I had to jump high in the air to avoid the constant barrage of high-calibre projectiles from the SV1 and SV2. I thought they were completely destroyed and unable to be fixed. And yet here they are shooting at me. I messed up, and one of the large projectiles hit me dead on, causing me to crash into a few trees before skidding on the ground.
[CE : 23%]
Damn, I don't have much left. I ignored the pain all over my body and flew in the air where the two war-machines resumed their barrage of fire. Dang it, this is so unfair. Why do I have to fight two killer-death machines? Like ref, do something!
"Any advice to take these two down!?" I shouted as I barely dodged the projectiles coming for me.
This would have been easier if I were above 50% Cosmic Energy, but I'm low, and I only have one more candy bar to fuel me. I wanted to save it just in case, but I suppose I don't have any choice. I flew high in the air, out of their range. Quickly pulling the candy from my belt, unwrapped it and started to devour it.
"The SURVIVOR 1 and 2 are powerful weapons, though they shouldn't be too difficult to beat compared to the third. The best thing you can do is focus on one target, mainly the SV1, it's the weakest one." Gavin said.
I didn't say anything, only swallowing the rest of my candy as my CE went up to only 39%. I felt cosmic red lightning wrap around me before charging in, my hands in front, filling them with large amounts of energy. The SV1 barely had time to react when its head was taken off by my attack; it stumbled before tumbling to the ground. I was about to go for another charge to finish it off, only to be swatted away by the SV2. I recovered my balance quickly, though it still hurt; my nose was bleeding slightly from that backhand.
Despite not having a head, the SV1 stood right back up. I clicked my tongue. It makes sense; my SEE Goggles are telling me that the head is the pilot's cockpit, but the problem is that there is no pilot. It was being controlled through the Silver Marksman. Speaking of that butt hole, he was standing on top of the SV2's head, battered, but looking ready for more. He glared at me, and I glared back, even though he couldn't see my eyes behind the goggles.
He's really not going to stop unless either me or him are dead. I grimaced, remembering the brutal aftermath of my fight with Atlas, seeing his muscles torn up like that still makes me shudder. I have to knock this guy out next month, if I don't want this guy to die. Still, easier said than done, I really need a new super move to take out tanky foes like these. They resumed shooting at me. This time, they started using missiles and other projectiles that I didn't care to know. I dodged them as I moved forward.
My visor opened, and I fired my laser beams, aiming for SM, who barely dodged them by ducking. Since he was controlling the machine with his brain, the machine faltered for a second, but that second was more than enough for me. I tackled the dude, going down as I used his body as a pillow to cushion our crash to the dirt floor. After skidding to a stop, he moaned in pain. It looks like I broke 60% of his bones.
"Stay here, imma gonna break your toys," I say before zooming to the machines that remained stationary without SM's influence.
But that won't be the case for long. I took a deep breath, I pushed my hands over my head, as I went full speed towards the helpless SV1. My fist collided with the metal, which allowed me to go inside the machine before exiting through the other side. I grit my teeth as I felt the bones of my snap from colliding with something hard at nearly light-speed. It may have been healed instantly, but the phantom pain was there for a few short moments before I was free of it.
It wasn't pleasant, but sadly, it wasn't enough. I knew it wasn't enough; the hole I made in the SV1 was small, not enough damage. And so I dove in, forcing myself inside before exiting, feeling the pain of my bones being broken with each collision. This repeats several times before the machine starts to move again; however, by now it was full of holes and damaged. It moved, but it was slow trying to grasp at me. The second one tried to help its brother by trying to swat me away, but I grabbed its arm before flying high, spinning the machine around while doing so.
Then I let go, dropping on top of the SV1. The machines collided, the first machine being damaged severely, no longer a threat, while the second quickly got up. Damaged, but still in a condition to throw down. I panted, swallowing a lump in my throat before growling at my CE meter.
[CE : 16%]
"Hold on a little longer, Red, you're almost done." Cheered Gavin.
"But, you gotta do it fast. Man, you really need a new special attack for this kind of thing."
Tell me about it. It takes a telegraph swing, which I caught easily. I held on tight before yelling as I lifted the machine in the air again, but this time I won't settle for just chucking it. I lifted it high in the air before swinging it hard to the ground. I lifted again only to slam into the ground, holding its arm tight. It tries to break from my grip, but the constant damage is making it unable to grab a hold of me. I made it hit the ground over and over again.
"Oh-" I did so many times that the arm tires opened, freeing the SV2, tumbling to the ground.
Its metallic body is battered beyond repair, full of dents, and metal parts are missing. But even still, it was trying to get up. I frowned. Okay, it's time to end this. Still gripping its torn arm hard, I begin to spin vertically and fast. This caused me to become a saw of death. By the time the SV2 stood up, I went in. The speed and force of the arm acted like a large, sharp blade, slicing the machine in half from head to pelvis.
It split apart, dropping to the ground, unmoving. But I wasn't done yet, despite having already won. I roared as I slammed the torn hand to the two large remains, causing an explosion powerful enough to blow me back. I grinned, not even caring as I crashed hard to the ground, just enjoying the lights from the explosions.
"Well, that's one way to take care of them. A bit dramatic, but well done." Gavin said.
"Dramatic, my awesome booty, that was amazing!" Jason shouts.
Yeah, I'll admit that was pretty cool, minus the fact that my body feels like I was put in a grinder. I groaned as I pushed myself back up before quickly ducking from a roundhouse kick from Silver Marksman. I pulled my elbow before slamming it into his abdomen, sending him flying before his back collided with a tree. He sits his bum down on the ground using the tree to lean. Despite the intense damage his body suffered, his fleshy eye remained defiant. I shook my head.
"Crapbaskets, I destroyed your machine and made your bones turn to goo, but you still want to fight me?"
He struggled to get up, using the tree to support himself. "I…told you…that I will stop you…before you get in Arc's way."
I rolled my eyes. He grunts, his legs shaking as he forces his broken body to stand.
"Arc's dream…for a brighter world…will…come true." He gasped, coughing.
I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fist.
"Damn it! Wake up already, regardless of his intentions, putting innocent lives at stake is wrong. Even if he's right, the price of doing so is too high!"
"Sacrafices…must…be…made."
I gritted my teeth. These people, this New World Order, are full of deranged psychoses. At least that evil douchebag Atlas knew that what he was doing was bad. They really believe this is the only way to fix the world. I wanted to say something, to tell him there is another way, but I bit my lip.
Because I didn't know there was another way, and Arc's question earlier haunts me. What would I do? If I were in his position, what would I do to change a rotten society for the better? To take down a cruel Government without the need for bloodshed. The fact that I didn't have an answer pissed me off.
It made me angry.
"Is this the only way?" I asked.
This made him widen his eyes briefly; clearly, he wasn't expecting that question. He looks up to the night sky, blood dripping from his mouth. He lets out a long, drawn sigh before looking at me directly.
"Yes."
I clicked my tongue. No, that can't be the only. I refuse to believe it!
"Red Justice, your power…" He starts snapping my attention back to him.
"There's…a limit…right?"
Chills crawled up my spine, and my mouth hung agape. I swallowed heavily, not bothering to look directly at him.
"W-What are you talking about? Did my hits cause your brain to turn to mush?"
"...I see…so…Arc was right…you're powers…are finite…that is why…you eat…during battle to replenish yourself…I can see it with this…eye." He gestures to the mechanical blue eye.
"The energy…you're producing…is a lot…less than we first…fought."
"Crap, he's got us." Growled Gavin.
Damn, he's the first one who figured it out. I put my fist, ready to fight. I might be at 5% CE, but I still have enough in the tank to beat this guy, especially at his current state. Silver Marksman lets out a relaxed smile.
"That means…that…this…might kill you."
Alarm bells started to ring in my head, as my fist sparked with red lightning.
"I'll admit you got me figured it out, but I have more than-" In a split second, he charged at me, and I instantly prepared myself, throwing my arm back to punch, only to my confusion be embraced by the man.
Wait, what the crackers? He's…hugging me. After having a death battle? His body is broken, and he's hugging me, the enemy.
"Uh…thanks?" I said as I patted his back.
He squeezed tight, burying my head to his shoulder. Is he planning to suffocate me? Either way, this was pointless, not to mention awkward. I should punch his lights out before he embarrasses us any further-
"BEN, GET OFF HIM NOW!!" Gavin sceerched, causing me to recoil from the sudden loudness of his voice.
I wanted to shout back for hurting my ear, only for my SEE Goggles x-ray vision showed me what's inside the Silver Marksman's body. There wasn't anything special, only a couple of cybernetic stuff on his insides, but what caught my attention was his heart. It was mechanical and glowing. My SEE Goggles start to freak out.
[Large amount of Energy detected!]
[Explosion Yield: lowest estimation 50 Gigatons of Energy!]
I blinked. "Wait, wha-"