The massive beast they disputed over lay sprawled across the war-torn street, with its severed head thrown several ters from its body. Smoke rose from burning vehicles scattered among the debris, while damaged multi-story buildings lood on both sides of the road.
It had been an intense battle, and considering that the leader of the Weeping Dragons faction had shown up, there was no mistaking it, this had been an S-class level threat that the gathered Visors had just faced.
Liam stood silently behind Kent, observing as tensions began to mount between the two factions. Kent, stepped forward to address the mbers of both factions. "From what I was briefed," he began, "both factions arrived at the breach simultaneously and agreed to fight the monster together, splitting the rewards equally. So what’s the problem?"
President Clive crossed his arms, a smug grin spreading across his face as he addressed Kent directly. "As you can see, Kent, we ca with our best, and in a matter of minutes, my boys and I struck the killing blow." He gestured dismissively toward the White Hunters’ visors. "They did nothing but get in the way and get themselves injured."
Kent’s eyes darted to the White Hunters’ side, where he noticed one of their A-tier visors clutching his torso, clearly favoring an injury sustained during the battle.
Tim, the White Hunters’ team leader, stepped forward with barely contained anger. "Would you deny my active involvent? We had an agreent, President Clive!"
One of Clive’s S-tier subordinates suddenly interjected with a sneer, "Bro, fuck you and your agreent! We’re keeping all of that shit!" The other Weeping Dragons voices rose in support, creating a chorus of agreent.
Kent raised his hand for silence before speaking. "President Clive," Kent said firmly, "I can see they did their fair share of the work. I suggest you honor the agreent, or have you forgotten what faction they represent?"
Clive’s grin widened as he looked down at Kent. "Listen, I’m not afraid of Selene or Nacht. Not everyone’s gonna act like a pussy when they hear White Hunters."
From his position behind the group, Liam observed the power dynamics at play. Clive was making a bold show, but the only reason he had the audacity to do so was because it was public knowledge that the White Hunters’ main team had left the state. These factions and their top visors were like celebrities as their movents were constantly tracked by the dia.
The third-rate White Hunters team present was clearly outnumbered and outclassed against the Weeping Dragons. Besides the S-tier visors backing Clive, the faction president himself was noticeably stronger than a regular S-tier.
"You realize they won’t be out of state for long?" Kent asked pointedly. This was the exact question forming in Liam’s mind. Surely Clive understood that reneging on the agreent would create long-term problems. Was the S-class monster’s value really worth the inevitable retaliation?
Clive’s grin never wavered. "I’ll take my chances." At that mont, a Weeping Dragons cleanup crew van pulled up to the scene.
"Just in ti," Clive said with satisfaction. He then turned back to Tim with renewed arrogance. "You know, I was considering throwing you guys a bone, maybe the monster’s limbs. But I’ve changed my mind. Fuck you guys, fuck Selene, fuck the White Hunters. We beat the monster fair and square, and we’re keeping what’s ours."
Tim’s grip tightened around his steel bat with this fury contorting his features. As Clive began walking toward his cleanup crew, who were already stepping out of their vehicle, Kent raised his hand authoritatively. "Stop right there!" Clive spun around just as Kent declared, "USOV will be taking possession of the body until both factions reach an agreent." His eyes locked with Clive’s, unwavering.
"Don’t you dare!" Clive roared, his energy erupting outward as he stomped forward. The concrete cracked beneath his foot, and his subordinates imdiately moved to support him. Tim, standing nearby, stepped closer to Kent’s side.
While he didn’t like Kent’s current decision on how best to handle the matter, it was preferable to Clive’s outright theft. At least this way, both parties would either get sothing or nothing, rather than being completely cheated.
The tension reached a breaking point, and Clive glanced at his cleanup crew and nodded. Despite Kent’s orders, the frightened workers began rushing toward the beast’s corpse, but in that instant, Liam’s figure materialized above the monster’s body in a burst of speed. "I suggest you turn back," he warned the approaching cleanup crew.
Clive whirled around, his eyes widening in shock. "What?!"
With his rage consuming him, Clive launched himself at Liam with blinding speed, his massive fist aid at Liam’s torso. But as his punch was about to connect, Liam simply raised his left palm to et it, effectively stopping Clive’s attack dead in its tracks.
The collision between fist and palm created a shockwave that rippled outward, kicking up debris flying in all directions, and sending everyone’s clothes flaring up. The cleanup crew mbers near the blast were thrown backward by the sheer force of the impact.
For a split second, Clive stared in disbelief at his stopped fist, and in that mont of shock, Liam’s right hand shot forward, connecting with the faction president’s torso and sending him hurtling backward, like a missile, through the air.
The clustered visors scattered as Clive’s body flew past them, smashing into his own cleanup van with trendous force. The vehicle nearly toppled over before righting itself, with Clive’s body leaving a deep impression in its side as he slumped to the ground. Every eye turned from the crumpled form of the faction leader back to Liam, who stood with an expressionless face above the monster’s corpse.
The shock was written across their faces and even for the seasoned fighters, this wasn’t power one ca across everyday. Kent however wasn’t as surprised, as he had grown accustod to Liam’s capabilities, though even he now understood more clearly how the young man had been able to defeat Ray. Liam had transcended the S-tier entirely.
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