My crows soared into the air, rapidly gaining height for a dive bomb.
I thought if I were quick to act, Id gain an advantagebut Tristan didnt slouch. He pulled out a jet-black pill from his pocket. Even as my feet pounded the pavent to get to him, he downed it.
Spiritual pressure crashed out in waves from Tristan. It beca hard to breathe as the very air swelled with power. Tristan had a horrible grin as his eyes burst into yellow. I had no clue what hed done, but I knew this needed to end quickly. I reached him a few steps later and tossed a fistflowing like molasses through the dense it. It was effortless for him to dodge. He followed through by steeping in and punching in the gut.
My back cracked against the concrete, and it was only followed by the sharp and dizzying pain of my head bashing against it too. Tristan took his ti walking my way. Begin, he called out, looking to the side.
I traced his eyes to his two lieutenants downing similar jet-black pills. One of them touched the arm of the Knight right afterbefore the girl let out a shriek, flung from the pier and zooming over the surface of the water. The other's jaw unhinged, and a thick curling crimson smoke spread towards the viceroy.
Tristan stopped a foot away, black veins running down his neck. Do you know what my Soul Ability is? His Manifested Soul grew more prominent; its endless swirling black slid between us and the fight breaking out at the end of the pier. His eyes flashed yellow once more.
What the fuck are ya doing? I tossed a fist at him, but he caught my wrist. His fingers dug in with the sa strength as the Knight launched from the pier.
I can see the future. Fifteen seconds to be exact. That is before I took that pill. Your Alchemist friend is amazing: a refugee from a Sect across the sea. All I needed for a pill of this caliber was the correct ingredientsand to supply him with proper motivations. While expensive, it was worth it. Those dimwits had no idea what they were sitting on. Tristan shrugged, cocking back his other fist and sending it into my torso. It hit like a truck; blood and spit flew from my mouth. I see further now. I nearly sank to the groundbut his grip on my arm kept sowhat up.
My head swam when a sudden caw pulled back. One of my crows swooped through the air and missed Tristan as he sidestepped the creature. He let my wrist go, which caused to stumble as I had to support my weight again.
Roo had spent copious amounts of effort to drill his training into . Hed driven through fatigue and complete ntal and physical exhaustion. Thanks to that, I could shift from the awkward position and lurch forward. I attempted a blow and directed my second crow to dive bomb, Tristan.
Tristan once more predicted my movent. His leg swept out and hit like a steel beamsmashing into my shin and knocking off my feet. At the sa ti, he ducked under a set of sharp talons. It only took him one single efficient movent to counter . His eyes filled with sadistic glee. Ive seen what happens here. First, your Captain dies, then the Viceroy dies, and the rest of your squad flees like rats as I toss your corpse into the water, he gave a small apologetic smile; his voice carried the sa weight and tone of a weather forecaster. There was a certainty there. If it's any consolation, they do manage to grab your brother when running. But dont worry, Ill hunt him down later.
This was predetermined. Tristan wasnt lying. I was fated to die here at his hands; those eyes of his had seen it. My heart ran overdrive. I looked to the dock. His lieutenant clashed with the Viceroythe woman kept conjuring ice swords from thin air, slicing at the crimson mist and preventing it from reaching her. But still, there were clear red welts and marks on her face and hands from where itd made contact. anwhile, Captain Atkins was attempting to make her way past the man who flung away the Knight, but he was having a hard ti staying out of his range.
And the Knight was still long gone.
What the fuckwhy?! Werent you obsessed with taking control? What the hell does this get you?!
Its not just about that. Every step Ive taken brought closer to my true goal. You assud wrongI dont want to control the gang. I want complete and utter domination over the future. This gang was a ans to that endbut any other gang will do. The Crimson Eagles are willing to bend to my will. I can whip them into whatever shape I want now that theyre broken. I would have preferred to slide a knife into the Brass King and take his spotId charted my path, but you always have a way of fucking things up. Tristan shook his head, hand going into his pocket.
Panic welled as he pulled out a knife. It was a small thing, only four inches long. But plenty enough to leave bleeding out on this pier. His callous eyes told the only difference between my corpse and now was only a matter of ti. Past the shadowy form of his Manifested Soul that blocked my squad from saving or the Captain, I saw Bruno. His hands flared into a roaring inferno as he tried to fight through the shadow.
This entire ti hed been trying to break through to save . But the Manifested Souls tendrils were lashing out like a whipleaving lines of blood and strips of missing flesh from my friend.
If I were going out, I wouldnt go out like a punk. I intended to make this bastard pay for the right to kill , even if it was a tiny bit. He said my friends escaped? Well, if he were going to make my death co true, Id make sure they escaped. Get Alex and run! I scread at the rest of the squad.
I jerked forward, my fingers wrapped around Tristans ankle. He reacted imdiately. Itd be childs play to kick it free and then follow through with a kick to my face.
It would be if Id let things be. But I called upon Fickle Fatesparks of red showered from our point of contact.
His foot still got free and kicked . But it threw him off balance. His arms went out to maintain his position, but the timing of my crow was impeccable. Tristan narrowly dodged to the sidehis knife jabbed through the air with surprising speed and speared my crow.
But the knife caught with the montum of my slain Soultearing the weapon from his grasp as the crow slamd into the concrete pier. Sparks of blue and red burst from it as I shuddered and tried to cope with the disorientation.
However, the knife was on the ground.
I looked at him, intending to throw out one last spiteful insult. But the words caught in my throat. He stood still, his face a pallid white, just like at the park. His eyes flashed with yellow again as he activated his Soul Ability. As it ended, he looked at with a severe frown.
He didnt hesitate further and dropped a knee into my stomach as his hands stretched out towards my throat. In desperation, I called Fickle Fate againa hand brushing against my leg. Fickle Fate fucked . It flared red, and I thought Id sealed my fate. His knee compressed my diaphragm, causing the air to gush out of , his hands tight and like iron wrapped around
He slamd the back of my head against the pier, and stars swam through my vision. His eyes flickered yellow once again, alarm on his face. Stay still and die! His voice went hoarse.
Fuck him. I tried to pry his hands free, but the grip was too tight. My hair grew warm and wet from the lacerated back of my head.
My vision was going black from a lack of oxygen, but my hands flashed red as I desperately used everything in to survive. Therethe knife was close enoughI let go of him and stretched, grabbing the discarded knife and driving it into his arm. Tristan scread and jumped off .
But he wasnt my only target. As I forced myself to my feetI turned to look at my last crow; itd reached Captain Atkinsflashing blue at the end of the pier as it made contact with her. Tristans eyes went wide. Captain Atkins made a break for it around the flinging Lieutenanther violet ribbon tricking him into overextending as she stepped past. The ribbon snapped forward and wrapped around the mist users neck in an instant.
No! Tristan scread, forgetting about . The fucker started to run down the pierto my horror, right in Alexs direction. His Manifested Soul flowed behind him as he rushed to intrude on the fight and threw Bruno to the side.
I didnt understand what had changed. Why had he flown into a sudden panic? My chest hurt, and weariness practically bled from my bones. But I intended to offer the Captain whatever I could give. I felt surprised to still be alive at this pointthe intent of the crow flying to her had been one last Fuck you for Tristan.
Tristan reached the fighting as his Lieutenant sunk to the ground. Mist crowded around his neck, but he seed unable to do anything about the ribbon. I attempted to get my last crow out of there to find a better anglebut one of the dark tendrils from Tristans Manifested Soul snapped into the air and caught it. It burst into a shower of red and blue sparks. A wave of dizziness blood in ; I was about to collapseBruno reached and held up by my shoulder.
Luca, we need to leave! Kayson yelled out, joining us. Now that Tristans shadow had gotten out of the way from blocking my squad, they had free reign to move to my position.
Tristan laid into both the Viceroy and the Captain. He paid no attention as one of his Lieutenant convulsed on the ground. The tide shifted quickly, the wounded Viceroy and Atkins put up a good fight, but neither were able to handle Tristan. Tristan focused his efforts on Atkins, dodging her ribbon with ease as he pushed her towards his remaining Lieutenant.
Behind them was Alex, his eyes wide as my brother inched towards the water.
I didnt need my training with Roo to know this fight was going to end in a bad way. Pumped up on drugs, Tristans overpowered ability gave him too vast of an edge for the Captain or the Viceroy to counter.
Bruno kept his eyes on the fight. Blood flowing like a river from the strip of removed skin on his face.
Alex, I said. We gotta save Alex; we also cant let that fucker get out of here. I dont know what hell do, but hell co after my familyor you all. I looked at Bruno. We need to save my brother. Are ya in this with , big guy?
If we die, we die in glorious combat! There is no other end for n like us. Bruno roared with laughter, helping press forward one lumbering step at a ti. There were yells behind us as we moved closer to the jaws of death.
Dumbasses! Youre not going alone! No fucking way! Eve ran up our side; she scowled and squeezed her fists.
N-no ones going to die, Suzaki was behind usa flush of healing ran over as that halo of his wrapped around my head and eased the pain. I turned to see Kayson at the edge, indecision on his face and a pale cast to his expression.
Fine. We go together, as a squad. Lets save Lucas brother and then take this bastard out.
Reviews
All reviews (0)