บท 9: For My Brother
Luke's mocking laughter echoed through the mall, but Jennifer stood undeterred, her newly transformed figure emanating power and confidence. "You?! YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME?" he taunted, lunging forward with a fist aimed directly at her.
Jennifer's reaction was swift and precise. With a graceful leap, she easily dodged his attack, her bat-like wings unfurling behind her. She hovered in the air for a moment before launching a powerful kick that sent Luke stumbling back. The force of her kick resonated through the room, causing several of the hybrids to pause in their tracks.
Luke's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "You'll regret that!" he roared, charging at her again with renewed ferocity. But Jennifer was already in motion. She took to the air, her wings flapping powerfully as she maneuvered around him with ease. Her movements were fluid and graceful, like a dancer in the sky, each motion calculated and precise.
As Luke swung at her again, Jennifer flipped mid-air, avoiding his attack with the agility of a true ringmaster. She darted around him, her wings creating a gust of wind that disoriented her opponent. Luke growled in frustration, trying to keep up with her rapid movements.
Jennifer then unleashed a powerful screech, the sound reverberating through the mall like a sonic wave. Luke clutched his ears in pain, his face contorting in agony as the high-pitched scream disoriented him further.
"Whoa, Mister Ringmaster, your girlfriend is crazy strong. To have such great control over the power of the bat, that's insane," Cheese remarked, his eyes wide with admiration.
"You're right, she is seriously powerful…" Arata replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
"So you don't deny she is your girlfriend?" Cheese teased.
"Cheese, that's your name, right?" Arata asked, narrowing his eyes at the cat.
Cheese nodded, grinning.
"Don't meddle in my business, you stupid cat," Arata retorted, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"Oh, are you getting embarrassed?" Cheese continued to prod as Jennifer, in her Bat ringmaster form, continued to dominate the battlefield.
"I AM NOT!" Arata yelled, his voice echoing through the mall.
Cheese chuckled, shaking his head. "She's something else."
As they watched, Jennifer's fight with Luke grew more intense. She moved with incredible speed and precision, her bat-like wings giving her an aerial advantage. With each dodge, punch, and kick, she forced Luke further back. Her screeching screams, now amplified by her transformation, sent shockwaves that disoriented and weakened her opponent.
"CAN YOU GUYS GET THE PEOPLE OUT OF HERE?! I NEED TO FINISH HIM!" Jennifer's voice, filled with authority, cut through the chaos.
"Well…She's…scary…" Cheese admitted, shivering slightly.
"She was always bossy." Arata smiled fondly before turning to help evacuate the humans who had reverted from hybrid form.
The mall doors opened on their own, and Arata saw Cheese at the control panel. "He closed the door because he knew that if those hybrids heard us, they'd kill us," Cheese explained. "Even though I can survive, I also needed to protect your girlfriend, so I was holding back."
"Don't call her that," Arata muttered as they moved people to safety, one by one.
Inside the mall, the fight between Jennifer and Luke raged on. Jennifer's movements were a blur of speed and power. Luke, though strong, was no match for her relentless assault. She dodged his attacks with ease, her agility and precision making her seem untouchable.
"Time to end this," Jennifer declared, her voice resolute. She began to gather energy around her body, the air crackling with power.
"For the people who died because of you," Jennifer said, dodging another of Luke's wild swings.
"For everyone that has suffered because of you," she continued, sidestepping another attack.
"For the people who saved me," she added, her voice growing stronger.
"For my family…" Jennifer's tone was laced with deep sorrow and anger as she dodged yet another of Luke's blows.
"And finally, for my brother who YOU MADE ME KILL!!!!" Jennifer's voice thundered, the pain and fury in her words palpable. Under her visor, her eyes burned with determination.
Jennifer summoned all her energy, focusing it into a single point. "Punisher's End!" she shouted. In an instant, she appeared behind Luke, her speed almost supernatural.
"What the—" Luke barely had time to react before Jennifer snapped her fingers. A dark ball of energy enveloped him, its purifying power seeping into his very being. His Undergrounder powers began to fade, and he started to revert to his human form.
"What did you do to me?!" Luke screamed in anger and fear.
"You have been purified," Jennifer stated, her voice cold and unyielding.
"That's a crazy power… To purify an Undergrounder… No wonder the Queen wanted this power," Cheese marveled, his eyes wide with awe.
"I WILL KILL YOU ALL!!!!" Luke, now fully human but still driven by rage, charged at Arata.
"ARATA!" Jennifer screamed, her heart pounding as she ran after Luke.
"Jenny, he's in his normal form. I'll be fine," Arata reassured her. He met Luke's charge head-on, delivering a powerful punch to his stomach. The force of the blow knocked Luke out cold, his body crumpling to the ground.
Jennifer landed gracefully beside Arata, her bat wings folding behind her. The battle's strain finally released its grip, and fatigue overwhelmed her. She stumbled, but Arata caught her in his arms. "I got you, Jenny," he said softly, his voice a blend of relief and concern. The cute bat, now named Vamby, fluttered onto Arata's shoulder, its small wings creating a gentle breeze.
"Aru... It's finally over..." Jennifer murmured, her voice barely a whisper as exhaustion pulled her into sleep.
Arata held her close, feeling the weight of their ordeal dissipate. He looked at Vamby, who returned his gaze with a knowing expression before turning its attention to Cheese. The cat-like hybrid whistled, a sound that seemed to convey volumes in its simplicity.
Arata, picking up on the unspoken communication, asked, "What are you going to do now?"
Cheese stretched lazily, his demeanor light but his eyes sharp. "Nothing much. I'm going to tell the Queen that the ring has found its owner," he replied, his tone nonchalant yet tinged with satisfaction.
"You're not going to fight me for the ring?" Arata inquired, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Cheese shook his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Nope. She's formed a bond with that creature on your shoulder. Even if I defeat her, the ring won't obey me or any one of my people. It's pointless." His eyes softened slightly, as if a memory had surfaced. "I will be off then." Cheese started to walk away, his movements smooth and confident.
"Hey... Thanks... For the help," Arata called after him, his voice sincere.
Cheese paused, turning back with a grin that was more genuine this time. "Hey, not all of us want to conquer the world, you know. I just want to meet Madam Sheena again, that's all." His tone carried a mixture of longing and determination.
"Sheena... Who is that?" Arata looked puzzled, his brow furrowed.
Cheese's eyes clouded momentarily with a distant sadness before he masked it with a playful smirk. "Someone special. Someone worth fighting for." With that, he turned and walked out of the mall, his silhouette fading into the shadows.
Arata watched him go, a swirl of thoughts and emotions churning within him. He looked down at Jennifer, peacefully asleep in his arms, and then at Vamby, perched on his shoulder.
Jennifer woke up on Arata's lap, her eyes slowly adjusting to the morning light. "Aru?" she whispered, sitting up and looking around. They were outside the mall, surrounded by Hex employees tending to the recently awakened survivors.
"It ended finally. You put an end to it, Jenny," Arata said, his voice soft and filled with pride. He watched the people, groggy but alive, being evacuated and cared for.
Jennifer glanced at the small bat, Vamby, who had nestled comfortably against her cheek. She gave a sad smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and sorrow. "We couldn't save everyone, though," she said, looking back at the mall with a heavy heart.
Arata nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "Sometimes…we just can't save everyone. These people here, they're all injured. Their wounds are from the bites of those hybrids," he explained. "And some, we just had to put down." His voice grew somber. "Even in the mall, we had to kill some of them. It's hard, but it's part of what we do."
Jennifer chuckled softly, drawing a confused look from Arata. "What's the matter?" he asked.
"You know, we could have avoided killing them if we hadn't made any noise," she said, her smile tinged with regret. "In our panic, we forgot about the weakness of those zombies." She looked at the Hex employees helping the survivors, a melancholic expression on her face.
Arata sighed, feeling the weight of his own mistakes. "I also forgot about their weakness and ended up killing more than I should have," he admitted, his voice filled with self-reproach. "Jenny, do you think I'm fit for this job?"
Jennifer laughed, a genuine sound that cut through the tension. "You? Thinking you're incompetent is funny," she said, smiling at him. Arata gave her a puzzled look. "I mean, you were always the great accomplished Arata Ryuki! The best, the intelligent, the amazing, the cute, Arata Ryuki! The best soccer player, the best at studying, the best at explaining stuff. You were always the best no matter what happened. That's what made me think, I could never touch your accomplishments. I always thought if you also…wanted to use me…" Her voice trailed off, sadness creeping in. "You were a really good friend, though."
"Friend…" Arata echoed, his voice tinged with sadness.
"You don't look happy," Jennifer observed.
"No, I'm fine," Arata said, forcing a smile.
"I want to be friends again, Aru…Can we?" Jennifer asked, her voice hopeful.
"Maybe with time…more than that…" Jennifer mumbled, looking away with a cute, bashful expression.
Arata, thanks to his wolf-enhanced hearing, caught her words. "Yeah…sure…" he said, turning away from her, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Carly joined them, a teasing smile on her face. "So, how long have you guys been dating?"
"Huh? We are not dating!" Jennifer exclaimed, her face turning a deep shade of red.
"Really? I thought you guys were dating because Arata was so caring about you. He was like, 'let her sleep, she's feeling fatigue, let her rest—'" Carly teased, only to have Arata quickly cover her mouth.
"SHUT UP!" Arata shouted, both he and Jennifer looking away in embarrassment, their faces equally red.
Lila and Alex, who were escorting some injured people, couldn't help but smile at the scene. "You guys, let's go to the headquarters and let's also interview the new girl in our group," Alex said, his voice authoritative yet kind.
All of them nodded, ready to move forward. They returned to Hex headquarters, gathering in a room furnished with a couch and a large table. Jennifer sat facing them, her demeanor calm yet determined. Alex sat in the middle with Lila next to him, who was engrossed in her phone. Carly stood beside Lila, peering over her shoulder at the photos on the social networking site, Pinstaham. They both chuckled softly, sharing a private joke.
Across the room, Elio and Arata were deep in conversation, piecing together the puzzle of the Undergrounders' origins. Arata's mind flashed back to Luke's parting words, "I will come back for you, RYUKI ARATA, JENNIFER LOVENEST! I WILL COME BACK FOR BOTH OF YOU! THEY WILL FOR SURE GIVE ME MY POWER BACK!" Luke's furious voice echoed in his memory.
"Can Undergrounders give power to just anyone?" Arata asked, his voice filled with concern.
Elio frowned, deep in thought. "He became a hybrid and yet…he ended up becoming an Undergrounder. I thought Undergrounders gave powers to dead people, but this guy is alive. It doesn't add up. Even if they were hybrids who could be cured, it doesn't explain their souls leaving their bodies." Elio scratched his head, perplexed.
n the middle of the room, Alex looked Jennifer straight in the eyes. "Will you join us in the fight against the Undergrounders?" he asked, his tone serious.
"Of course I will," Jennifer replied without hesitation. "Due to the Undergrounders, I lost my family and the person most important to me. But most importantly…" She moved behind Arata, wrapping her arms around him. "I GET TO WORK WITH ARU!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
"Please, can we concentrate on working?" Arata asked, his face flushing with embarrassment.
Alex smiled, enjoying the moment. "They just need to admit they're in love," Carly said with a smirk.
Lila glanced up from her phone. "You and Elio too," she shot back quickly.
Carly rolled her eyes, a playful grin on her face. "So, you and Sir Alex are also a thing, aren't you?" she teased, her tone mocking.
Lila's cheeks reddened. "It was a one-time thing," she replied with a smug look, trying to maintain her composure.
"Really, that's not something to brag about," Carly said, feigning disgust.
"I'm not bragging," Lila retorted, looking away in embarrassment, her face betraying her true feelings.
Carly laughed. "Sure, Lila. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Lila shot her a playful glare. "Just because you're in denial about Elio doesn't mean you can project onto me."
"I'm not in denial!" Carly protested, crossing her arms.
"Uh-huh, keep telling yourself that," Lila said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Carly stuck her tongue out at Lila. "You're impossible."
"And you're delusional," Lila replied, winking at her friend.
Alex approached Arata with a curious glint in his eyes, his voice low and intent. "She helped you, didn't she? She was the backup that Elio talked about, I guess." His gaze shifted towards Jennifer, who stood nearby, her expression unreadable yet attentive.
Arata hesitated, his own thoughts racing. He nodded subtly, trying to conceal the fact that Cheese had indeed come to his aid. Despite the urge to explain, a sense of honor bound him, a loyalty that prevented him from divulging too much to Alex about Cheese's involvement.
Jennifer observed the exchange quietly, her presence adding a layer of tension to the conversation. Her eyes flickered between Alex and Arata, as if assessing the dynamics at play. She knew Arata well enough to understand his reluctance to disclose everything, respecting his decision while silently gauging Alex's reaction.
Alex's brow furrowed slightly, processing the information with a mix of curiosity and concern. He had expected as much but seeing Arata confirm it stirred a complex blend of emotions within him. There was admiration for Cheese's capabilities, gratitude for her assistance, yet a lingering wariness about the implications of her involvement.
Despite the banter, the room was filled with a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Jennifer's commitment to their cause, coupled with the light-hearted teasing among friends, provided a moment of levity amidst the serious undertones of their mission. The team was more than ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their determination to fight against the Undergrounders.
EPILOGUE
"My Queen, you called for me?" Uriel's tall and imposing figure, joined the council of the Queen. His presence was commanding, and his sharp eyes glinted with a dangerous intelligence. The room was filled with an air of tension, as Butter, Cheese, and Lance, the other council members, watched silently.
"Yes, Uriel, I have a task for you," the Queen said, her voice smooth and authoritative. She sat on a high throne, her figure cloaked in darkness, only her piercing eyes visible. She held up a picture of a young boy with neat hair and a school uniform. The boy looked innocent and carefree, unaware of the dark forces that had taken an interest in him.
"Capture his ring. The ring has not accepted him," the Queen ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument. Uriel studied the picture, his mind already calculating the best approach. "As you wish, my Queen," he said, bowing deeply. His loyalty to the Queen was absolute, and he would do whatever it took to fulfill her commands.
The Queen's gaze lingered on the picture for a moment longer before she dismissed Uriel. "Go now, and do not fail me."
Uriel turned and left the chamber, his mind focused on the task ahead. Somewhere, that boy was enjoying his youth, blissfully unaware of the danger that was closing in on him. The boy's carefree days were numbered, as the dark forces of the Undergrounders began to move against him. The Queen's plans were in motion, and Uriel would ensure they were carried out to perfection.
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