Alex, Menchi, and Jewel are using a highly proficient version of Zetsu, each of them a capable, highly skilled Nen user. With their presences almost completely erased, they wait for their opportunity.
They carefully observe the rude player threatening the merchant, who has already hurriedly backed off toward his car parked a short distance behind his stand on the bull market.
Alex conjures Mustrano's Malice Mauler and prepares himself to attack.
"Mustrano... it's time for you to shine... our target is right ahead," Alex whispers silently, a hint of excitement noticeable.
"Undersssstood, human...!" Mustrano hisses quietly, the claw twitching slightly as it makes Alex's hand tremble with anticipation.
"Jewel... can you secure the knife?" Alex asks his pet. "Of course, only if he actually finds and presents it. Since this is the bull market, we can steal things without drawing too much attention."
Understood, Soulmate! Leave it to Princess Jewel.
"Menchi, you can provide backup and keep an eye out for anyone else... this could easily be a trap," Alex adds.
"I can... are you sure you want to go through with this, though?" Menchi asks, her expression clearly worried.
"Yes..." Alex replies, his right hand shaking ever so slightly.
For my future... for my survival. I'll sacrifice everyone else! I can barely save myself and those I care about; I'll condemn everyone else! I need to focus on myself.
However... that guy... he's almost a little too obnoxious. Too obvious. Is he just bait thrown out for us, or am I overthinking things? This calls for a divisive strike... even if something's wrong... I'll finish him first.
To make sure he stays anonymous, Alex pulls out [Jack's Spare Silvery Mask], covering his face before moving forward.
Jewel jumps down from his hand, silently following after the merchant, moving with unnatural agility and speed.
It takes the man about a minute before he returns, carrying a large crate filled with items.
As he approaches the arrogant player, he pleads desperately, "This is everything I've got! Most of it is just old junk. Please, calm down!"
The player leans forward, inspecting the contents, and his eyes immediately light up.
Alex also takes a closer look and instantly spots a familiar-looking knife among the clutter inside the crate.
The player casually knocks aside a few items and steps closer to the crate, stretching out his hand.
I need to act. Now!
Alex moves in right behind him, activating Ren as he channels most of his Aura into Mustrano.
He then uses a variation of his Sword Magic—Thunder Claw. Similar to his magic arrows, where he imbues them with his familiar black magic, he does the same with his claw. Thanks to his Claw Proficiency skill, he has enough control to execute it cleanly, of course with less efficiency compared to a sword.
Empowered not only by Aura through Shu, Mustrano crackles with violent lightning as Alex thrusts him forward, aiming straight for the player's neck.
But just before the claw reaches its target, Alex's entire body suddenly halts.
A familiar, chilling sensation grips him, awakening a nostalgic feeling of complete helplessness.
No!
His movements reverse against his will. His arm lowers itself, while his body slowly steps backward, mimicking his earlier movements.
He desperately tries to stop it, but he's utterly powerless to stop it.
Unable to act, he watches as the player, no longer pretending, turns toward him with a grin. A rifle suddenly appears in his hands as he calmly takes aim at Alex.
"Hehehehe. Sorry, you poor fool, it's just business. I just got an offer so good, I can't refuse. Die!" the man snickers, adjusting his aim, targeting his head, as Alex is forced to retreat helplessly, unable to dodge.
This is bad... I can't activate any skills! Will Avatar of Vengeance from Uzin's Rage work? No... it's not a movement-impairing effect... I'm being manipulated.
But... I have trust...!
Just as the man is about to pull the trigger, something utterly grotesque unfolds right in front of Alex's eyes.
The man's throat is suddenly torn apart as two thin, razor-sharp limbs pierce through it from behind.
Jewel!
Jewel has dealt 41 x 3 = 123 Damage to Player Mateo
Jewel has crippled Player Mateo
Jewel has caused bleeding
Jewel has dealt 39 x 3 = 117 damage to Player Mateo
Alex barely catches a glimpse of Jewel clinging to the man's back.
He sees her mouth open unnaturally wide, as dark magic gathers along her ruby-colored fangs.
After a brief moment of buildup, she unleashes her most brutal and powerful attack, Namtaru Bite.
As Jewel performs her terrifying attack, her teeth, empowered with Dark magic, sink into the man's already mangled neck, biting through it as if it were soft fruit, encountering no resistance at all, as his neck is completely torn apart before his head is violently ripped off and smashed away from his body.
Jewel has caused 101 + 44 = 145 damage x 3 = 435 damage to Player Mateo
Jewel has killed Player Mateo
Alex, still unable to move, grins in relief as he watches his enemy get torn apart.
Another player... how? Did he know this guy...? How...?! No, according to what this creep said, it's just a random player he recruited.
Still, his joy is short-lived as he gets blasted from the side, a yellow energy bolt crashing into him and sending him flying away.
You have received 89 damage
Another blast hits a nearby male civilian in the stomach, instantly killing him as a large, lethal wound, almost resembling a large hole, appears on his abdomen, blasting him backwards.
A third blast is fired directly at Alex, but because of the panic, more civilians run around in chaos, obscuring the attacker's vision. One of them runs between Alex and the shot, getting hit instead and dying on the spot as his head is blasted to pieces.
However, despite the pain, Alex feels his enemy's Hatsu getting cancelled as he crashes onto the ground from the initial impact, causing him to faintly smile.
So I took damage and got blasted away... that stopped my movements from being retraced. Looks like a strong enough impact can knock me out of that state. Good to know!
That's valuable information.
Jewel! If I ever get targeted by that Hatsu, pull me to the side with your web. Be forceful! Now let's look for the Jaffa! Stay close to me.
Yes, Soulmate! Princess Jewel will get him.
Looking around, Alex sees neither Menchi nor his attacker. Instead, he hears countless people screaming in terror as panic erupts across the market. Thousands begin to run, some stumbling and falling, only to get trampled by others.
Despite being used to the carnage, Alex feels disgusted with the sudden cruelty around him, as people, especially the elderly, are brutally stepped on as they crash onto the floor.
Even the merchants abandon their stands, fleeing without hesitation. The entire area descends into chaos, the scene quickly turning nightmarish, making Alex feel as though he has stepped straight into a war zone.
I can't see shit!
En!
Alex concentrates hard, expanding his Aura to the maximum, but he still can't locate his attackers. There are simply too many people, too many overlapping presences around him. Jason, being a Nen user, can suppress his Aura, making it impossible for Alex to distinguish him from the crowd. As for Teal'c, the Jaffa, who should be far easier to identify with his staff weapon, Alex doesn't spot him either, meaning he is at least forty to fifty meters away.
Damn coward! Weren't Jaffa supposed to fight with honor? He fled the moment his plan failed. Sooner or later, this bastard and his Jaffa will succeed in killing me if he keeps getting opportunities. This was already close enough... if he had shot me in the face with that rifle...
Time to use everything and take a huge gamble. I want to fucking get them back! This Jason bastard is the biggest coward and rat I know. I need to take my revenge and finish this once and for all!!
Alex, annoyed by the ambush and with his thoughts spiraling toward retaliation, activates his [Destiny Watch (Orbment) R2], as a mysterious rainbow-colored butterfly appears before him, instantly flying away, leaving behind a faint colorful trace.
I need to chase it!
"Jewel! Jump on!" Alex shouts, causing Jewel to immediately leap back onto his head as he dashes after the butterfly.
As the butterfly disappears into the crowd, moving at an unexpectedly high speed, Alex struggles to keep up despite his already high AGI.
Urged by a foreign, almost intrusive power, Alex feels his entire body heating up. His body begins to shake in rage and bloodlust.
I need to kill this fucker... I need to kill this fucker... can't lose him!
Not willing to lose sight of the butterfly, his only chance to catch his enemy, he activates the special ability of [Uzin's Rage R2], Avatar of Vengeance, as a surge of power and satisfaction floods his body.
Avatar of Vengeance activated
Unstoppable for 32 seconds
STR and AGI doubled for 32 seconds
With his base AGI doubled, Alex skillfully follows after the butterfly, but is surprised when it suddenly flies through a door into a nearby building, which appears to be some kind of small shop.
That building was inside my En range... but I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Hehe, looks like my opponent is using some means of hiding himself. Too bad it didn't quite work.
Princess Jewel didn't notice anyone inside as well.
Just get ready. We can't fail again. I used two of my most important abilities that have a cooldown of one mission and one day, respectively.
Kicking in the door of the building, Alex forcefully enters without hesitation. He follows the butterfly and rushes up a small set of stairs, already hearing panicked movement from above. As the butterfly glows one last time and disappears through a final door, Alex smirks deviously and kicks it open, seeing Jason standing right in front of the open window, just about to make his escape.
Alex does not hesitate. Still empowered by Avatar of Vengeance, he thrusts Mustrano forward with full force, aiming straight for Jason.
"Let me tassssste your blood!" Mustrano hisses eagerly, causing Jason to panic immediately, as if suddenly encountering a demon.
"No!" Jason yells, his face turning completely pale as he throws his hands forward in desperation.
Once again, Alex feels the same unnatural force take hold of his body. His movements are reversed, forcing him backward against his will, yet despite that, he can't help but feel ecstatic as he slowly walks backward out of the room.
That won't work.
"Close... you fucker... I'll kill you soon enough. Now fuck off and walk back to where you came from!" Jason says, clearly relieved, his hands still stretched out as he maintains his Hatsu.
However, that relief lasts only a fraction of a second, as his expression suddenly twists into pure terror. His eyes widen as he realizes too late what is happening.
Jewel is already on him, sitting on his back and stabs her legs towards his neck. Desperately, he dodges his neck to the side, using one hand, holding a combat knife to shield himself as well, but Jewel adjusts the course of her stabs, easily landing hits into his upper back, skewering his body.
Jewel has dealt 34 Damage to Player Jason
Jewel has dealt 31 Damage to Player Jason
As he desperately tries to shake Jewel off, she bombards him with Namtaru Poison and Namtaru Web, as well as more stabs, her attacks coming in rapid succession without giving him any time to react or fight back.
Jewel has dealt 25 Damage to Player Jason
Jewel has dealt 37 Damage to Player Jason
Jewel has poisoned Player Jason
Jewel has slowed Player Jason
Just seconds later, Alex feels control returning to his body as Jason's Hatsu collapses under the pressure. Notifications flood in as Jewel continues her relentless assault, stabbing into him over and over again while Jason desperately tries to defend himself with his knife, his movements clumsy and ineffective.
However, in the very next moment, both Alex and Jewel freeze again, this time not moving at all, as Jason stretches out both of his hands, his Aura draining rapidly as he forces his ability to start up again, targeting both of them, clearly pushing himself to the limit and likely running out of Aura within seconds at this level of consumption.
"This... isn't over..." he mutters, his voice trembling. "He...hehehe. Do you know what the best thing about Greed Island was? The clone card!"
He grabs another card while still keeping one hand forward to affect both Alex and Jewel, holding it up in front of him as his expression turns into a mix of desperation and hatred. "I'll never give up. Sooner or later I'll kill you... This is a draw. Fuck you and fuck the Seekers. I'll win in the end... you can't even imagine the people I'm working under."
Alex reads the card and immediately recognizes it, his expression darkening as he realizes that it is another Leave card.
NO! I can't let him escape. If he escapes, the entire bet and contract with that Samir bastard becomes invalid. I need him to die right now... but I can't move.
Wait... I can't move but can still use the system... yes! It's somewhat of a waste, but fuck it!
Jason, completely exhausted and barely standing, his body covered in blood, puncture wounds, poison, and webbing, mutters with pure hatred in his eyes. "I'll see you in hell. Leave o—"
SYSTEM! Activate [Death Duel Voucher] on Jason!
Everything goes dark for a brief moment, but in the very next instant, Alex finds himself standing on a dark, translucent platform high above the building. The roof below has been torn apart, and from above, Alex can faintly see Jewel below him. However, between the platform and the building is a nightmarish dark mist, scaring Alex somehow.
[Death Duel initiated]
[Stage: Translucent Sky platform—Doorway to the Underworld]
[Special Rules: Falling off the platform will lead to immediate death.]
[Death Duel will start in 30 seconds.]
[Participants, prepare yourself.]
Soulmate!! Is Soulmate okay?!
I'm fine, Jewel. Let me deal with him. Quickly leave and help Menchi.
"What is this?!" Jason yells, completely shocked and panicked, still clutching the Leave card in his hand. "I said leave on! LEAVE ON! LEAVE ONNNNN!"
"Hehe, why would you already leave? It has just started.... Time for some payback," Alex says, cracking his knuckles.
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