Chapitre 45: CHAPTER 46: MEETING AN OLD FRIEND
Riku materialized from the shadows, his dual pistols roaring to life in the dimly lit underground parking lot. The guards had little time to react as bullets sprayed the area, plunging them into chaos.
Under the shroud of darkness, Riku's deadly precision became evident. With every pull of the trigger, he left a trail of death and destruction. In mere seconds, three guards lay lifeless, and four more were nursing wounds.
Two guards scrambled to protect their target, struggling to get him into his car, their desperation evident. The cacophony of gunfire echoed through the confined space, forcing Riku to seek cover momentarily.
"Nathan! they're heading your way!"
Riku's voice crackled urgently over the radio as he tried to return fire.
But the longer he remained stationary, the more the enemy honed in on his location. Bullets chewed through the column he hid behind, threatening to expose him.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Riku darted to the side, continuing to fire, buying himself precious moments.
Meanwhile, another group of guards broke off from their objective, their eyes locked on the getaway vehicle and the target within. Yet, just before they reached their destination, an unsettling realization seemed to dawn upon them. They abruptly changed course, retreating moments before entering the vehicle.
As they retreated, Nathan pressed a button concealed on his person. Instantly, the target's getaway car erupted in a fiery explosion, the shockwave rattling the entire underground parking lot.
The blast sent the target and his retinue of guards hurtling through the air. They lay disoriented on the ground, ears ringing, vision blurred, struggling to make sense of the chaotic inferno that had engulfed them.
But before they could regain their bearings, the smoke and debris were cleaved by an unexpected force. A small, crest-shaped shield cut through the haze, smashing into the guards' faces one by one.
Nathan, with a casual yet deadly swing of his shield, incapacitated the guards surrounding the target. His movements were fluid, his precision unmatched, as if he were an unstoppable force.
"Oii! Lana! I'm still waiting for that back up!"
Riku, feeling like he was a little overwhelmed, tried to get some help.
Lana, clutching her bleeding shoulder, struggled to breathe. The sight of her own blood sent her spiraling into panic. Her skin flushed red, her vision blurred, and her breaths came in uneven gasps.
"Lana! Lana!"
Riku's voice pleaded over the radio, but it seemed she was already incapacitated.
Riku cursed under his breath, unable to spare more time for Lana as the car he had sought refuge behind was now ablaze. With grim determination, he dashed to a new hiding spot while continuing to exchange fire with the guards.
However, before Riku could make sense of the rapidly changing situation, Lana, seemingly out of nowhere, had closed in on the guards. Almost at point-blank range, she loosed an arrow, striking a guard's head with deadly precision.
The guard's eyes rolled back as his body was dragged aside by the sheer force behind the arrow. The dead guard knocked the others off balance and almost instantaneously the other guards who took notice saw that the arrow girl was basically right next to them.
Their attempts to aim at Lana were futile, as another arrow found its mark in their hearts before they could react. In a matter of seconds, Lana singlehandedly eliminated the entire team of guards, leaving Riku awestruck.
Riku watched Lana, his surprise mingled with concern. She appeared to be possessed by an alter personality, a force as deadly as it was mysterious.
Before Riku could delve deeper into Lana's condition, Nathan approached, tossing a body on the ground.
"Here. He's alive, just like you wanted."
The man was a little groggy from the explosion but when Riku looked at him he nodded in approval.
"This is definitely him."
The target, groggy but conscious, met Riku's gaze. "This is definitely him," Riku confirmed, feeling a malevolent satisfaction coursing through him. Riku instructed the rest of them to bound the target.
"Let me out of here!"
The man came to, and started ordering. Riku looked at the target and a sinister smile appeared on his face.
"Nice to see you again, Mr Lick."
The man's eyes opened wide hearing that name. The closer he looked at Riku the more familiar he became.
"But… But you're supposed to be rotting away in a maximum security prison!"
Riku's sinister smile widened.
"After you testified against me, I told you that not even God could save you."
With a swift backhanded strike, Riku savagely smacked the man's face, the impact turning his skin black and blue.
The room was filled with tension, the air thick with impending violence.
"You will suffer today, just like your boss Grengy."
The mention of Grengy's name sent shivers down the man's spine. After testifying against Riku, Grengy had lived a tortured existence, eventually begging for a medical release, which was denied. In the end, he had taken his own life, unable to bear the torment.
Riku reveled in the moment, eager to exact his revenge. But before he could unleash his torment, a slow, mocking clap echoed through the parking lot.
[Clap] [Clap] [Clap]
"Not bad young ones."
Startled, the trio turned to find a menacing figure emerging from the shadows. The man was colossal, wearing a wolf-like mask that concealed his features, a cloak billowing around him.
From the depths of his oversized coat, he tossed a ball toward them. The ball rolled to a stop at their feet, and as they gazed upon it, a gruesome realization dawned.
It was the severed head of a student. The face was contorted in shock and terror, and there was no mistaking it – it was Natasha's head.
The trio stood frozen in horror, their minds struggling to process the gruesome sight before them.
Natasha, their comrade, now reduced to a severed head, served as a gruesome reminder of the merciless force that confronted them.
As they stared at the macabre trophy, dread washed over them.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone