Oh shi–
There was no denying this one.
I had been had.
Seeing the massively wide, carpet-like expansion made of the same silvery hue that defined the Ta energy, my bones trembled and my skin tingled, quivering along with the rhythm of my shivering brain.
The large blanket of Ta energy hovered just above my head. And as it did, it radiated a heat so immense that an utterly displeasing ache began banging against my skull as a result of the relentless radiation on my scalp.
Funny thing was that it was still inches away from the top of my head. But still, the immense heat it radiated and the disastrous speed with which it descended toward me made my jaw quiver.
The spiff's gotten me. There's no way to run because of the sheer size of the thing. It'll wrap around me no matter how I try to run. And besides, the speed it's moving with…
Wait.
My shrunken pupils enlarged as I narrowed my eyes, my lips widening in the same tempo.
The slowly encroaching feeling of dread that tried to buckle my heart and spine slowly began to melt as I stood confidently on the spiff's arm, staring straight at the incoming blanket.
My coat fluttered as the heat waves of the silvery doused energy continuously blew against me.
That's it.
Slowly, I raised my right hand and outstretched my palm toward the direction of the ongoing battle below the staircase. The raw, guttural and pain-painted screams of both the Orned and Cyclo executives alike had dwindled.
Then, I took my vision off the incoming blanket, staring straight at the blue-blooded spiff's four eyes with the same audacious smirk plastered on my lips. The same one that irritated it.
This time, all of its yellowish eyeballs were fixated on me.
Then, those eyeballs traced the direction of my outstretched palm.
As Its eyes found me once again, Its mouth moved, and it spoke,
—"Smart move."—
Why, yes, of course.
I immediately clenched my outstretched right palm. And in the same motion, I withdrew my entire right hand.
Tzzzzzs–!!!!
A warm, blue streak of light tore through the air immediately, precisely streaming past the exact area my once outstretched palm had hovered.
I knew he'd never take his eyes off this battle even while fighting.
The blue streak was a compressed plasma ray that had been released from Mangé's pistol.
The ray effectively pierced and, almost immediately, dissolved the Ta blanket.
My heaved chest lightened, falling as I let out a very much needed exhale.
—"So,"— The spiff uttered, his four eyes moved simultaneously, and once again found the source of the plasma pistol. —"HE is the infamous strong wall of Cyclo, and the best human shooter in the backlands. I have seen him on a few occasions…"—
—"Hawk Eyes."—
I furrowed my brows.
This thing talks too much.
I crouched immediately, letting the surging and burgeoning strength fester within my calves as they bulged.
I leaped from Its right arm, black bangs whipping against my forehead as I streamed through the air, making my way toward Its head with my right fist clenched, drawn toward my waist. Ready to attack.
I knew my right fist got blistered that morning. But still, my right fist was my favorite asset. It often.. packed more punch than my left.
And so, I decided. It would probably sting a little, but the hit would be so worth it.
Briefly distracted by the internal musings of the satisfaction I'd feel when my punch finally landed on that grotesque face, I failed to detect the movement of the spiff's left limb as it hurled, making Its way toward my stomach.
And the moment I noticed it,
Great.
I was already moving at a high speed, making it impossible for me to evade mid-air. And besides, I was already just a few inches away from Its head.
Goddamn thing wouldn't just let me get a good punch in.
I gritted my teeth immediately, bracing for the inevitable impact.
Crack–!
A brain-shocking pain reverberated through my spine to my entire body as my right ribs — the area of the spiff's congealed left net attack — cracked.
Ouch.
The moment it's net connected with my ribs, the impact of the blow sent me flying.
My body felt light at that moment. Almost like paper being carried by the wind as the force of Its blow pushed me backward.
And it seemed like the spiff still wasn't done as my strained gaze, amid the cloudy haze that accompanied the punch, managed to catch the sight of the blue-blooded spiff leaping.
That monstrously large thing was leaping!
Shit. Get it together, Stella. Are you going to let yourself get beaten up by this failed personification of an under-bed monster?
I moved, twisting my waist to recalibrate the posture of my landing.
But it was too late.
The spiff was already right in front of me as It drew its right hand toward its head.
It struck, the bladed edge slowly descending to cleave me in half.
Then, in that same moment, a blue plasma ray streamed once again.
This time, the ray actively hit and bounced on the gleaming blade, leaving faint trails of smoke as it connected.
It shook the spiff slightly. Just slightly.
But that small distraction gave just enough time for me to get my feet on the ground, skidding on the ground until I finally found my balance and retreated backward immediately. To plan my next move.
Crat–!
Wild sparks flew as the loud sound that the spiff's blade made on impact with the ground of the area I once was, echoed.
I gulped. The ground had been cleaved cleanly.
That could've been me.
"This makes it the second time I've saved your skin today, Stel." A belatedly familiar voice rang out.
My lips widened.
"What are friends for?" I calmly responded.
"Are you being serious? I'm supposed to be the one saying that."
I turned my neck left, guiding my sight toward the direction of Mangé's voice.
There he was, crouched and perched on the metal stair rail. He held his pistol tight with his right hand. His left hand, like most other parts of his body, was bloodied.
Simultaneously, his green eyes found mine. They glowed with a faint light of growing mischief as his lips widened. Then, he turned both his neck and his gaze away from me, toward the large, blue-blooded spiff.
"You owe me one." He said, voice oozing with a deadly but calm feeling that felt like a crossbreed between malice and excitement.
Finally fought off the nervousness, I see.
I deliberately avoided responding to him, and instead, I asked him a question. "Just like old times?" My voice was low and tender in a strangely awkward way.
As he heard me, a soft scoff broke out of his lips as he slowly stood up, standing straight on the metal rails.
"Just like old times," He replied. "But Stel, there's something I don't understand,"
Mangé grunted as he jumped down from the rail, slowly but menacingly walking toward the blue-blooded spiff.
The spiff calmly watched Mangé's every movement, Its right blade still firmly planted on the ground.
Mangé pointed to the spiff with his free thumb.
"This guy here isn't even the leader of the Cyclo gang. He's a mere executive, albeit a lead executive. But even with that, I see no reason why you should be struggling against him. I am quite disappointed, I must say…"
Yeah, go ahead and fight It then.
"It's 'It'. They have no gender, remember?" I quickly reprimanded. Couldn't stand by and watch a spiff being regarded as a human would be.
"Yes, 'It'." Mangé corrected himself. He now stood face-to-face with the spiff whose very carriage and countenance screamed of exhaustion.
—"Hawk Eyes."— The spiff's thick, low and synchronized voice echoed, accompanied by that same growl it gave me earlier.
Seemed like the growl was a compulsory greeting at this point.
Mangé's posture never wavered as he released his Te pressure. And as a result, a calm, familiar wave subtly washed over me.
A Te of enviable quality.
Seeing the spiff's now attaching and unattaching nets, I assumed Mangé's Te was most probably heavily pressing down on the spiff.
He should be careful with that thing. Its nets are as strong as metal…
Haha.
I won't tell him that.
"It's 'Sir Mangé' to you," Mangé's low voice echoed as he declared with a tone soaked with unfiltered malice. "Runt."