Although Jim gained strength far beyond that of a normal human by transforming into the Money Dopant, the abilities of the Money Memory were not centered on combat. Compared to other high-performance Memories, it was severely lacking in a fight.
Facing Frank Castle, Jim stood no chance. He was struck by the Engine Blade almost instantly, sent rolling across the ground in a heap of pain.
"Who... who are you?" Jim gasped, clutching his side as he scrambled to his feet.
Frank snorted coldly. "For a Dopant like you who uses the power of Gaia Memories to prey on others, I am your despair."
The headlights on Frank's helmet flared to life as the power of the Accel Memory surged. Red-hot energy coated the Engine Blade as he swung it toward Jim with lethal intent.
Panicking at the sight of the terrifying strike, Jim thrust his hands forward, firing energy projectiles shaped like gold coins. While the barrage momentarily forced Frank to defend, Jim used the opening to scramble away and create some distance.
"Is that the best you can do?" Frank lowered his blade, his voice dripping with contempt as the smoke from the coin-blasts cleared from his armor.
Seeing that his attacks were utterly ineffective against the armored warrior, Jim's resolve shattered. He turned tail and bolted.
"Thinking of leaving?!" Frank's Accel armor roared with the mechanical sound of a high-performance engine. Moving with a burst of incredible speed, he circled around the fleeing Dopant and delivered a front kick that sent Jim tumbling back into the dirt.
"What do you want?! Why are you targeting me?!" Jim cried out, trapped on the ground.
Frank raised the Engine Blade, his voice as cold and flat as a tombstone. "Since you used the power of Gaia Memories to strike at the innocent, you shall receive the punishment you deserve."
"Innocent?" Jim let out a derisive sneer. "The people I took life from are anything but 'good.' These gamblers lose their minds and put their own lives on the table once they've run out of cash. There's nothing they won't bet—once their wealth is gone, they'd sell their own wives and children for one more hand... People like that deserve to die!"
Frank remained unmoved. With a swift motion, he struck Jim with the flat of his blade, sending him flying.
"Mr. Punisher!" At that moment, Jessica and Luke rushed forward, attempting to intervene.
"Are you two trying to stop me?" Frank turned his gaze toward them, his tone laced with a dangerous edge.
Jessica steadied herself and spoke up. "Mr. Punisher, even if Mr. Jim has committed a crime, he should be turned over to the police."
Frank didn't answer immediately. He merely glanced at Jessica and adjusted his grip on the blade. "I'm giving you a chance to step aside before I act."
His posture made his answer perfectly clear.
Seeing the situation escalating, Luke quickly held Jessica back and addressed Frank. "Mr. Punisher, while Mr. Jim took people's life force, the victims haven't been declared dead yet. Technically, he hasn't committed murder. Perhaps we can force him to return what he took."
Frank paused. He stood still for a moment before continuing his slow, methodical approach toward Jim. "I will break his Gaia Memory first. As for the rest... we'll see if the victims can recover then."
Just as Frank twisted the throttle on his Accel Driver, preparing to execute a Maximum Drive to shatter the Money Memory, several energy blasts erupted from the side, forcing him to leap back.
"Good thing I arrived in time, or you would have been finished by this guy," a new voice rang out. Bullseye appeared, transformed into the Arms Dopant.
Relieved to see a familiar face, Jim scrambled to his feet and hid behind Bullseye.
"So he has backup. It seems this non-combatant Dopant isn't just a lone wolf," Frank observed, eyeing the newcomer. "This confirms a connection to the organization selling the Memories. He must serve an important function for them."
Frank pointed his blade at Bullseye. "Fine. I'll take down the reinforcement too. Let's see what kind of trash this organization keeps sending."
"We'll see who takes down who," Bullseye retorted. He drew a massive, broken-tipped broadsword from his back with his right hand, while his left hand transformed into a multi-barreled machine gun.
"Get out of here. I'll handle this one," Bullseye ordered Jim without looking back.
Jim nodded frantically and fled without hesitation. Frank tried to pursue, but Bullseye's suppressive fire forced him to stay put.
"Don't even think about chasing him. Stay here and play with me for a while," Bullseye said with a manic excitement, swinging the giant sword at Frank.
Frank didn't back down, meeting the strike with his own blade. The clashing of metal echoed through the street.
"Luke?" Jessica looked toward the direction Jim had fled, her voice an unspoken question. Should we follow?
Luke nodded, but before they could move, several grunts using Masquerade Memories leapt from the shadows, surrounding the duo.
"Keep those two busy!" Bullseye commanded the grunts as he locked blades with Frank.
"You dare look away while fighting me?" Frank's Engine Blade swept Bullseye's broadsword aside, followed by a vertical slash aimed at his head.
Bullseye's right-hand weapon instantly shifted from a broadsword into a sleek long katana, parrying the heavy blow. However, while Frank had the advantage in strength, Bullseye used the opening to press his left-hand machine gun against Frank's chest and fire at point-blank range. Sparks flew, and the force of the impact sent Frank skidding back several meters.
"Damn you." Frank's anger flared. A brilliant red aura erupted from his armor as the Accel Memory's power was pushed further. The Engine Blade glowed with intense energy, resembling a mass of burning flames that radiated searing heat.
Sensing the overwhelming pressure, Bullseye grew serious. His own blade began to glow with a blood-red light. The two collided, their weapons creating shockwaves of light and energy that rippled through the air.
In the end, Frank's sheer tenacity won out, and a powerful swing sent Bullseye tumbling backward.
Bullseye, however, was not seriously injured. He snorted with dissatisfaction as both of his arms transformed into gun barrels, unleashing a relentless hail of bullets to keep Frank at bay and prevent a follow-up attack.
"That's enough for today. We'll finish this next time," Bullseye said. Calculating that Jim was far enough away, his mission was complete. He knew Frank was a handful, and with Jessica—a Gold Memory user—nearby, things would get ugly if they teamed up against him.
"You think you can just leave?!" Frank roared, preparing to give chase.
But Bullseye suddenly fired a glob of liquid metal at Frank's feet. It solidified instantly, pinning Frank's right foot to the pavement. By the time Frank broke free a few moments later, Bullseye had vanished into the night.
(End of Chapter)