All rights are reserved to their respective owners. I own nothing in this piece of fiction except my OCs and the story itself.
MELT...!
Nebula and AL were currently thawing the ice wall as they freed the persons who had no real business with the mass stick up besides being at the wrong place at the wrong time; the citizens.
Riveting work, readers.
I am totally not dripping with sarcasm.
AL went back into his Burning Fever state as he was effectively melting the ice as he pressed his hot hands onto the melting ice with minimal force.
Nebula used his KI as he let a soft glow escape his hands as he pressed them onto the wall. The spiritual energy was also known as spiritual heat, so it could double up as a way to melt cold objects.
The more you know.
They were soon approached by some Loweean guards as they had their weapons trained on them, which consisted of spell books and swords.
"Step away from the ice prison and put your hands in the air!" A prominent female voice commanded.
"What?! We're trying to-" Nebula was cut off.
"STEP AWAY FROM THE ICE PRISON BEFORE WE PUT YOU IN PRISON!" A low male voice interrupted Nebula as he would be cut off.
"Alright, alright!... Hinder the heroes. This better not be because I'm b-" AL cut himself off as he sighed as he backed away from the wall. Nebula stopped his helping as he stepped back as well.
"Now you're coming with us to answer a few questions." The female guard told the god.
"But-!" AL went to object but was beaten to the punch.
"But there's no time!" The little girl who helped AL said to the officer through the wall. "The real bad guy is getting away!" She vouched for the two.
"Shush!" Her mother chastised her.
"What?!" The male voice questioned the little girl. "Is this true, ma'am?" The guard theed the little girl's mother.
"Er..." The mother would be unsure as the three were the same that were portrayed as invading deities had just saved them all from potentially death as they stood in the custody of the guards.
"It is true." An elderly voice would perk up from within the ice prison.
"Those younguns saved our hides when it mattered most. The Wretched Wolves stuck them up for Goddess knows what and they retaliated. Can't you see all of the gang members!?" The old man who the voice had came from asked the male guard as he, the female guard, and the troop then looked around as they saw all the figures of the bodies of the unconscious, some burned, some flash-frozen, and a wounded body.
TURN OVER!
A random guard went to check the attire of one of the unconscious bodirs after confirming that they were indeed alive.
...
...
..!
"...Yep. It's them alright. We're standing in the middle of the result of a brawl." The background guard notified as he stood back up.
"A brawl? How many of them are there?!" The female asked.
"15. All but one got away. One of our... Friends are pursuing him." Nebula clarified as he looked in the direction that Gris ran off. He was able to sense their energies as Gris trailed behind the bandit leader.
"Those Wretched Wolves aren't anything to sneeze at. Ever since our goddess left those 3 years ago, they've been getting traction to a lesser extent than ASIC, but they've started to spread their control throughout Lowee." The male guard gave some context to the god as the flame fighter listened in.
"How much of Lowee is under their influence?" AL queried.
"...50%." A random guard answered.
"FIFTY PERCENT?! You're telling me half of Lowee is in their territory?! And why haven't you been doing anything?" Nebula bawled in surprise at the guards.
"Their use of guerilla tactics and the absence of our CPU puts them at a major advantage. Paired with the activities that ASIC are getting up to and have been up to stretches us thin as well." The female guard explained.
"We know we treated you coldly when you transformed for the first time, but you've managed to deal with their forces firsthand. If you manage to bring in their leader, we'll have your names rebranded as heroes and forget your previous alleged transgressions for Lowee." The male guard negotiated with the duo.
"But we didn't even do anything..." AL fell silent.
"...On one condition." Nebula told the guards.
"Shoot." The female guard entertained the request.
"Give me a vacation cottage near Lowee. I'm homeless so preferably a comfy one." Nebula would admit, which made AL look at him with a 'for real?' expression.
"Anything for a house, huh," AL said as he facepalmed.
"Look, man. I need a warm bed. And if I get Lowee out of hot water, I get one for free to crash at. Sounds like a good trade to me. I'm not asking for a mansion or a million credits." Nebula justified his conditions.
''Hm..." The random guard thought about it.
"So is it a yes or a no." The god asked.
"We'll see what we can do. For now, you're allowed to leave. Now go, we'll get these citizens free." The female guard told the males as they nodded before running off.
RUN...!
They looked back to see the guards all stabbing the ice simultaneously, completely shattering the ice, freeing the citizens.
SHATTER!
!!!
"What?! How do metal sticks shatter it, but my flame acts as a nightlight!" He questioned the logic as he looked back ahead. "Even the bullets were cutting through it like butter!" AL would point out.
"Probably siphoning magic on their weapons paired with the fact that 14 people put that wall together and not one person. This is magic country. But that's not our problem anymore. We have to find Gris and that bandit leader." The god would tell his best friend.
"Right... But half the country? Damn. Mina really wasn't kidding when she said the crime rate rose. It fucking exploded if they got that much ground!" He exclaimed as they made a turn, running down a separate street.
"Realized that back when we were 'held hostage'. Now let's go, Gris probably got some distance on us with how fast that bandit leader bolted." Nebula told the flame user as they continued to run down the snowy path.
Kars currently walked down the street in Eastern Lowee, sporting some new attire. He managed regenerated from the battle with the powerful CPU, and flew from the island.
He found some clothes from the frozen line of a backyard to wear to disguise himself, blending in with the crowd. How they fit him was a stroke of pure luck.
The Ultimate Life Form sported a hooded parka, dark purple in color with a light brown fur on the hood. He also grabbed some matching snow pants with some dark brown snow boots as he walked, his arms in his parka pockets.
He observed the mannerisms of the life forms nearby, which consisted of humans once again, similar to his time on Earth.
His face was dead serious as he remained keen on learning as much as he could on this strange world he had happened to land himself on.
The ways the humans carried themselves was similar to how they would do so in his previous home, but with one glaring exception.
The use of magic.
This ability was mostly in the form of ice, but Kars theorized that many more versions of the arcane art were in circulation, and its element was just extremely common to this region specifically.
He noticed that fact after overhearing the conversation of the commonplace of ice magic in this 'Lowee' nation, where he deduced was where he stood at the moment.
He was now trying to find a way to fully learn this ice magic alongside answering his many queries and theories about this world as he walked silently.
'These humans are very different from the ones back where I hail. Not nearly as weak and pathetic as I once thought them to be on Earth, that's for sure.' He pondered within his mind.
And what he said was true, even the clothes they wore were much brighter than what he was used to. Dare he say, that it beamed of innocence and lofty pleasantries that made even him feel rather at ease around them.
And that was saying something for someone with a past like his.
'Their implementation of magic is indeed enticing, from something as small as creating an ice cream or ice for a cold beverage to something as grand as making a golem or monster purely out of ice, creating a powerful blizzard or freezing someone to their very soul...' Kars recalled what he saw and what he read throughout the day.
He looked over to the playground as he saw the children playing, a group of them using a spell to create a snowman structure before adding the carrot, top hat, and facial features with sticks for arms.
He then turned ahead as he looked down as he saw some teenagers use magic in a rather mobile fashion as they skated, their feet creating ice as they slid with ease to get to where they were going.
This caused a raised eyebrow as the alien was now intrigued by the way it was being implemented before thinking.
FREEZE!
ICE MAGIC!
'I even learned some premier spells from a mad wizard kook down the street after drinking some 'SP Chargers', but I still need some more time before I can implement them into battle. They make really good distractions before I take down an enemy, although.' The Ultimate Life Form concentrated and caused his hand to freeze before some ice magic energy was created at the center of his open palm.
CLENCH!
SHATTER!
He had to clench his fist before his hand was freed from its side effect of using anything ice-related.
'And then there's that blasted side effect of my body freezing. No wonder he's on the street. This will need some work to sharpen and eventually perfect, but I am Kars! This won't take long at all.' A content smirk came across his face.
'These Loweeans though... It would also pay to learn more about them as I perfect this magic. Who knows? I may even be able to learn something of vast importance to bolster myself to perfect beginner ice magic.' Kars' smile faded as he plotted his mastery.
'Maybe a trip to the library. That ought to iron out whatever discrepancies in the execution that street dweller taught me. I admit, he wasn't the most optimal choice, but to reject something pertaining to such a useful skill would ironically be madness!' Kars eyes widened before they narrowed as something came into view.
He then saw an upcoming individual that was unbeknownst to him, the bandit leader. He was shoving and pushing aside people out of his way as he was running away from a bloodlusted Gris, hot on his heels.
Kars stared in bewilderment as he analyzed the situation. The bandit leader realized the stature of Kars before dodging him completely. Gris then look at whom he dodged and see that it was Kars from his facial structure.
"Kars?!" Gris called out as he was surprised at seeing him alive again, but he wasn't doing anything to warrant him stopping so he pressed on the bandit leader, running past the tall warrior.
"Wait, how do you...?" Kars turned around with a confused look as he saw the two men be involved in a mad chase as the hunted continued to mow down people as the hunter gracefully dodged and weave through others, catching up.
Kars only looked at the fleeting fellows because of hearing his name called before returning to his true mission.
He continued his trek, walking through the streets as his tall stature and unpleasant look made the people that did look at him feel uncomfortable.
"I don't think I've seen him before..." Whispered a woman on errands.
"Same here. He's rather intimidating, though." Her friend responded.
"Must be a foreigner right? But those clothes seem like he's from here..." A gazing snow shoveler spoke.
"Could be. Let's not get in his way though. I'd hate to see if his words are as mean as to how he looks." His shovel buddy commented.
His path lead him to a large building, its infrastructure hinting that it boasted some level of importance as it came into view. It stood tall with snow covering its roof, as its walls were more cubical than the residential buildings.
Many tall windows were built into its walls that let ample amounts of sunlight within its chambers, with two large oak double doors on the front. It even contained a second floor as the alien started to point out more details.
But the most recognizable feature was the sign that was not a regular storefront, but rather a large book carved from the nearby pine trees around the city as it spelled 'PUBLIC LIBRARY' with the letters engraved in capitals.
'An educational institution... What was the term they used back then? Ah yes, I've struck the jackpot.' A pleased smile spread on the man's face as he found the goldmine to learn about this place's people, history, magics, and mannerisms by the simple act of taking a stroll.
"Let's see what they have to offer, shall we?"
OPEN...!
STEPS...
CLOSE!...
Kars talked to himself before pushing open both doors as footsteps echoed in the room as the doors closed behind him.
Back to the chase, the bandit leader ran at top speed, his hood on the verge of flying off the ground as he was sprinting like a mad man. He threw down crates, mowing through citizens and causing general confusion as he evaded his pursuer.
SHOVE!
"Get out of the way, you old bag!" He yelled as he shoved an elderly woman who nearly fell over, her cane saving her a hospitalizing fall.
"Heavens!" The poor old lady yelled in fright as she was spooked by the sudden push.
SIDESTEP!
Gris said nothing as he sidestepped the woman as he continued on his way.
The bandit leader turned around to see that Gris was still following him at his accelerated pace.
"That fucker's still following me! Try this, you little shit!"
YANK!
COLLAPSE!
He cursed as he then ran by a shop and pulled down the outside stall that was filled with cabbages.
"My cabbages!" The stall owner shouted in dismay as he was now in despair over what happened. Every day this happened at least once!
FLIP!
CROUCH!-
DASH!!!
WHOOSH!
Gris simply front flipped over the obstacle as he crouched as he landed over the vegetable hindrance before dashing forward which blew back some wind that spread the already scattered crops.
"MY CABBAGES! NO!" The stall owner cried out as he chased his precious goods.
The bandit leader turned back again to see Gris still bolting with the same bloodthirsty look in his eyes as he would chase the bandit.
He said nothing as his face scrunched at the persistence of the assassin as he would then see a random stray husky puppy walking peacefully.
The gang leader locked his eyes on the dog as he suddenly scooped up the puppy before turning around and chucking it at Gris.
"Fetch, you motherfucker!!"
HURL!
"ARF!"
He yelled as he threw the pooch at the assassin.
GRAB!
SLIDE!
The dog whined in fright as it was pelted at breakneck speeds towards the assassin. Gris' eyes widened as he grabbed the mutt before slowing his chase as he slid to place the shaken puppy down before dashing once more, resuming the frosty pursuit.
"Down, boy." The CPU spoke to the fearful fido.
DASH!
ICE BLAST!
The bandit leader then turned his head to see his assailant still on his ass. He finally took his hand and an icy aura coated the appendage. He then fired it at the ground, making the traction decrease significantly.
SKID!
SLAM!!!
CRASH!!!
Gris was caught off guard, as he didn't expect the leader to have any special talent of his own, but still fell into the trap as he then skidded on the newly placed ice spot before he slammed into a wall of a convenience store...
...Before crashing right through it.
"cries of terror.mp3"
He heard the startled cries of the civilians as he crashed into some shelves of the store before getting back up and running back out of the hole he made, leaving the patrons and the cashier completely baffled and agape at the spontaneous scene.
"That slippery shitstain!"
SPRINT!
BURST!
The edgelord cursed before kicking off the floor as the rubble was blasted back at the crowd that shielded themselves.
AURA!
VANISH!
"!!!"
Gris ran back out into the open as he saw the gang leader farther away but still visible, activating his aura before zooming forward and vanishing as he did, the cries of even more surprised people behind him.
The bandit leader wouldn't stop running as he hauled ass to get to his hideout.
"Nearly there...! Move it, fuckface!"
BIFF!
He swore at a boy before decking him in the face as he continued to run.
THUD!...
The boy didn't even have anything to say as he was laid out from the strike the gang leader gave him, his brain touching thr back of his skull in a one-hit knockout.
"Jonathan!" His mother shrieked as she came near her unconscious son as she would yell at the gang leader.
"Come back here, you ruffian!" She yelled as she shook her fist in outrage.
"Fuck off, you bimbo bitch!" The man spat out as those nearby gasped as their faces were filled with as much shock as the mother.
"How dare he!" She replied as she heard the rude remark.
PHASE!
Gris then appeared at the scene in a phasing blur as he would deactivate the aura and would continue his chase.
He even saw the unconscious and bruised face of the boy, widening his eyes a bit before continuing.
The gang leader looked back once more to see that Gris was now back on his case with some dust from the wall still on him.
"This punk is a persistent bastard, I'll give him that."
ICE BLAST!
He grumbled as he would stretch out his hand again before firing another ice blast at Gris.
DODGE!
FREEZE!
But this time, Gris was prepared as he sidestepped the ice blast, it freezing a bench instead.
FREEZE!
The bandit then took a back alley path, and froze the way after he entered.
LEAP!
Gris realized that if he tried to use the conventional way, he would slide and probably land into another trap. So to avoid that hindrance, he leapt onto the wall of the alley.
He then leaped between the walls as he saw the icy death trap below him that was a straight slide into a wall of spikes on a gate.
Gris continued to wall jump over the trap as he observed the bandit leader run past some more goons, who were dressed in the same getup as the other mooks that they dispatched.
The assassin then saw him rush into what seemed to be a five-story bar and casino.
The exterior was painted a very faded artic blue as it would have multiple dark gold-colored roofs sticking out of each level after the ground floor, right underneath the dark purple tinted windows.
The front right above the door had a need yellow and blue sign called The Golden Glacier all in flickering lights, on top of a big blue glacier.
There was music ranging from popular tunes in the more adult stations to bumpy rave music more within the establishment that could be heard from even out where Gris was.
It was surrounded by at least 20 goons all with some form of weapon, either with modded AK-47s or a tome in hand. They were now be looking for any suspicious persons as they had shortly stood straight when the gang leader ran by, before disappearing into the building as the door closed behind him.
"If I had Atley, this would be such a cinch. But I don't. Goddessdamnit, Nebula." Gris swore under his breath as he then waited for one to come nearby the alleyway as he clung onto the wall from above.
...
...
...
LAUNCH!
REEL!
A gun-wielding goon walked near the alleyway, Gris pouncing on him. He launched himself from the wall to the mook, cooking back his fist.
WHAM!
DRAG...
The goon looked up right into a decking as he got the daylights beaten out of him with the single attack. Gris quickly dragged the mook in the alleyway and hid them from view.
"Huh?!"
"The hell was that?"
"What the... Randy?"
His fellow goons became suspicious as their comrade disappeared into the alleyway with what sounded like a punch. They clutched their weapons as they slowly approached the entrance, their guns trained and their hands outstretched.
RATATATATATAT! RATATATATATAT! RATATATATATATAT! RATATATATATATATATAT!
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Gris came out of the dark alleyway guns blazing as he dived to the side, with the modded AK-47 as he let the bullets fly. The bullets hit four goons as they fell to the ground, dead without even getting the chance to fire.
RATATATATATATATATATATATTATATATA!!!
ICE BARRAGE!
The remaining henchmen quickly returned fire as they shot their rifles and casted their magic.
VANISH!
Gris went for cover himself in his aura as he vanished once more as the projectiles tore apart the ground that he was previously occupied.
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!
"Agh!"
"Urk!"
"AHH!"
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
He soon reappeared on the other side of the gangsters as he unloaded some more rounds on the group.
Three more men were filled with holes as he pulled the trigger.
The magicians tried to erect an ice prison to trap the assassin as the gunmen turned around and aimed at Gris, hearing the pained sounds of their comrades dying.
OUTSTRETCH!
"Ice Wall!" The mages yelled as they outstretched their palms.
VANISH!
ICE WALL!
Gris heard the spell casting before vanishing again, evading the trap magic right as the gunfire shredded through the ice as they were comprised of siphoning bullets.
Apparently.
Well, it tore through the first one, so what did he expect.
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATAT!!!!!
The hitman once again reappeared in the air as he emptied the rest of the magazine into the bodies of the distracted goons.
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!!!
"Oof!"
"Ugh!"
"Urgh!"
"Ack!"
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
RATATATATATAT!-
CLICK!
"Shit." Gris cursed after taking down four more goons before tossing the gun at a fifth person as he put some of his aura into the empty AK-47 as he threw it.
"YEET!"
ZOOM!
IMPALE!
The gun moved at such a speed that it impaled a bandit mage from behind.
THUD!-
STAB!!!
"UAGH!" The mage yelled in agony as he fell forward on the impale wound, killing him.
VANISH!
GRATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!!!
ICE BLASTS!
PHASE!
The remaining goons tried to fire at the assassin again, to no one's surprise as Gris simply phased again and reappeared on the ground.
GRAB!
SLAM!
BOOM!!
Gris then immediately grabbed the back of a gunman's head when he reappeared and slammed it onto the ground, effectively slamming him so hard that his skull exploded.
Brain matter and all.
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATAT!
SPRINT!-
IMPALE!!!
"Gak!!!... Gurgle...! Hack!"
He quickly went back to dodging more gunfire as he closed the distance before shoving his hand through the stomach of a bandit mage as he heard the bloody gags of the man he had just impaled.
RATATATATATATATATATAT!
BLOCK!
He then use the body of the impaled mage as a shield as he blocked some more bullets with the mage, effectively killing him.
RAM!
"ARGH!" The goon yelled in surprise.
IMPALE!!!
Gris soon rushed the gunman that fired at him before ramming the mage's deceased body into him, stopping him from firing as he then slammed both of them into the alleyway before leaving them impaled on the spike trap the bandit leader left.
SLIDE!!!
GRATATATATATATATATATATATATATAT!!!
ICE SPELLS!
Gris took his bloody arm out of the dead goons before dodging more spells and gunfire as he moved.
BZZT!
STATIC!
He slid underneath all the projectiles before his hand danced with static.
ELECTROCUTE!
He latched his hand onto the neck of a goon, shocking him instantly.
T-TWITCH!...
The goon fell to the ground as he was killed on the spot, his corpse still twitching from the millions of jolts that were sent across his body.
ICE ICICLE!
WEAVE!
"ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!!! HO WATA!"
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!!!
The assassin then weaved a magical icicle before quickly striking a gunman.
KNOCK BACK!
"...! Urgh... URAYAAAAAAAA!-"
REEEEEEEEEEEE!-
GORY EXPLOSION!
He then delivered a series of strikes in the gunman before he could fire, making him be knocked back before violently exploding in a gory mess.
"What the fuck?!" A mage asked in shock with a morbid and frightened tone as he just saw his ally violently explode.
"Hokuto Shinken: Hagan Ken!"
PUNCH!
TUMBLE!
He was then punched in the face with Gris yelling out the move.
The mage was unable to move as his face became disfigured, folding into itself around the hired killer's fist as he was flung by the force of the attack once the assassin's knuckles knocked him away.
"Hokuto Shinken: Kaikotsu Ken!"
STAB!!!
Gris snapped his head back and twisted his body as he shoved two of his fingers into the forehead of an adjacent gunman before he even got a chance to fire as the assassin used another attack.
ELBOW!
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
GORY EXPLOSION!
He then elbowed he goon in the chest, pushing him away before he had his skull explode on him in a bloody mess, further pushing down the morale of the goons remaining.
"We're dropping like flies!" One of the remaining mooks stated the painfully obvious.
ICE BOLT!
AFTERIMAGE...!
"I got him!" A mage yelled as he fired a ice spell that went right for Gris. His face started to twist in joy, only to fall into horrified shock when the figure of the hitman slowly faded away.
REAPPEAR!
"Death's cold embrace." The assassin mocked.
SHOCK PUNCH!
SHATTER!
He then reappeared before phasing from another ice spell that flash froze a fellow goon which Gris exploited, as he used an electrified fist and punched the ice block with such force that it shattered with frozen blood, ice fragments, and static as the gunman died with frozen limbs being all that remained.
KICK!
CRASH!!!
"Gragh!" The mage guttered.
The last goon was dealt with as he aimed at Gris before he was swiftly kicked, right into the wall as it cracked from the impact.
AIM!
The grey-haired hitman walked up to the mage, before pulling out his strap, the same .500 from his encounter with Nebula as he aimed it right between the goon's eyes.
"Y-You won't get away with this...! We're the biggest gang in L-Lowee...! Our men inside will deal with you!...Our BOSS will deal with you!... You son of a-"
BOOM!
"Bitch." Gris finished for the mage, while doubly flipping the insult onto the now deceased gang member.
AURA!...
CONCEAL!
He made the shell and the bullet go back into the gun as his aura did the work, before placing it into his trench coat.
Gris had just murdered around 21 people in the span of 60 seconds. Not his most efficient time, but neither his slowest. Made him realize the watch did shave off some seconds.
He was then met with some muscular bouncers that emerged from the doors with Remington 870s, cocking the pumps as they settled their sights on the assassin.
They were tall and wearing the same get-up as the other goons. They saw the bloodshed outside and glared at the lone assassin through their shades, their brows furrowed a telltale sign. The two both had some shades with the one on the right smoking a cigarette as the left had a scar over his eye.
"Looks like we got a meddlesome kid, huh?" The bouncer on the left observed as he looked dead into Gris' eyes.
"He killed our boys, so we'll return the favor." The one on the right said as he took a pull on the cigarette he was smoking.
Gris said nothing as he began to approach the bouncers as they aimed their guns.
ドドドド!!!
Inside the bar and casino, the first floor was composed of a variety of gambling games and a bar on the right side with a stairwell towards the back of the building.
The walls were decorated with a wine red color as the carpet would be a celebrity carpet shade.
AND on said walls, was a lot of illegal activity within the building to boot. There were drugs dealings and those partaking in the act of becoming under the influence, those fiddling around with all types of illegal weapons banned from Lowee long ago as the bandits with firearms were fiddling with the custom mods not even known on the market, and not to mention the abundance of prostitution taking place with those receiving all kinds of sexual favors and even some in the bathroom in group quickies and orgies with women who, uh...
Weren't all that blessed with assets, every once in a while with a curvaceous cumduptsers once showing up with the scent of ammunition, liquor, money, drugs, and sexual fluids taking up the air of the floor accompanied by EDM music.
That was a pleasant image. No, I'm not the embodiment of sarcasm-
There was be some gambling taking place (No shit) at the poker tables, slot machines, and roulette table as many gangsters and bandits were betting as they won and lost Credits that we're totally legitimately earned.
Their cheers and groans of annoyance filled the air as there were also be a lot of drunks in the bar with the goons who liked to get wasted in the daylight as it was never too early to drink in the biggest gang that was in Lowee that wasn't ASIC.
Who was gonna stop them?
The police?
Pfft.
FLY OPEN!
That was when the doors flew open as the leader burst through.
"We got company! Get the big guns out! We got the feds on our asses!" The boss hollered as he ran inside before coming to a stop.
"What?!" The bartender exclaimed as he took out his hidden compartment as he yanked out a KS-23 shotgun as he gripped the firearm.
Many gangsters then took out their firearms, including a PL-15 pistol that was be cocked before they held it, or AK-47s, AK-74s, Lugers, Gewehrs, FN FALs, AVs, AS VALs, or even a Dragunov sniper rifle as they would pull from under the casino tables.
There were even some RPKs and MG42s that were taken out, powerful machine guns that we're all for the bandit leader's protection.
They all got ready for whatever came through the door after the boss as the hookers cowered into the bathrooms as zippers were zipped, pants were pulled, dice were grabbed, stiff drinks were drunk, guns loaded, something was snuff, nuts were busted and music stopped as they the ground floor of at least 50 bandits and gangsters became dead silent.
They then heard the sounds of gunfire, ice spells, and screams outside as they became more paranoid of what happened.
MUFFLED GUNFIRE!
"keemstar scream.mp3"
"They're dying out there..." A gang member muttered as he heard the cries of terror meshed with more rapid gunfire as they would hear the sounds of gunfire as they looked out the tinted windows to see the lone figure decimate their forces.
STEP...!
STEP...!
STEP...!
Just as a minute was up, all 21 men were either brutally murdered or nowhere to be seen as the stranger walked towards the door.
"Let's go, Makarov." A sunglasses wearing thug called his partner as he gripped his Remington shotgun he already was holding.
"Right, Ymir." The other goon nodded as they walked through the door as the other gang member closed the door as there was more silence after it shut.
...
...
...
"You two blackheads look awfully like a cyborg from an apocalyptic future-"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
There was some muffled conversation before gunshots were heard.
"SEI!"
CRASH!
SLIDE!
THUNK!
SCATTER!
They then heard the sound of an unfamiliar voice before Makarov was thrown back into the door with such force that it came off their hinges as he slid on the carpet as he crashed into the poker table as the cards were thrown all over the place.
The others checked on the big bruiser/bouncer as he then struggled to get up.
"Makarov!" The bartender yelled in concern.
"I'm fine, old man." He spoke as he clutched the table. "He just poked me a bunch of times then kicked me." He downplayed the attack as he leaned up.
"Big Bro Makarov!" The nearby goons yelled as some of them would come towards him as the others remained trained on the door.
"I... I... I... I'm fine-"
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!-
CONTORT!
CONTORT!
GORY EXPLOSION!
Makarov felt woozy before he was cut short, his body contorting and bubbling in very weird and disturbing positions before exploding in a gory mess.
"MAKAROV!" The bartender cried in dismay and horror as he would have watched his son explode in a gory mess. The boss only watched in shock and horror.
The entire bar became shell-shocked by the sudden death as they turned to the scene. The blood of the bouncer was all over the carpet, the poker table, and on the shoes and pants of the gangsters as they were agape with a mix of fear and surprise.
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" The bandit leader yelled in shock.
"My son!" The bartender's voice wobbled say as he would move to his deceased son's last position.
"He j-j-just EXPLODED! Like a fucking water balloon!" Another thug screeched in disbelief as he would look for any traces of the bouncer's body.
All of the goons were distracted from the scene.
So much so, that they didn't even see Gris standing, leaning on the wall with his arms folded.
Pure.
Unadulterated edge lord.
He then decided to speak as he poked the bear.
"You know, I see a lot more water balloons in here. And my fingers are itching for something to poke." Gris referenced, causing the group of men to turn to him.
"YOU!" The bartender seethed in rage.
"Word of advice: Ask if they cremate carpet stains. Pretty sure any carpet cleaners are gonna report you to the authorities." He told the gang members as the goons faced him.
The boss' eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets at Gris as he showed his face once again.
"You! You did this to him!" The bartender pointed his gun as he had a face of rage plastered on his elderly face.
"If you really think that will hurt me, you're as senile as you are withered." Gris retorted as he then had the other guns trained on him as well.
"Shut the fuck up, punk!"
"You're gonna eat lead, shithead!"
"Be a smartass all you want in hell, you motherfucker!" Were only some of the many threats that came his way. It was like a wave of angry teenagers on one of those FPS games he played.
"Well, you heard 'em sport. We're gonna make you pay for what you did!" The elderly man roared as he aimed right for the assassin's forehead.
"Just like I made those outside pay for all crime you people did?" Gris asked, amused as he stopped leaning from the wall and stood tall.
"We never said we were goody two shoes, you halfwit." A random goon insulted within the bar.
"Me neither, you fucking numbskull. The only thing that's gonna happen here is my ass walking away with-" He paused as he pointed to the bandit leader, "His head, with all of your bodies painting the walls red." He finished, as he pointed to all of the goons in the room.
The leader simply gave a mocking laugh as he looked at him.
"You? With who's head? You're delusional as shit, you dolt." The gang leader looked down upon Gris.
"Didn't sound like it when you were running for your life, boss," Gris said with a mocking tone, which made a vein form on the boss' face. "Or when let you let all your men outside die, boss. Or when you let the men that tried to rob us die, boss. Or even when you let the Makarov die...BOSS." Gris pushed the same button over and over as the boss clutched the railing with such force that it had a depression on it.
"GET HIM, BOYS! MAKE SURE THAT FUCKING BRAT CAN'T OPEN THAT TRAP OF HIS BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A BLOODY SPONGE! I WANT HIM UNRECOGNIZABLE! LITTERED WITH SO MANY BULLET HOLES THAT HE LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING HONEYCOMB THAT WAS IN A MASS SHOOTING! WHEN I SEE THAT FUCKER AGAIN, I WANT HIM DEAD!"
AURA!!!
The bandit leader yelled at the top of his lungs as Gris outright laughed at his anger before the white aura returned to the assassin's body.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!...If you all were so eager to die... Then all you had to do was ASK!" The hitman goaded before the sound of what could only be described as if a gang war was compressed into a single room occurred as the madness commenced.
The windows of the first floor flashed with rapid gunfire as many different firearms resounded, bullets spread through the air as Gris has a feeling that he was going to enjoy what was about to happen.
"Haha!"
VANISH!
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATAATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATAT!!!
The silver-eyed assassin imitated a certain meme before disappearing.
Nepgear, IF, Compa, Nisa, Rom, and Ram were now in the World Labyrinth. The party finished trailing Underling and left the boys in Lowee, as Nebula had called IF last minute, and explained that they were currently dealing with something important and that they couldn't come this time.
No meme boys today.
The dungeon itself was composed of colorful blocks that were bright hues that formed many different patterns on the ground as they had traversed. They were looking for the Mascot for a while now and would be dealing with some Tetsri, Lionvaders, and Terisy that had attacked them.
SLICESLICESLICESLICESLICESLICESLICE!
"Hah!" IF yelled as she rapidly slashed into a Tetsri, inflicting high damage as she tore through the monster's defense.
SIDESTEP!
SLICE!
She then hopped back to avoid a charge from the monster before countering with a side slash of her own, which was pushing it back a bit.
She finished with an SP Skill when she took advantage of the monster's slight.
"Demon Slice!"
SLICE!!!
PIXELATE!
IF yelled as she took down the Tetsri with a powerful slash, causing it to dissipate into pixelation.
INJECT!
SLICE! SLASH! CUT!
The Guild Agent then dashed towards another enemy, passing by Compa, who was shooting her mystery fluid into a Lionvader, which was also getting attacked by Nepgear from the flank.
Mirage Dance!
SLICESLICESLICESLICESLICESLICE!!!
"Take this!" Nepgear yelled as Compa finished injecting the monster with her oversized syringe before letting Nepgear have her SP Skill dished out on the monster.
INJECT!
PIXELATE!
The Lionvader was knocked aside before Conpa dealt the finishing blow with another injection, pixelating the monster as the mystery fluid returned to the circulation of the monster.
"Yessy!"
"Nice job, Compa!" Nepgear cheered on for her friend.
"Thanks, Ge-Ge!" Compa replied as she cheered on.
GUST!
FLAME!
GUST!
FLAME!
GUST!
FLAME!
Some spells flew by them as Rom and Ram were working together as they blasted some Terisy with their fire and wind spells.
The blocky monsters were all bombarded by the magical attacks as they were hit from a distance, which prevented them from approaching the twins to retaliate.
They kept the enemy at a distance as the fired their magical projectiles. They would then fire a double SP Skill at the two monsters while they were still being hit by the other magical spells.
"Ice Coffin!"
FLASH-FROZEN!
SHATTER!
PIXELATE!
Ram and Rom shouted simultaneously. The two monsters were flash-frozen, as their bodies would be frozen still, only to shatter immediately after, doing double damage since they it was a combined SP Skill, pixelating them.
"We did it, Rom!" Ram cheered with her sister.
"Hooray...!" Rom rallied softly alongside her.
SLICESLICESLICESLICESLICESLICESLICE!!!
JUMP!
KICK!!!
"Justice KICK!"
BOOM!!!
PIXELATE!
Nisa slashed and diced a stray Lionvader with her energy blades before jumping into the air and sticking out her foot as she yelled out her Skill down at the mob.
"Huzzah!" The superheroine yelled as the monster pixelated on contact, no match for the power of justice as she yelled triumphantly.
YANK!
PIXELATE!
IF pulled her Qatar blade from another monster before it pixelated shortly after, killing the last monster.
"That's the last of them." IF told the group as she would then turn to the others.
"Right. Let's get going." Nepgear directed as she lead the party as IF walked beside her, the twins in the middle and Compa with Nisa by the flank.
...
...
...
"We've been wandering around here for a while, Iffy." Compa pointed out as they would be walking in the dungeon.
"Where could the Mascot be?" The Nurse-In-Training asked as she looked around.
"It's really good at hide and seek, that's for sure," Ram commented as she too would look around for the glowing ball that she had TOTALLY seen before.
"Uh-huh...'' Rom agreed.
"It can't be too far. As Compa said, we've been here for quite some time." Nepgear tried to stay positive.
"Gear's right. Although, I wonder if we would have found it sooner if we would have waited for Nebula and the others." The Guild Agent wondered.
"Afraid not. As much as I dislike leaving comrades behind, Underling would have beaten us to the punch." Nisa told the Guild Agent. "Besides, I feel that we are nearing the Mascot character." Nisa felt the hope of a heroine as she continued walking.
"He treated us like we were nothing! I'm glad he's gone!" Ram sniffed as she shook her fist in the air.
"He made me feel awful..." Rom stated as remembered the bad memory.
"Come on, girls. He only did that so you would listen to us. I'm sure he didn't have any ulterior motives." Nepgear tried to explain to the twins.
"No way. He might have made us see that we're not enemies, but that doesn't mean that I have to like him. He's still a meanie in my book." Ram disagreed with an unsatisfied look as she closed her eyes and folded her arms.
"Meanie..." Rom followed suit.
"Looks like they really have it for Neb, huh. He's gonna have to deal with that drama when he comes back." IF felt some sympathy for the god as they continued to walk as Compa would respond.
"He got them to join us, so making them like them can't be too hard?" Compa questioned the Guild Agent.
"..." IF remained silent.
"Cheer up, allies. Look ahead!" Nisa shouted as she saw the glowing Mascot as it levitated the pedestal where the Mascot would be held. It was a bright white as the orb would be floating by its lonesome.
"Mascot character, ahoy!" The superheroine pointed out as she would run towards the Mascot.
The others moved towards the floating orb as Compa would sigh in relief.
"Phew. We made it here first." The Nurse-In-Training sighed in relief as she looked at the glowing orb.
"Who's there?" The Mascot questioned in a calm voice.
"Hello. Sorry to intrude, but we'd like to ask for your help. Would you lend us your aid?" Nepgear pleaded with the Mascot.
"Is that Neptune...? No, no. You resemble her, but your aura is different, unmistakably so." The Mascot noticed after taking in the foreign voice.
"Neptune? You know my sister?" Nepgear asked, taken aback by the mention of her sister.
"Your sister? I see. You're her younger sister..." The Mascot deduced. "I know Neptune well. So well in fact, that she was the one who asked me to stay here." The orb finished as IF was surprised.
"Huh? Why would Neptune give orders to Lowee's Mascot?" The Guild Agent questioned.
"Lowee has no Mascot. ASIC made sure of that." The orb responded.
"Then you are...?" Compa asked, unsure of the orb's true origin.
"Originally, I was one of Planeptune's Mascots, until I came to Lowee on Neptune's behest. She asked that I ensure prosperity for Lowee, a land that had lost all of its Mascots." The Mascot explained, a hint of solemnity in its tone.
"Miss Neptune... Gave us our Mascot...?" Rom asked, confused.
"Then she must have been really nice to have given us one of hers.'' Ram realized as she thought about the situation. If she was willing to do that, then maybe her sister wasn't so different. Maybe she judged her harshly...
"Neptune..." Nepgear muttered as the glowing orb continued.
"But with that being said, I cannot lend you my aid. It would go against the order that your sister gave me. Or do you wish to ignore your sister's commands and force me to come along with you?" The Mascot opted for the options.
"Th-That's... But Neptune's being held captive, so... Um, well, I mean we should... Uh..." Nepgear was trying to collect words to tell the Mascot was be falling short.
"Hey, that's mean...!" Rom told the Mascot.
"Yeah, you big meanie!" Ram scolded the glowing orb.
"Sorry. Perhaps my words were rather harsh. But that's not the only reason why I must remain here. The Oracle of Lowee gave me a very important task. I cannot abandon this duty, no matter what." The Mascot clarified, making IF remember Mina's words about a classified reason about the Mascot's mission.
"I do recall the Oracle saying something about that. What exactly is this important mission?" IF queried the orb.
"Well..." The Mascot began to explain only to be interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Found ya! You're in my sights, Mascot!" Underling's distinct voice cut through the air as she made her appearance.
"Underling?! You caught up with us?!" Nisa asked, caught off guard.
"It's the mean lady that took Rom!" Ram pointed out as she grabbed her staff extra tight, getting ready for a fight.
"Scary lady...!" Rom said slightly angrily as she stood behind her sister, gripping her staff as well.
"The hell?! How did you dweebs find this place?!" The ASIC grunt was taken aback by the group.
"Ha- haha! We heroically eavesdropped on your phone conversation and made it here before you!" Nisa told the grunt.
"Dude that's really low... Not CPU-like at all, y'know!" Underling pointed out.
"Coming from someone who held Rom hostage, I don't wanna hear it, you big meanie!" Ram rebutted as she was raring for a fight.
''And it's your fault for talking so loud on the phone. Now that we're here, you won't touch the Mascot!" IF said seriously as she stood, taking a step forward.
But Underling simply brushed off the statement as she rebutted.
"Tch. You broads are way too naïve. Why'd you think I took so long? I came prepared this time." Underling revealed as threw another Monster Disc onto the ground. From it sprouted monsters, that would be some Icy Hedgehogs.
"Look at all the Mr. Monsters!" The Nurse-In-Training exclaimed as she counted at least 10 monsters present.
"Yeah. Have fun with that. In the meantime..." Underling trailed her voice as she focused on the Mascot.
"This could be bad. Let's get rid of these monsters, ASAP." IF warned as Nepgear agreed.
"Right!" Nepgear prepared herself as she would grip her sword.
"Let's do this!" Ram would follow Neogear.
"I'm ready!" Rom yelled, backing up her sister.
"For justice!" Nisa rallied as she got out her disc.
The monsters engaged as they rushed towards the group as the members would met them midway.
"La Delphinus!"
FLARE!
IF began the battle with an immediate SP Skill, striking the nearest monster.
WOOSH!
The two nearest Icy Hedgehogs were affected as they took damage as they were subsequently blown back.
SLASH!
X SLASH!
SLICE!
SLICE!
CUT!
360 SLASH!
PIXELATE!
She then approached them before slicing at them with twirls and cross slashes.
DODGE!-
DODGE!!!!
SLASH!
PIXELATE!
The first Icy Hedgehog was defeated as it pixelated from the stabbing it received. The next Icy Hedgehog was slashed in half by Nepgear from behind as she dodged some attacks from some other enemies before flanking the enemy.
"Thanks, Gear!" IF gave her thanks to her friend as they were back to back.
"No problem, IF!" Nepgear responded as she would then attack another enemy that approached her as she and IF moved from each other's backs as they went to attack the Icy Hedgehogs.
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
Meanwhile, Ram and Rom started to fire some fire spells at the Icy Hedgehogs.
The twin goddesses bombarded a group of three Icy Hedgehogs as they dealt dealing extra damage.
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
"Keep going, Ram!" Rom encouraged.
"Don't let up, Rom!" The pink CPU Candidate responded as they fired at the monsters.
The monsters slowly approached the girls this time as they tried to brave the fire attacks. But right when they started to get serious traction...
"Ice Coffin!"
FLASH-FROZEN!
SHATTER!!!
They were frozen in their tracks. Literally-
BURN!!!
PIXELATE!
The Icy Hedgehogs would have taken even more damage from the SP Skill but were ultimately dispatched by a combined fire spell from the twins which caused them to burn as they were pixelated.
SLICE!
SLASH!
SPIN SLASH!
X SLASH!
POWER SLASH!!!
Nisa used her blades, to slice up some icy hedgehogs, dealing damage with her strength as she ferociously attacked with her energy weapons into some other Icy Hedgehogs.
SLICE!!!
PIXELATE!
The superheroine then used her Dark X-Blade Slash, using the powerful maneuver to effectively slay the mob within the skill as it soon perished under her power from the Netherworld.
SLASH!!!
PIXELATE!
SLICE!!!
PIXELATE!
Nisa then repeated the same SP Skill twice over, to defeat two more Icy Hedgehogs.
INJECT!
STABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTAB!!!
She started to grow tired after expending some SP as she steadied her energy blades for the third time. She was jumped by a nearby monster, if not for Compa.
INJECT!
COLLAPSE!
PIXELATE!
The Nurse-In-Training stabbed the Icy Hedgehog with her syringe over and over with deceptive speed as she injected her mystery fluid into the monster numerous times. She gave it one last injection before it fell to the floor, and pixelated.
"There you go!" Compa cheered.
"Thanks, Compa! I knew I could rely on a trusted comrade!" Nisa told the nurse as she complimented her.
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLICE!
CUT!
X SLICE!
SLICE!
CUT!
RAPID SLASHES!
STAB!
STAB!
STAB!
STAB!
STAB!
INJECT!
THWACK!
SLAM!
BAM!
WHAM!
WHACK!
BIFF!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!
FLAME!-
PIXELATE!
The last Icy Hedgehog was cornered as the group wasted no time in killing it off. It only lived for a few more seconds after facing the onslaught of each group member before falling to a stray fire blast from Rom.
The monster wished for death at that point.
By the time that all 10 Icy Hedgehogs had been defeated, the group then turn to where Underling was last seen as they thought about the safety of the Mascot.
"Alright. Now that we're done, is the Mascot okay?" Nepgear asked.
"I think it disappeared!" Compa pointed out the obvious.
"Disappeared is right! I destroyed it while you all were busy fighting my minions!" Underling cackled as she stood over the destroyed Mascot.
"Could we have failed...?" Nisa lamented, disheartened.
"This... was the disc that housed the Mascot. It's in pieces..." Nepgear whimpered as she shoveled them together, looking at the broken mess as she helplessly tried to fix it.
"I hope you've realized what you've done. We won't let you run away this time." IF stated say with a stern glare.
"You'll pay for hurting our Mascot, you big dummy!" Ram yelled as she glared at the grunt as well.
"You'll pay...!" Rom copied as she had a face that could only be described as the angry pout.
"Oh? Are you sure you have the time to waste on me? With the Mascot gone, it's gonna be released." Underling told the group.
"Um, what is?" Compa asked, ignorant of what was coming, alongside everyone present
"The machine sealed away in another dimension by the Mascot. The Killachine is back, bitches!" Underling announced as the robot emerged from thin air as a sound unbeknownst to the girls would resound.
The machine emerged as it was floating, its metallic appendages floating separate from its body. Its head resembled something amiss to a metallic goat as its hands would have a large mace with red accents in its left floating arm, and a metallic battle axe that also had red metallic accents in its right floating arm.
Its torso also was that of a scorpion's abdomen, as it would be long, minus the set of many legs, but would have a tail that was large, curved, and sharp as well, each individual section floating slightly away from each other. Its body would be accented in orange with some red on the top of its head, and an extra set of smaller horn-like objects attached on top of its head as well. It levitated there, aimlessly.
This menacing machine was the Killachine, and as the name implied, it was made to kill.
"Whoa! What's this?! A villain, yeah! It looks really cool, like a giant robot!" Nisa commented as she gushed in amazement.
"So the mission the Mascot had must've been to keep this thing from becoming active!" IF figured out.
"Go Killachine! Get rid of these brats once and for all!" Underling yelled out as the Killachine would remain silent.
"Get ready!" Nepgear braced herself along with the others.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
"Uh..." Underling stood there, expecting something.
"It seems confused." Nisa pointed out as she looked at it.
"Just gimme a sec, wouldja." Underling topd the group before trying to pep talk the Killachine into moving.
"Hah! The dumb robots all rusty inside!" Ram pointed her finger at the Killachine as it remained still.
"Don't point and laugh at people, Ram. Especially when they're trying their best." Nepgear explained to the child.
"Her best... Isn't good enough." Rom muttered as she watched the grunt try to revive the robot.
"Maybe it really has gotten all rusted from being sealed away for so long." Compa gave the struggling grunt some advice.
"That's not funny! Why is this happening? And after its badass setup and entrance. Move it, ya piece of scrap!"
KICK!
CLICK!
VRRR...!
Underling said as she kicked the robot.
The machine's engine roared to life as it began to move more actively, gripping its weapons as it did.
"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" Underling cheered.
"How archaic. The machine really must be old if you can fix it with a couple of solid kicks." IF assumed.
"Shaddup! Who cares as long as it ends up working? Go get 'em, Killachine!" Underling commanded the robot as she would point towards the group.
"ENEMIES SPOTTED!"
TRANSFORM!
TRANSFORM!
TRANSFORM!
The CPUs of the group wasted no time transforming as they were engulfed in the signature white energy pillar.
"Let's defeat this war machine!" Nisa yelled as they charged the Killachine.
AL and Nebula were finally nearing where they had sensed the bandit and Gris' energy signatures.
The adventurer put away his phone as he had just finished talking to IF about going ahead without them. He hung up the phone before putting it back in his pocket.
"You told them?" AL asked as they were be running past a hole in a convenience store that was taped off. People gathered around, wondering how in Gamindustri did it form the exact image of Maryo jumping.
"Yep. They've been gone for a while now. The sun was up when they left." Nebula pointed out as it was night.
"Point. That bandit leader shouldn't be too far from where we're sensing him." AL said as they soon saw frozen alleyway.
"Huh?!" Nebula exclaimed as he came to a stop. "That alleyway!" He told AL as he looked towards it.
"It's been frozen!" AL conveyed basic info as he skidded to a stop beside his friend as they looked at the alleyway. The both of them walked up to the entrance and see something disturbing within.
It was the bloody corpses of two bandit goons, blood still dripping from their bodies as they were impaled onto the spike trap, their bodies extra cold from the freezing temperatures. The stench became apparent as they looked into the alleyway.
"Dead bodies...!" Nebula's eyes widened as he looked from the opening, keeping his voice low as to not attract any unwanted attention.
The only reason these bodies were not discovered was the time of day mixed with the fact that they were barely visible, with AL melting the ice as he approached the carcasses, Nebula trailing.
"Their blood isn't frozen, so they couldn't have been dead for too long." AL deduced as he slightly cringed at the holes in the corpses from the ice spikes, still impaling them.
"And those two aren't the only ones." Nebula pointed as he looked to the path that cut into the alleyway, and lead right into the outside of the bar and casino where the signature of Gris and the bandit leader was strongest.
AL looked down that path as he too saw the litter of dead bodies on the floor, with some brain matter present next to some headless corpses, pints upon pints of blood, and weapons and tomes scattered across the snow, as well as the empty hells of the ammunition on the ground as well.
If the stench in the alleyway was pungent, then the smell of blood and gunpowder here was prominent.
The duo slid down the rest of the ice trail as they were in the open now. The building was surrounded by the back of other buildings, with the only way in being the alleyway that they took.
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!
SHATTER!
"UAAAH!"
"OOF!"
"GAH!"
"UAGH!"
"WAUGH!"
RICOCHET! RICOCHET! RICOCHET! RICOCHET! RICOCHET! RICOCHET!
BOOM! PUMP! BOOM! PUMP! BOOM! PUMP!
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!
"UAH! UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
"CRAAAAAAAAAAWLING INNNNN MY SKIIIIIIIIIIIIN-!"
"EAT LEAD, SHITSTA- ARGH!"
BANG! BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG!BANG! BANG!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM
"My magnum go brrrr-!"
BOOM!!!
"AGH!!!"
BZZT!
ELECTROCUTE!
"HAMCIEPQPKDNQLSHSL!"
"Hokuto no Shinken: Jūretsu Ha!"
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
VANISH!
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!
PHASE!
"Pulsar Grenade!"
DISCHARGE!
FLASH!
"ARGH!"
"BLRGHDGXUSKDKXVSGH!"
"GLBNSMSIXODSKXJDVAP!"
"JDOXOSPFJCJDLYEAWQM!"
"DPDISPXJXOAMDVFPPFW!"
"IEPSPZLGQMRYUXVZMFL!"
"ADOLSBFIEPQNAPFBAVEI!"
"CANDKFLWPSPRBWPSJC!"
"LAPEHRNSOXHDLWPWYF!"
"ELAOFNSPAPCBLLAQETU!"
"FGHAOXPAERZMWPFPW!"
"Hokuto Shinken: Senran Kyaku!"
KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK!
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
"NANI?-!"
!!!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
GORY EXPLOSION!
And to add to the ominous vibe they felt, the sounds of rapid gunfire within the establishment as they could see the flashing of many guns as well as the cries of dying gang members within the casino bar.
"I... I..." AL was left speechless at the pure carnage that was taking place within the ground floor of the Golden Glacier.
"Well, at least we know he really is good at his job." Nebula lightened, trying to not scar himself with the brutal and spontaneous death of many people, albeit bad people, but still dying in such a brutal manner like electrocution and spontaneous explosion.
"ALL THIS TALK AND YOU DROP LIKE FLIES?! HOW QUAINT! I'LL SEND ALL OF YOU TO THE GRAVE FOR YOUR LACKLUSTER ABILITY! DIE!" Gris' voice could be heard within the bar as the cries of more gunmen could be heard as they would be brutally murdered in rapid succession.
DODGE!
GRAB!
TWIST!
ELBOW!
"ACK!"
GRAB!
BANG!
He dodged the bullets of a gunman next to him before grabbing, twisting, and breaking his arm with his elbow before grabbing his Luger pistol and shooting him in the face.
GRAB!
RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!
THROW!
BANG! BANG!
"Urk!"
THUD!
The goon dropped to the floor, dead as Gris grabbed his body to shield himself from the gunfire from another gunman before throwing his body at him, and shooting the one who fired at him twice, the bullets hitting him in the chest and head.
BOOM!
SIDESTEP!
BANG! BANG!
THUD! THUD!
The other one was killed as well as Gris would move to the side as he dodged the shotgun shells of the bartender, before shooting two more thugs in the head, making them drop to the floor.
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!
ZOOM!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
DROP!
THUD!
DROP!
He then emptied the chamber of the gun on three more thugs as they all fired at him only to miss as he got up close, and shoved the gun into their faces before pulling the trigger, making them fall over as a bullet pierced into their skulls.
DIVE!
THROW!
BOOM!
PUMP!
GRAB!
ROLL!
SNIPER SHOT!
BOOM!
PUMP!
THUD!
He quickly dived to the front of the casino as he threw the pistol somewhere else, dodging another shotgun shell as he would grab the Remington that was at the door after he killed the bruiser before picking it up and rolling to dodge a Dragunov shot, and pointed the gun and fire a shot before pumping the gun, killing the sniper.
DUCK!
BOOM!
SCATTER!
He then aimed at the bartender, who would duck right before Gris pulled the trigger, extending his lifespan for a few more seconds.
PUMP!
Gris grunted in annoyance as he applied his aura to the gun as the Remington glowed as he would grip the gun as he pumped it.
BOOM!!!!!!
SHATTER!
SHRED!
SPILL!
He then fired at the counter again, this time the pellets from the shotgun tearing apart the counter like butter as chunks of wood sent flying from where it was black as the glass cases of alcohol with the alcohol inside would be shattered, the remaining liquor being spilled that survived the initial gunfight.
"Ahh!" The bartender screamed in terror as his cover was blown to bits by the enhanced shotgun pellets.
DROP!
STOMP!
DISASSEMBLE!
"You can't hide from death, old man. You're a foot in the grave with all that grey hair on your head. Or rather, lack thereof." Gris pointed out as he dropped the shotgun before stomping on it, shattering the gun.
"Stay away!"
BOOM!
He warned as he aimed his shotgun and fired.
G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-GRAB!
CRUNCH!!!
DROP...!
...
...
But it was all be for naught as Gris would CATCH EVERY SINGLE PELLET, before crushing and dropping them on the ground. The old man would be scared beyond belief at what the man just did.
"What... W-What are you...?!" The old man asked, terrified.
GRAB!
DROP!
RAISE...!
Gris just grabbed the elder by his neck, before raising him high. He dropped his shotgun from surprise as he would be raised by the assassin.
"Ghk!" The old man struggled to breathe as Gris was grabbing his neck rather tightly.
"Time to join your son, gramps." The assassin told as Nebula ran inside, finally snapping out of his stupor from all the carnage.
"Gris, HOLD ON-!"
CLUTCH!!!
The old man's eyes rolled in the back of his head as he limped.
Nebula stopped as the man had been exterminated. Gris lowered his body, still grabbing him by the neck as he then turned to see who else had to die.
"...?"
Until he saw that it was Nebula and AL.
"Why hello there." He greeted as he dropped the old man's dead body on the floor.
"You killed them all, didn't you." Nebula assumed as stepped inside the bar. His question was answered as he couldn't feel a single living energy inside the room.
"I do this for a living. What did you expect." Gris justified the thoroughness of his actions, his tone as flat as the nation's goddess.
"I understand why you killed all the goons, because they were trying to kill you so you defended yourself by proxy, but the old man too? Dang." Nebula spotted as he looked at the limped body.
"I knew he was psycho, but I don't know he was downright sadistic." AL raised a brow as he shook away all the unpleasant feelings of disgust and mortification as he walked within the bar.
"The old man was trying to kill me as well, Noobula. And I had killed his son prior, who also tried to kill me for chasing his boss, who ordered them to do so. It would be cruel to let him live the rest of his days in depression from the loss of his son. Even though I am a murderer, I am also a professional. I have standards. Also, he was probably gonna die of cardiac arrest from my sheer power with the way he was fearing for his life, so I'd rather make it quick and painless than watch him painfully die from a heart attack from sheer fear." Gris rolled his eyes at the end.
"But what if he had a family?!" AL asked the assassin.
"I killed his family. And the rest probably knew that one day that those two were going to draw their bloody salary. The only thing that they didn't know, was that it was today. Same for every dead person in this room, and those outside. Even I know that one day, this might happen to me, as unlikely as it may be." Gris told the two as he looked at his hands.
"But it's an unspoken contract that all of us decided to sign when we became a part of this lifestyle. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Now stop talking about the moral perspectives and ramifications for murdering gangsters. We have a kingpin to kill." Gris sniggered as he went to walk upstairs.
"Actually, we're supposed to bring him in." Nebula pointed out.
"What." Gris deadpanned, his face going from badass to borderline peeved.
"The Loweean guards want him alive. That means in one piece and breathing, shoujo love route." AL explained.
"I know what it means, you matchstick." Gris spat. "And I got my hopes up to kill that slippery snake." Gris snarled as he balled his fists. He was never one to follow the law when it intruded in his business, but those two might actually make him face the consequences alongside the girl scout party they were with, so he sucked it up and clenched his fists tighter as he sighed.
"Doesn't mean you can't just push him really close to death." Nebula shrugged.
"Neb, what the fuck." AL cursed as he looked at his friend with a confused expression. Gris mimicked looking at the fellow CPU, but with one of intrigue.
"I'm thinking mercy and Gris coexisting is like water trying to mix with oil. So, if he can just get really close to killing him, then he can still feel the same rush as actually killing someone." Nebula rationalized.
"Still doesn't feel the same." Gris moped he went to walk up the stairs.
"Wait." AL halted. "I'm sensing multiple energies within that bathroom over there." AL pointed as he would look at the bathroom.
"Are they hostile?" Gris asked as he walked back down again. He focused his energy sensing, due to his watch being absent as he closed his eyes to sense them.
"We won't know until we open that door. They're average, but so was everyone in this room before." The adventurer responded as they neared the door.
Nebula grabbed the handle as he opened the door to see what was on the other side...!
A/N:
Heya there, reader!
If you're seeing this, this is a rewrite of the chapter, just to correct some repetition, fix some spelling errors, and improve the spelling quality, especially in the earlier chapters.
So remember, italics and bold is going for gold.
And there's another one.
Looks like things are heating up, with Gris committing manslaughter, The girls dealing with Underling, and Nebula being the voice of reason alongside a mob boss that's a menace to society.
Seems more random than tense, but this is Neptunia, not Berser-
ANYWAY, Rom and Ram are now on the team, deviation from canon as early as the Lowee Arc. How dandy. Also harboring budding animosity to the not harem protagonist Nebula. Not too good narrative-wise, but interest wise, very naisu~
Also the introduction to the touted Killachine..!
Did I mention that the boys are busting a kingpin with a gang that clashes with Lowee's status quo to the point that it's the equivalent of handing a toddler an AK-47?
It's unique at least... I hope.
But anyway, there's the solution to the power creep for now with that mini-arc within Lowee. The way of JoJo's. Less strength, more shenanigans.
Anyway, that's it, folks.
Arrivederci.
Read and Review!