The tentacles lunged toward Hano. With barely a second to react, she jumped, the writhing mass missing her by mere inches.
"Agh!"
She stumbled, then quickly pushed herself to her feet, eyes locked on Boris, who was already preparing another venomous strike.
"I'll make sure your death is a painful one…"
Boris sneered, his smile half-melted, grotesque. His tentacles rose again, now leaking a toxic gas that sizzled as it melted the ground beneath.
"Shit…"
Hano turned and ran, boots slamming against the ground as the tentacles followed close, too close.
"Stop running and just die!"
Boris shrieked with a maniacal grin, the tentacles closing the gap like predators. Hano glanced back, panic twisting her expression. She darted toward a nearby wall, and just as
the tendrils reached her heels, she leapt.
"That trick won't work again…"
Boris muttered darkly. The tentacles curved upward, following her path mid-air. The gas they exhaled hissed, melting the building's wall like hot knives through butter. Hano gritted her teeth. Suddenly, a tentacle lashed from behind.
"!?"
Her instincts kicked in. She drew a small blade strapped to her leg, its edge quickly engulfed in a purple aura. With a sharp swing, she sliced the tentacle clean off and kicked off it, evading the cloud of poison and the others racing after her.
"Stop being so annoying!"
Boris screamed. His tentacles twisted mid-air, launching upward to meet her again. Hano slashed the first wave, then tossed a strange orb into the sky. She cut through it with precision, and it exploded, smoke engulfing the area.
"Huh?!"
Boris blinked, disoriented.
"What kind of stupid trick is this?!"
He scanned his surroundings, but Hano had vanished.
"Show yourself, you human!"
he snarled.
Hidden behind a rooftop, Hano sat silently, breath ragged, chest heaving from the relentless pursuit.
"How is he still alive in that state…?! It shouldn't even be possible…"
She clenched her fists, mind racing. As she moved to peek out—
CRACK!
A tentacle burst through the roof beside her.
"—!!"
Her blood ran cold.
"How did he find me so fast?!"
She scrambled away, panic and frustration etched across her face.
"There you are…"
Boris hissed. He raised his hand and launched a barrage of poison-coated spikes. Hano's eyes widened as she dodged and deflected them one by one, each impact searing the air.
"You seem too focused…"
Boris taunted.
Suddenly, a tentacle erupted from beneath her.
"AGHH!!"
The gas touched her leg. Hano cried out, falling as the toxic fumes melted through her skin. She clutched her leg, agony overtaking her. But Boris wasn't finished.
"It's over…"
He muttered, smiling with pure delight. The tentacles closed in from every direction. Hano squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the end.
"No, it's not!"
A flash of movement, and Liam appeared, grabbing Hano in his arms just before the tentacles reached her.
"W-what?!"
Boris's eyes widened in fury. Liam landed softly, holding Hano carefully. She looked up at him, shocked, as she noticed the blood, soaked bandages around his waist.
He smiled gently before shifting his gaze to Boris.
"Who the hell are you?! How dare you interrupt me?!"
Boris bellowed, eyes flaring with venom.
Liam remained silent for a beat… then smirked.
"I'm Liam. Leader of the Rush Party."
His voice rang with resolve.
"And I'll make sure to put an end to you… lab experiment."
Boris blinked, then burst into laughter.
"Rush Party?!"
He scoffed. "That's the dumbest name I've ever heard."
His tentacles retracted slightly behind him, slithering like snakes preparing to strike.
"End me? Sure. I'd love to see you try."
Liam narrowed his eyes.
"Hmph."
He drew his revolvers, the barrels already humming with magic. Before he could act, Hano grabbed his coat.
"Be careful… He releases dangerous gases that—"
Before she could finish, Liam gently pressed his hand over her mouth.
"Stop talking… and take care of that wound."
His tone was stern, but kind.
"I'll be fine."
As she said it, her leg throbbed violently.
"Agh!"
Liam's jaw clenched.
"I'm not suggesting, Hano. That's an order."
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she hesitated. Then she lowered her gaze.
"Got it…"
Suddenly, tentacles shot up behind them.
"Liam—!!"
Hano tried to warn him, but—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Without even turning, Liam fired behind him. Each bullet exploded on contact, tearing through the tentacles like they were made of paper. Boris's face went pale.
"H-huh?! How did he…"
He froze in disbelief. Hano, still in Liam's arms, stared at him in awe.
"Now go!"
Liam ordered. Without hesitation, Hano ran off.
"…Be careful, Liam…"
she muttered under her breath, her face unreadable, but laced with concern.
Boris trembled, but suddenly, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
"Heh… You son of a bitch…"
he muttered, almost impressed.
Liam remained still, calm, revolvers raised. His eyes were cold, unreadable.
"You'll regret facing me, human! I'll bring hell upon you!"
Boris growled, the poison in his hands solidifying into two jagged, bladed weapons.
"I've been through hell more times than you've been a lab rat, Boris."
Liam replied coolly.
"And I'll show you…"
His revolvers surged with power, magic leaking from them like smoke under pressure.
"…just how useless your poison really is."
Boris growled, then, laughed.
"Try me!"
And with that, he lunged forward.
---
Hano vs Boris: Winner—Boris!
Second round!
Liam vs Boris!
---