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90% Arknights: The Final Reach / Chapter 17: Equal Ground

Chapter 17: Equal Ground

Paralysis properties? The bullet at Trombe's palm!?

"I also know that anything that happens to the Spectrum also affects the user aka the Spectra. So, you'll get paralysed along with your Spectrum, " The man walks towards me with his revolver held high. 

There was no haughtiness nor mockery in his tone. Only truth and honesty, unlike Hollow. Though, this is based on what I heard and felt. So, he might have the skill to hide animosity under a white smile but, I could not presume in that way too nor otherwise. 

"Be sure to calm yourself, I would like to see your spectrum in its last moments before I get to harvest. We wouldn't want a high rate of heartbeats, " Toxin said with a soothing voice. Each of his footsteps resonating at the same time as my heartbeats. 

He stops a metre far from me. Admiring the unmoving Trombe before aiming his revolver at my forehead once again. 

I grit my teeth as sweats trickle down onto my cheeks. 

This is risky because I am gambling with my life on the line. 

Though, I felt no fear because he was not entirely correct with his analysis. 

"If you were 100% correct, keyword, 'if', " I smug. Trombe reels its fist behind before thrusting out with vigour. 

"That couldn't-!" Toxin was silenced by Trombe's fist on his face mask. Which deepens by a split second. 

Trombe gives out its all while roaring with its loud head speaker. Its muscles bulging as if on the verge of bursting. 

"Your whole body is covered in a protective suit, except your head. It doesn't take long for me to figure out your weak spot, " I added as Trombe rushed forward with Toxin. It's fist still connecting with his fade. 

Trombe arcs its back before finishing the devastating blow. Pushing out its knuckles forward along with Toxin which is followed after a loud boom. 

Toxin was blown away across the narrow hallway. Landing down on the floor with a rough roll before crashing to a pile boxes as piles of dust spread out like smoke. 

"The bullet is at Trombe's right hand, which mine is already cut off. So, paralysis wouldn't work on me by logic and this evidence, " I lifted my handless right arm and pointed at Trombe. 

I am not sure if I should be proud or not about losing a hand. But ironically, being handless saved my life or otherwise, my heart would already be harvested. 

Also, it would be fortunate if Toxin died by Trombe's full blast punch. It drained a handful of my stamina. Though, I am sure he survived that. 

I just need to play it safe and take every chance I can get. Including playing dirty. 

"That was a surprise. A welcome one, more to add into my notes, " Toxin said while dusting off his armoured suit which glows with a green hue, along with his round visors. 

The dust around him settles down, revealing his gas mask which was twisted beyond words. Though, it was not broken. Not even cracks or scratches could be seen on it.  

"As I am a biotech scientist, everything I use is the product of my experiments. Such as this flexible gas mask, a tough one at that… built to counter Spectra, " He waves his hand and hits the few boxes behind him. Covering himself in more smokes of dust once again. 

Full alert, I concentrate on the smoke with Trombe as a shield. Paying attention to every little detail. 

Soon, two gunshots rang out as if they were shot simultaneously. 

The bullets soar through the air, but, not in a straight line. It aims towards the wall and ricochet upon contact, changing trajectory by each second like two wild swans dancing elegantly on a pond. 

I could stop one bullet, but not two!

If I can stop both. My left hand would be paralysed from catching one. So, it's risky to catch both. Though catching only one would let the other to end my life. I need a different solution to this.  

Which means, there could only be one option left…

Runaway!

I snap my fingers together as the sound waves envelop my whole body and Trombe's. 

Trombe wasted no time and rushed with energy before delivering storms of knuckles towards the wall nearby. Taking only a second to break a hole on it with few bangs. 

A bullet was a few inches far from my neck but Trombe managed to block it with a piece of the broken wall. Before grabbing me along into the other room while avoiding the second bullet in time.

"Again, as expected, a short-range power type Spectrum like your Trombe couldn't reach far from its user. Surely, you don't have any other methods to counter?" Toxin questioned before slamming himself against the wall. Bursting through it and entered the same room. 

Crap, in contrast with the hallway, the current room is much wider. So, there's more disadvantage here than the previous. Though I can use some objects to shield myself. 

With feeble attempt, Trombe reels its left arm while grabbing a chunk of the wall. Before arcing its body forward with the wall piece cutting through the air towards Toxin. 

Toxin held out opened palm and effortlessly crushed the incoming chunk into smaller pieces with his fingers. 

I narrowed my eyes at the scene, slowly digesting the thought of him crushing it. 

To be able to crush it from Trombe's throw… he might have the same strength as Trombe's. 

"Useless, useless. My suit enhancements are toe to toe with your Spectrum raw prowess, though, I have to use my natural eyes for precision, " He mutters the edge of his sentence but it was still audible due to my and Trombe's ability related to sound waves. 

So, my only advantage against him is precision? Then, I need to utilise that to the limit. 

"Before you get any funny ideas, I'll end it here. They once called me fast hands, but that sounded lame, " He said while reloading. Before setting his other palm on the revolver hammer. 

His suit glows with green hue once against from the back as he rapidly works on his firearm. 

In a few moments, 6 bullets were shot. Each with a different direction and ricochet upon contact with the wall. From what I quickly calculated, all of it would reach me in less than a second. 

The sight of it was grim. It seems impossible to break out of this situation. It would be easy to give up and die at this moment but, I would not give in because there's always a plan. 


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
VAJ VAJ

I'm sorry for the recent slow updates. It was due to me trying to find a part-time job these few days and good news though, I found one. So, which means I can get back to a constant 3 release per week. Anyways, stay safe and have the best of days.

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