 Zombies into meat paste, so he couldn't help think that this battle wouldn't end without someone lying on the floor half dead or worse. 

Shin: (The value of that hammer is below my more powerful weapons, but close to Gravity Blade. An expensive C tier magic weapon at best, but it would still more than hurt if I was hit by that hammer in the hands of Takashi. One hit may be the end of me after all. Then it's best that it isn't me who gets taken out!)

Without showing a starting motion one would suspect, Shin lightly kicked the ground and reappeared behind Takashi in the blink of a eye. This Instant Movement wasn't the fastest, yet the sudden speed without any warning would catch most off guard. For certain most would, but not the leader of the Walking Dead Unit who was forced to survive an apocalypse and lead his companions to glory! Takashi swung his hammer with divine speed behind his back towards Shin. The hammer was aimed at shoulder instead of the head, yet it was still a critical injury that would do more than shatter his bone, yet Shin didn't flinch and countered. 

Shin: (Silver Dragon Scales, and Soul Crushing Strike!)

- *CLANK*!

- *BOOM*!

Shin's free right arm armored in a silver light was threw a punch towards Takashi's hammer. His right hand struck the hammer and upon striking it a sonic boom rang, sending both parties back a step. Takashi collecting himself was shocked. He didn't go all out, but Shin's hand, no the bones in his whole right arm should have been broken on impact with his war hammer, but this was understandable not knowing about his defensive Ki skill or the magic combat gloves.

Shin: "Don't space out just yet!"

Shin swung Gravity Blade on a course for Takashi chest in that split second that he was distracted. The night black magic sword let loose with vastly increased weight would hopefully tear through Takashi's type 3 mutant beast armor, and if not the blunt force would stun him and allow Shin the chance to take him out, yet this move was countered as well. Crimson Devil flames clad Takashi's body and like a true Flame Knight he was armored in intense flames from hell. The Devil Flames couldn't melt a C tier magic sword like Gravity Blade instantly, but the flames repelled the black sword and forced Shin to jump back twenty meters landing on top of a car. Takashi not wanting him to escape raised his hand and shot out a Devil Flame Fire Ball. The fireball soared with the speed of an actual bullet and had consumed the lives if countless men and monsters, but Shin was not joining their ranks. He had the option of blocking with his Kagune, but feeling too much of a similarity to the Red Flame bloood spell of a vampire he once encountered in the real world, and recalling the bad affinity it had with him, relying on his Ghoul mutation seemed out of the question, but that's not all he could do. 

Shin: "One Sword Style, Thirty-six Pound Cannon!"

With two hands gripping the sword handle, Shin swung and sliced the air sending a vacuum blade of concentrated air towards the Devil Flame Fireball. Thirty-Six Pound Cannon cut the fireball in half as it approached. The vacuum air blade still retained enough momentum to continue its flight towards Takashi. The vacuum air blade soared towards its target with blistering speed and forced Takashi to escape with an agility enhancing skill boosting his speed higher. He side stepped as the vacuum blade passed by and next on its flight path it cut a far off car in half. A shiver ran down Takashi's back and he shot a 10 meter wide and tall giant fireball at Shin in retaliation. Shin kicked the car he was standing on and jumped into the air to evade and the giant fireball swallowed up the car and it exploded. Takashi then prepared to launch more fireballs at Shin after he jumped into the air, yet stopped himself as he saw Shin kicking the very air to retreat a distance away and land back on the street. 

Takashi: "You can freaking fly!? In what month and what year did you kill a monster to drop such a ridiculous OP skill?"

Shin: "Trade secret! Also, should we just stop here? Thirty seconds haven't even passed, yet we are already coming close to killing each other."

Takashi: "Sorry, but I refuse! Now I really want to see your true power! Haaaaa!"

Entering the Second Stage of Unlocked Mode Takashi let out a beastly roar and charged straight towards Shin. Takashi's whole being was clad in Devil Flame more intense than ever before and was growing wilder by the second. His speed and power were already high as a Dual Evolver, but the Second Stage and the Devil Flame cladding his body shot them up even further, and crossed the distance between them in just three seconds. Takashi hosted his war hammer above his head and swung down with all his might towards Shin's head who then backed away with Instant Movement. Shin escaped, but Takashi followed after him with no signs of slowing down and with his sharp eyes trained through numerous battles, he saw through Instant Movement's speed and predicted where Shin would move, and he would them strike out like a warring flame god of legends past. Shin's sword and Takashi war hammer clashed dozens of times in their high-speed chase and each time they clashed Shin felt the bones in his arms shake. Shin pushed closer and closer to his own limits took every opportunity he had to strike back, but Takashi would retreat slightly to avoid his attacks and return stronger than before with sharper and more violent attacks which continued to push Shin back. By this point Shin was in the Second Stage as well and reinforcing his entire body with Ki and Rc Cells, but Takashi's mad rush was slowly surpassing him in power,

Shin: (I've definitely underestimated Takashi and I'm not using my Gravity Blade against this mad man any longer! It might really break! I'm switching out!)

Shin took what he thought was an opening to place Gravity Blade back into his ring, but this was not a good enough of an opening to do this in the middle of such an intense clash. Takashi was not forgiving and stepped forward to run his war hammer into Shin's torso, yet just as he planned to do just that he saw Shin's left-hand approach the hammer with a red glow and he pulled back and jump away. Takashi didn't know just what it, but he felt terror as those fingers approached, and that terror grew as he gazed at his own weapon. His Level 5 treasure War Hammer which had never bent or deformed before had faint, but still noticeable finger imprints burns with a red glow. Takashi then looks back at Shin and saw his left hand, or rather the glove he was wearing was glowing with a radiant red glow. At first the image of fire surfaced in his head, but that wasn't accurate enough. It wasn't like fire or like the sun either. It was...

Shin: (It's called a burning energy field, but it's more like lava. Like that girl in Tower of God with her awakening on the Hell Train, but the wearer can't feel the heat which makes it weird. But still... it's an effective weapon!)

Shin crouched down to the ground and placed his left hand on the cold streets floor. And as he did so a clear sizzling sound could be heard and upon examination the part of the street where his hand touched the floor had melted and into a molten like substance.

Shin: (This is a straight up melting ability rather than something like fire which would at least leave ashes of some kind. It was totally unexpected from the description, but it's extremely powerful... so it's all good. Also, it separates me as fire user from those like Misaki and Aqua. Standing out is important?)

Takashi observing Shin's actions was startled.

Takashi: "...Is this really power from the God and Devil System? This is just..."

Shin: "Oh, so you can tell that much? You've definitely not grown into an ordinary warrior, Takashi, but I'm the same. I haven't gone all out yet, so this is your last chance to admit your defeat."

Takashi: "Oh, is that so!"

Takashi clad in Devil Flame charged at Shin with a burst of speed. Shin watched calmly as Takashi deployed a similar technique that a former comrade used to fly and jet around with a stream of flames underneath his feet. He was calm at first, but for a moment he felt nostalgic at the sight, yet it was only a moment. Shin's gaze felt cold as Takashi approach and he entered deeper into Unlocked Mode as he pulled out a new weapon. A white metallic sword handle without a blade to speak of. Then as it emitted a green energy blade from the handle, Takashi's heart skipped a beat. One of the powers of the Third Stage, absolute control of the brain, had the power to increase reaction speed substantially and he saw through Takashi's great speed and slashed with Z-Saber. Takashi barely evaded the first slash by a hairs breath as the green energy blade flew past his neck, but then sensing a greater threat from the sci-fi sword he jumped back as far as his legs would allow over twenty meters away, but that wasn't enough to escape. 

Shin: "Mega-Charge, Mega Sword!"

Takashi: "!!!"

Rei: "Takashi!"

Saeko: "Takashi!"

Rei and Saeko watching from the rooftops saw the impossible scene in shock. Before the attack even began Takashi felt terror from the eye-catching weapon and he jumped far as possible back to avoid the slash of the now blue energy blade, but he was still caught by it as it extended over thirty meters in a flash and was swung towards him. A soft tearing sound was heard as the energy blade split apart the very air of the path it traveled. Takashi then glared at Shin while pointing his War Hammer in his right arm towards Shin and doing his best to avoid the obvious. His left arm from just under the elbow was severed by Z-Saber and was lying on the street in a pool of blood.

Takashi: "...What the hell kind of futuristic sword is that! I'm a Strength and Spirit Dual Evolver, yet that blade severed my flesh and bone through mutant beast armor and my Devil Flame Clad Armor in one stroke! I'm even wearing our new Type 3 Mutant Beast armor. You also perfectly saw through my attack leaving me barely any room to escape. Just who are you?" 

Shin: "I'll tell you later if you want, but for now... sorry for the arm. Sachi should be able to reattach an arm or leg with ease... so are you ready to call it quits yet?"

Takashi: "Go to hell! Not till I crush one of your limbs with my-"

Mr. Takagi: "Stop it here!"

As Takashi glared at Shin with a rage and excitement filled expression a man jumped down from above between them. Souichiro Takagi. He jumped down from the rooftops above and landed with amazing posture showing everyone that he was an Enhancer of great power and not just a government official who can only lead from behind his subordinates. Souichiro called on both Takashi and Shin to lay down their weapons saying that he had seen enough and declared Tokonosu City Survival Camp would enter into a relationship with Team Japan. 

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Authors Note:

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Proofread by Deltoren 

Cool fight, right? Wanted to add Kagune to the mix, but it comes later.