"I think we lost him." Ryoma stated as he let out deep breaths. He was still being dragged around by Siegfried under his shoulder as his long hair had become a mess due to the wind.
In fact, he looked like he was about to barf.
"It's too early to say that." Siegfried kept twisting and turning through the trees in the forest. "He might be hiding in the foliage."
"True. But we're almost at the safe house I have nearby. We're safe."
It was at that moment that Siegfried's instincts suddenly screamed at him.
Immediately using all his strength to change directions, he felt cold sweat drip down his brow as he saw a large tree branch flying past him.
"What in the..."
There was no time to think as immediately, tens more of the branches instantly flew over at breakneck speeds.
Siegfried, unable to fire Shamash due to only having one arm at the moment, could only play a bullet hell game as he kept running.
A hint of anger appeared on his face as he shouted. "Ryoma! You and your fucking mouth!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newton's third law stated that every action has an equal but opposite reaction.
And that's what throwing branches realistically should be doing to me. It should slow me down while I try to create obstacles for Siegfried and Ryoma.
Here's where the first adaptation came into play.
It came up with a strategy. A way of using my abilities that allowed me to throw things while maintaining my speed in the same direction.
I would throw things while keeping the object still on Infinity. However, the opposite force that affected me when I threw would be blocked by Infinity.
As I threw and threw, I inched closer and closer towards my targets.
Siegfried clearly noticed this as his movements became more frantic, more unpredictable. He was burning a lot of energy trying to ensure I couldn't track where he wanted to go.
A shame that it was all for naught.
They couldn't make abrupt and sharp turns like before due to me cutting their possible movements off, with Epitaph telling me their possible directions before they could even go.
It was like they were in the palm of my hand.
And I was slowly closing it in on them.
Finally, I closed in enough for them to be able to hear me even if I spoke normally.
"If you don't want to play Touhou anymore, you can just stop y'know?"
"Fuck off."
"Suit yourself."
I took aim, another branch in my hand I got from using cleave at Siegfried's leg. It wouldn't cripple him, but it would definitely hurt quite a bit.
However, when I fired, Siegfried's future changed into something that surprised even I.
That surprise was costly as it gave Siegfried the opening to carry out that future.
Siegfried immediately tossed up Ryoma, away from any of the flying branches. His single arm reached towards his jacket and pulled out Shamash once more.
I immediately broke out of my stupor as I did the same.
He turned around.
And as our eyes met, we both pointed our Shamash's at each other. The barrels glowed orange as they charged in power, ready for a contest of firepower.
It was at this moment however that time seemed to come to a slow.
The eight handled wheel behind me showed its shine once more as it glowed white.
*Clunk*
Thus, there was a dilemma. In that tiny second before both our fingers pressed on the trigger, I could try for the new ability that I gained... one that was quite familiar to me...
But there was a caveat.
If I were to miscalculate, I would be too slow, and I would take the brunt of Shamash's shot head on.
I wouldn't want to test if it could actually breach Infinity right now.
What should I do?
Both sides had their own risks, but I suddenly realised.
I was overthinking again.
A crazed smile appeared on my face as I tensed up.
I'm going to fucking do it.
And at that moment, both Siegfried and I fired...
At that, the forest was dyed a fiery crimson.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The horrid smell of smoke filled my nose as I stood in the middle of the clearing created from the clash of both Siegfried and I.
We both seemingly had an unspoken gentleman's agreement.
No using full power of Shamash here.
It was to ensure that Ryoma, who had been tossed into the air, wouldn't be caught in our crossfires.
However, now I had problem.
Infinity felt... off.
After that clash of firepower between us, Infinity had protected me from the power of the guns. In spite of that, it seemed that it caused Infinity to become unstable?
No in fact, I could feel that the spatial paradox caused by Infinity seemed... damaged in a sense. It was recovering, but it wouldn't be up for the time being.
I looked down at the gun in my hand in shock.
Was there some sort of Authority in this gun? One that could affect the fabric of space?
"What??!! *Cough* *Cough* You don't look harmed..." Came a rough voice from smoke.
A smirk came to my lips. "Skill issue I suppose" My retort returned as I looked at the man emerging from the smoke.
His clothes were burnt off, leaving only his pants. His upper body was revealed to the world as there were light burns on him.
"Ha! You're still talking crap. Let me guess, your barrier's off now isn't it?"
"You can try it if you want. Where did you keep Ryoma?"
"I kept him somewhere safe."
"That's good," I sighed in relief. "You seemed a bit banged up. Want to surrender now? I'd appreciate having a gun on both hands to carry."
Siegfried begun to stretch his muscles. "Worrying about us?."
"Well, the two of you are Kiana and Mei's dads after all." I shrugged as dropped into a fighting stance. "It wouldn't be nice to bring you to them in urns."
What would come next would likely be a fist fight.
"You care about them... Kiana and Mei..." Siegfried readied himself as well, already done stretching.
"You're reading a bit too much into things, old man. The only thing I care about would be a nice scoop of ice-cream after this is done."
"Our safety wouldn't be on your concern if that wasn't the case though?"
"I still need information." I retorted.
"You'd only need one of us for that."
"Huh. You're right." I blinked. "But I still need to get some money back from you."
"What? Why? Aren't you rich?"
"Kiana has been raiding my snack stash." I said as a gloomy cloud appeared over me. "Do you have any idea how much grief she has put me through when I open my cupboard to see... nothing??"
Hearing that, Siegfried immediately broke out in laughter.
"And you said you didn't care."
I kept silent at that.
Not because I had no reply, but because I noticed something.
"A person who didn't care wouldn't allow someone to do this to them." Siegfried continued.
I still kept silent.
Seeing this added oil to the fire for Siegfried as he continued. "You struck me as more of the 'Piece of shit' type at first, y'know that, brat? But hearing this, I like you a bit more now. Makes you feel a bit more... trustworthy...
I'll still enjoy beating you up thou-"
I clasped my hands before he could finish his words.
With that, I immediately appeared before him and smashed my fist at his chin. Siegfried's eyes widened but he had no time to make any defense at all.
Crack
I socked him on the chin, sending him flying.
I didn't let him go however as I gestured with a finger.
And with that, the momentum sending him flying away disappeared as he flew back towards me.
Setting him on the ground, I looked at Siegfried, passed out with swirly eyes.
Now that does put a smile on my face.
Talk shit more old man.
Me = 2, fraud = 0.
I had constantly been using Epitaph to show me the perfect moment and set of actions needed to pull this off. It took over a thousand times of constant rechecks before I found the right moment to attack.
One would say... shoot my shot but sounds pretty gay not gonna lie.
Picking up the unconscious Siegfried, my nose wrinkled as I could still smell the alcohol on him?
How does that even work? Didn't we just shoot huge balls of flames at each other? The smell can survive through that?
Oh well... I guess I should just search for Ryoma.
Now where is that guy...
My eyes scanned through the area before it came into contact with the purple-haired man puking his guts out behind the tree.
"There you are Ryoma~"
That made the man freeze when he heard my call. His head mechanically turned back to look at me, who was giving him the brightest smile I had ever given.
Why did he seem so unwilling though?
Well, who cares. I sure don't.
With another gesture from me, the man was sent flying into my arms as well. To his credit, he didn't scream during this unsafe roller coaster journey.
"You..." Ryoma gasped out.
"Me."
"Won't... let you hurt Mei..."
"Time for you to go to bed old man. I think the both of you are starting to develop dementia."
After that, I ignored the man as I prepared my Honkai energy again. I brought up my hands as a soft blue glow appeared.
As I clasped my hands, the air thinned. Leaves bent inward, as if the forest itself had inhaled and forgotten how to exhale.
The ability that I had adapted... one that truly belonged to a person with these features... had returned.
Cursed Technique: Blue
And then we were gone.
(A/N: How is the chapter? Please give powerstones and comment!!)