Kapitel 6: Judgment Day Is Mine

"Hey, can you stand? I'll help you." Diana, finally getting Colgate to his feet, glared at Hao's fleeing figure and cursed audibly. "Damn him! He's not getting away this time!" she was hella pissed off.

"Right." Colgate nodded, still a bit shaken but ready to resume the chase.

"Where are you my precious? Show yourself." As Hao ventured further down the drain, he could feel the magical energy of the X-Class sword growing stronger, guiding him towards his prize.

Behind him, Diana and Colgate pursued relentlessly, the thrilling chase filled with near-misses, daring leaps, and verbal confrontations.

Hao sprinted alongside the drain like a train while his Vibe Sense was meticulously scanning the open interior for the priceless artefact. His Vibe Edge emitted delicate vibrations that danced and bounced off the surroundings, painting a picture of the world in brilliant shades of blue.

"Where is it? I know it came through here," he questioned under his breath. An inexplicable feeling tugged at him, but he couldn't quite grasp the source of the sensation. His bewilderment deepened as he continued to search.

Directing his senses to his rear, Hao caught sight of Colgate and Diana, who were struggling to keep up. Their movements were hampered due to the effects of the blast from the crashing aircraft. The explosion had sent a shockwave rippling through the area, which left the two Imperial Hounds disoriented.

"Huh? Is that what I think it is?" Suddenly, Hao's Vibe Sense picked up something. The beating blue frequency painted the size and shape of the X-Class sword, moving with the sludge currents beneath a tunnel. "I better get to it quickly before it's lost forever," he sprang ahead, increasing his pace to retrieve the precious weapon.

Seconds later, Hao reached the tunnel. He wasted no time plunging his hand into the filthy sludge until he grasped the hilt of the sword. "Yes, I've got it!" Triumph filled him as he pulled Judgment Day from its murky hiding place. But his moment of joy was interrupted by a shout from behind.

"Vee!"

"Huh?" Without looking back, he felt Colgate and Diana approaching slowly.

"Moving a bit slow there, eh? Looking for this?" Hao taunted, brandishing Judgment Day with a smug grin. His confidence, however, left him vulnerable. From the outer range of his Vibe Sense, he caught a flash of movement. WHOOSH! The last remaining Pursuer droid lunged at him with its razor-sharp projectile aimed squarely at his chest.

"Oh, blast it!" Hao's shock was palpable as he did his best to evade the deadly strike. "I forgot that this rust bucket was still on my tail. I better take care of it quickly before those two get here." Steeling himself, he stared down the Pursuer who landed at the opposite side of the drain, his grip on Judgment Day tightening, for he wasn't about to let it be snatched from him again.

A tense silence hung in the atmosphere as the stage was set for the next epic confrontation. Hao gave Judgment Day one last glance, admiring its sleek and deadly form before he secured it at his rear out of reach.

He was intently staring down the Pursuer. "I'll make this quick," he told the droid, portraying a cool air of masculine confidence.

A second later, the Pursuer made the first move. The battle erupted in a whirlwind of swift, calculated movements, metal striking metal in a dazzling symphony of chaos. Hao danced around the Pursuer droid's relentless attacks, his Vibe Edge granting him unparalleled insight into each of the deadly strikes the machine unleashed. For every strike the droid launched, Hao countered with a precision that showcased his masterful control over his sword.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fight became more intense. The two combatants appeared to blur together, their forms melding into a single entity of steel and fury. Hao's Vibe Edge roared with energy, the sword's vibrations guiding him through the maelstrom of slashes and parries. Then, in a split second, Hao unleashed his Quick Draw technique, a lightning-fast slash that seemed to bend time and space itself.

Clunk!

The Pursuer droid, caught off guard by the sudden attack, was sliced cleanly in half, the two halves sputtering and sparking as they separated. Hao leapt back, next, the droid's internal components were laid bare, a chaotic mesh of metal and circuits. The split machine emitted a final, pitiful whir as it succumbed to its fate, falling apart and plummeting into the murky depths of the drain's sludge below.

"Eh, rust in pieces," Hao quipped, his expression was one of smug satisfaction. "I better get my butt out of here." Surveying the area, he spotted a stairway at the side leading up to the main street.

A Sword-Glider zoomed by. Seizing the opportunity, he used Night Tamer to launch himself onto the glider, hitching a ride with the startled driver.

"Huh! Where the hell did you come from mate?" The man gaped at Hao's abrupt hijacking of his vessel, but Hao tossed him some Blade Tokens as compensation, eliciting a nod of understanding from the driver.

"Dammit!" Colgate was miffed. He and Diana watched from below, bitterness and pain painted on their faces. While struggling to catch their breath, Colgate noticed a trickle of blood on his arm.

"We need to get that look at right away." Said Diana.

Despite her concern, Colgate brushed off her inquiries about his health. "I'm fine," he grunted, trying to maintain a macho facade.

"Really?" Diana scowled, warning him not to let his pride get in the way of his well-being. "Vee escaped, so what now?" Diana asked with a bit of worriedness on her countenance. Her fears set in as she considered the consequences of their failure.

"We'll report what happened here to the Chief Curator," Colgate replied, then shortly, his gaze began sweeping over the gathering crowd of curious residents. "Let's get out of here before the OSD shows up and becomes a pain in the ass. We'll check if Coulson is still kicking on the way back."

"He should be fine, or maybe not." Diana seconded guess herself as she spied at the sludge in the drain. "The OSD is sure to seek us out later." They quickly rescued Coulson and made their presence scarce from the Wranglers District.

The OSD, or Optimum Security Division, was an elite law enforcement agency in Crossblades. Tasked with maintaining order and investigating high-profile cases, they were a formidable presence in the city. Colgate and Diana knew that if the OSD became involved, their mission would become even more complicated, and their failure would be scrutinized with unforgiving intensity.