Reaching out my hand to grab Aroha, my heart pounded with the urgency of the moment. She was just within reach, a symbol of hope in this chaotic chase. Yet, as I extended my hand, the bike accelerated, slipping away from my grasp. Those riders had no clue who they were dealing with! If they thought I was the same person from my weaker days, they were in for a surprise.
The Criminal Alliance must have outdated intel on me, back when I was less powerful. But now? I could match the speed of any vehicle. My veins pulsed visibly as I dashed through the bustling traffic. My eyes remained fixed on the bike, maneuvering skillfully through the cars ahead. Whoever was driving that bike seemed like a seasoned master, navigating the chaotic streets effortlessly.
This was their strategy. They intended to exploit my limitations; I could only maintain speeds safe for regular traffic. Accelerating to catch up risked unleashing a destructive force, endangering those around me. The fear etched on the faces of bystanders only added to the pressure. If I kept up this pace, the bike would slip away.
I had to think fast. Amid the rush, an idea sparked in my mind—a risky plan, but it might just work.
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Soul: 160 (-20)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Strength Booster - Increase your strength by 150% for three seconds. 20 soul to use, one minute cooldown. (Activated) The one minute cooldown has commenced.
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Extending my legs with a burst of energy, I propelled myself from the solid ground, hurtling through the open air. The black concrete against the empty street below blurred beneath me as I searched for any trace of the bike. It didn't take long to spot it, positioned adjacent to a derelict building that captured my attention.
The building stood in disrepair, its two stories showing signs of decay. Almost like a tempting invitation, it seemed almost transparent, offering a glimpse inside, but an unseen barrier halted my view. Ignoring the puzzling sight, I harnessed the wind's force to my advantage. As I descended, I adjusted my position, ensuring I fell at the precise angle needed to intercept them.
Swiftly, I pivoted mid-air, delivering a forceful right overhand upwards. The controlled gust propelled me with precision, landing me in close proximity to the bike, leaving a shallow imprint on the road upon impact. Fortunately, I managed to brace my landing on my knees, rising swiftly to my feet and brushing myself off.
The bike veered abruptly, disappearing into a garage within the dilapidated building, shutting its doors behind. Their attempt at an ambush was evident, but I was ready to oblige. Closing the distance in an instant, I seized the metal of the garage entrance, exerting my strength to unhinge it deliberately, the protesting groans of metal yielding to my determination.
Upon entry, the dim, dusty interior revealed a cluttered garage with shelves stacked with tools, none of immediate significance. Moving forward, the subsequent doorway presented an enigmatic sight—a darkness so profound it defied conventional sight. It was as though the door itself absorbed all light, leaving me blind to what lay beyond. It was a skill, someone's designed to conceal.
Stepping into the unknown, a voice pierced the silence, "Got him, boss!" Confirming my suspicions, the space flooded with light, revealing a semi-circle of about fifteen figures, each brandishing knives that gleamed with an otherworldly material, not crafted from conventional metal.
In the tense air of the confrontation, an unexpected voice cut through the group of fifteen, one I hadn't accounted for. "You got the Deputy good, didn't you?" the voice jeered. My response was immediate and cold, "Yeah, he was scum and died like scum." The mocking tone persisted, "Want Aroha to die like scum too?"
My fist clenched involuntarily at the mention of Aroha. The thought of her in danger fueled me to fight with unparalleled brutality. The figures to the side of me blurred into a mere obstacle as I lunged towards the one in the middle of the half circle, singular focus guiding my movements. In a swift flurry, my left jab was met with a block, swiftly followed by a powerful right hook connecting with the jaw of the provocateur, sending him crashing to the ground, dazed and incapacitated before he could reach for his weapon.
Without hesitation, I stomped with a forceful blow, a grim finality to ensure he posed no further threat. Time was of the essence; there was no room to play games with these monsters. However, their companions wasted no time, converging from every direction in a coordinated assault.
Reacting swiftly, I blocked the airborne attacker with my forearm, feeling the sting of a cut drawing blood. In a moment of sheer survival instinct, I seized his neck and twisted, the snap signaling the end. The pain surged through me, a sharp reminder of my vulnerability, but then an unexpected response occurred. As my muscles tightened reflexively in reaction to the agony, the wound began to close. I can do that?
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Health: 2900 (-300)
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The assailant aiming for my ankle met a swift, fatal blow—a kick to the head that caused a gruesome and immediate end. These opponents were unlike any I had faced before, their tactics and will exceeding the usual threats from my past. Do they have personal problems with me?
The line had been crossed by involving Aroha. Focusing on the northwest, I found myself staring down two knives aimed directly at my eyes. Reacting with reflexes honed by danger, I rolled my head in a split-second evasion, a fluid motion that narrowly avoided the lethal strike. In a decisive move, I brought my heels down forcefully upon the heads of the final two attackers, the impact creating yet another significant dent in the ground—a testament to the intensity of the struggle.
In the midst of the intense confrontation, there were still ten adversaries left. As I grappled with the initial five, the remaining ten hastily retreated, their expressions mirroring the same fear I had witnessed in the eyes of those bystanders trapped in their cars. These individuals, these 'monsters', evoked no sympathy within me.
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The one who had engaged me earlier, the one who likely held Aroha captive and had witnessed my relentless assault on his companions, remained my primary target. Time was slipping away, and patience wore thin.
With a deliberate calmness, I began to ease my foot down, my focus unwavering. However, just before it met the ground, I materialized beside the rightmost figure in a sudden, fluid motion. There was no room for hesitation now; the situation demanded a swift and merciless response.
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Soul: 140 (-20)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Strength Booster - Increase your strength by 150% for three seconds. 20 soul to use, one minute cooldown. (Activated) The one minute cooldown has commenced.
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In the heat of the moment, I raised my fist to head level, swiftly advancing towards them. Each impact resulted in an eruption, their heads giving way one by one, splattering blood across my skin. The cacophony of reactions varied: screams pierced the air, laughter mixed with the terror, while some remained eerily silent. It was revolting, yet necessary.
As the last one attempted to flee, I closed the distance in an instant, delivering a punishing left uppercut that sent him hurtling through the roof, ensuring there were no survivors left in my path. I swiftly spun to release the blood from my clothes and face. It would distract me if I kept it on me. Now, it was time to reach Aroha.
Bursting through the door from where the guards had emerged, my eyes locked onto the sight I dreaded—a figure gripping Aroha by the neck. She was awake, struggling against the hold. Her urgent plea reached me amidst the chaos, urging me to take action. Her words resonated: "Oren, don't mind me, kill this a*****e!"
Refusing to let panic cloud my judgment, I attempted negotiation, hoping to buy precious time, "I can give you less prison time or something! I refuse to believe you're doing this for the Deputy! He was scum and didn't even treat you well!" He erupted into unsettling laughter, a sinister echo that filled the room.
He's f*****g insane. I seized the moment, swiftly drawing one of the knives the guards from my back pocket, aiming to halt his grip on Aroha. The blade found its mark, lodging into his right shoulder, momentarily releasing her. In that fleeting moment, she managed to break free, rushing to my side. Urging her to escape, "Go, call Tony!"
As she hurried away without a word, my focus shifted entirely to the looming threat in front of me. This was the moment I had reserved Peeking for—my ultimate defense. It was time to gauge the strength of this adversary, to protect those who mattered most.
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Soul: 130 (-10)
Skills:
Lvl. 2 Peeking - Peek into other's stats and skills by squinting really hard. 10 soul to use, thirty minute cooldown. (Activated) The thirty minute cooldown has commenced.
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Name: Kul
Strength: 28
Speed: 32
Defense: 10%
Soul: 40
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Viewpoint Dark - Able to manipulate target's maximum vision range in a certain area permanently as long as you are conscious. 20 soul to use, thirty second cooldown.
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Despite not surpassing the Deputy's strength yet, I knew I had outpaced his second-in-command by leaps and bounds. As he hurled threats my way, I braced myself for his attack, his shout of "You're finished!" ringing through the enclosed space.
He lunged at me, his punch aimed squarely at my chest, a futile attempt. His confusion was viewable as his strike proved utterly ineffective, bouncing off me harmlessly. The surprise etched across his face fueled a sense of retribution within me, a taste of the revenge I was about to extract.
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Soul: 120 (-10)
Skills:
Lvl. 1 Triple Strike - Attack three times in succession with enhanced speed and strength. 10 soul to use, thirty second cooldown. (Activated) The thirty second cooldown has commenced.
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Exiting the building, burdened by the unconscious form of the Deputy's subordinate slung over my shoulder, I emerged into a scene of both relief and concern. Aroha stood amidst the presence of Tony and several police cars, a sight that offered a sense of reassurance.
Tony's immediate worry for my well-being was evident as he hurried towards me. "Oren, you okay?!" he questioned with genuine concern etched across his face. I assured him, "Yeah, it's just the Deputy's right-hand man. Not the representative I anticipated. Easy peasy."
Tony, the epitome of composed authority, took charge of the situation, swiftly laying out the plan. "We'll take him into custody, interrogate him thoroughly, and ensure he faces the full extent of the law for his deeds. Your work today was commendable. Take some rest back at the apartment. I know you might have wanted to end him, but gathering information might serve us better in the long run." With a nod of acknowledgment, I acquiesced to his directive.
Aroha at my side, we made our way back home, leaving the scene behind, the weight of the day's events lingering heavily despite the resolution. As the weight of the recent events settled heavily upon my thoughts, regret and self-criticism clawed their way in. A failure on my part struck me, letting her be taken was a failure on my part. The gravity of that moment, the sheer vulnerability she faced, haunted me, painting me as an inadequate protector. Self-condemnation surged through me; I couldn't shake the feeling of being a terrible person.
Unable to contain the flood of emotions, tears welled up as we walked side by side, my voice quivering with remorse. "I'm... sorry. I let you get taken right in front of me, and I'm s-sure you felt terrified. Forgive me." I managed to voice.
Aroha, however, intercepted my spiral of self-blame, halting my descent into despair. Stepping in front of me, her words cut through my anguish, offering an unexpected perspective. "Oren, you saved me. From that toxic school life, from Jack, from the Criminal Alliance, and that's not even talking about what you've done. You've undertaken a burden I can't even begin to comprehend, and you continue to shoulder it without faltering. Yes, maybe you were a few seconds away, but it wasn't intentional. We were caught off guard. It happens."
Could she genuinely perceive it that way? Her words, a soothing balm to my tortured thoughts, prompted me to wipe away my tears, gratitude seeping into my response. "Thank you, Aroha. You're my biggest motivator." I expressed, the weight on my shoulders feeling slightly lighter.
Her embrace enveloped me, offering solace and understanding in its warmth. For that brief moment, we stood together, finding solace in each other's presence, allowing the reassurance of her words and embrace to wash away some of the pain that had gripped me moments before.