Chapter 16: Toxin
3rd POV
"Elos! Dodge it! Dodge the bullet!" A teenager touching the television's screen. An action figure of the Trombe could be seen in her palm.
"Quiet down kid, or you would ruin the tension, " A bystander said with a frown. As other people besides him slightly nod to his word while keeping their eyes on the television in the electronic store.
"Ok…, " The teenager quietly replies and slumps her shoulders. Taking a step away from it.
"Look!" One of the people in the mass shouted. Pointing his finger to the screen.
The small crowd in the store, including the workers, stood frozen in awe. The teenager's eyes widened at the scene as her face lit up, along with a young woman.
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Elos's POV
I focus on the bullet,
The adrenaline accelerated my mind further than the norm,
My ears deafen,
Hearing only the loud beatings of my heart
I took a deep breath as my expression twists in horror,
The fear of death rose in the face of danger,
Though, I only need to overcome it to survive,
And, wake up.
I halt my breath and mash my teeth together. My eyes narrow in confidence.
The key to all of this is you, Trombe!
Small ripples of sound waves rip the air. A layer of blue liquid aura envelops my whole body.
A tough right hand protruded out of the sound waves in blinding speed. The bullet stopped an inch away from my forehead, caught in between Trombe's thumb and index finger.
The sweats flooding from my face wets my torso as I exhale and control my breathing.
The sounds waves extend and phases through the air before fading away. Leaving behind a fully manifested Trombe by my side.
"Bravo, bravo! Worry not, this isn't a form of mockery. This is indeed genuine but people tend to misunderstand me, shame, " The man in the suit said with congrats.
His face was covered with a black gas mask. So, I could not decide if his words are real or not without seeing his expression.
Despite his 'friendly' words, this man aimed to kill. So, It is confusing to either try to keep up with his 'friendliness' or keep silent. It has been a while since I had some proper talk. Though, I prefer without any weapons in a conversation.
"There's no need for that. You already have shown 'genuine' in the form of this bullet, " I replied as Trombe held out the glinting bullet.
"As expected of an 'A' grade Spectra. I have studied your race but it cost me a lot of money. Though, wealth isn't a problem for me, " He flashes a small notebook titled 'Spectra records' from underneath his armour.
There could be some info about myself in it too. But, I have to get my hands on it first. And, there are some changes that he might be bluffing to get me worked up.
"The notebook. Is it real?" I questioned while gritting my teeth to suppress the pain from the corrosive acid.
"I hate it when people doubt me but, it can't be helped since you had amnesia. Hmm, let's see… 'The medium for the manifestation of a Spectrum is their heart', " The man read from the book before closing it back.
So, manifestations like Trombe called a Spectrum? But, I am not convinced. Fact is likely applied to all Spectra including myself.
"You look clueless right now. Oh yeah, amnesia. I might know more about your race than you. Something to celebrate, I guess? But, it doesn't seem fair, " He mutters the last words before holding his chin.
"If so, I guess there's something valuable that I, a Spectra, which you hold dear and decided to kill me to obtain, " I voiced out my suspicions.
Any event, there is always a form of value which some people would want to obtain. This also applies to this death game. So, there is something that the participants are chasing after.
Then, why am I involved in this sickening game? Is it just for someone's entertainment? Or, everyone's enjoyment? I have been thinking about it for a while. The worst-case… I do not want to imagine it.
The man in the modern suit paused with his words. He flips the mouth part of his gas mask and 6 bullets slip out in between his lips, one by one. Each one of it enters the revolver as he locks it.
"You can call me Toxin. I'm reluctant to take others' lives, but this is a must for my biotechnology research. Elos Strike, yes, I know your full name and you should know… everyone in this death game is after your heart because—, " The round glasses of his gas mask shines under the yellow light bulb.
Trombe quickly shifts itself acting as a shield for me. Balling its fists tightly and prepares itself for the worse. Intimidating any incoming danger that fate can throw at it.
"—it is a source of great power. When one obtains it, he or she could also manifest their spectrum, especially from an 'A' grade. Also, You're one of the few survivors of your race, " He added, spinning the can of his revolver before pointing it at me again.
One… of the few? Spectra race is on the verge of extinction? What kind of shit have I got involved with, in the past?
So many questions, so little time. I curse reality.
"Elos, put on a fierce mask of yourself and fight once again. If I win, I'll harvest your heart. Otherwise, you'll get bits of your answers in my notebook, " He continued while pulling the hammer of his revolver.
"I see, you're a man of equivalent exchange. Ironically, it was quite pleasant talking to you, despite we're going at each other's neck. "
Toxin suppressed a smile and slightly chuckled before closing the bottom part of his mask, "We would have been friends if it weren't for the current circumstances… Have I mentioned that the bullet you caught has paralysis properties?"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone