He allowed the image to fade and nodded to himself IÆll need to deal with its Skill evaluations before I can pin down the exact emotional state for Yggdrasil Even if I donÆt want to interfere in the chaos of what is coming for Expira it will be useful to take away some of its ripples and force them into Yggdrasil Eventually even this stubborn old tree will bloom like a flower
He turned his attention to his neck image and the one that still left him feeling the most conflicted the Grey Creature He looked at his own face within the armor and the scales the two tails and the familiar eyes of Yystrix
Zack Krum felt like the incarnation of a war god ripping through the hastily assembled first line of defense in Zone 7 The guards stood slightly askew on the high wall around the market the interior of which had been made to look like the facade of the buildings so that the various attendees didnÆt realize how trapped they truly were and were still partially blinded by ToddÆs scraps of cloth when the trio had made it to the ledge
One guard whipped a stun baton around but Zack Krum had already pinched his elbow and folded the joint to bring the weapon to its ownerÆs chest for a brief kiss As it released its sizzling charge Krum sashayed forward to his next few opponents He hip checked on guard off the edge and caught another raising his weapon With a grin on his face he flipped the man into a tumbling somersault several meters in the air
The guard began to scream as he got over his dizziness and realized he was falling off the wall
Zack planted his foot and turned ready to enjoy more Judo flexing but the wall around them was clear A few crumpled forms remained but none capable of slowing them down Zeta had boldly smashed three backward and four more folded underneath precise hits from ToddÆs Scrawled metal bars he usually kept strapped to his side
Todd raised an eyebrow over his creepily inert eyeballs likely noticing ZackÆs enthusiasm for more violence The older teen ducked his head and followed as they leapt over the edge Something between jealousy and protectiveness warred in his chest Yes I know you are more powerful than me even if you are several years younger ThatÆs why I donÆt get why you are so
At a certain balcony three levels down from the top Zeta stopped The automaton landed on the edge and twitched slightly as though unsure how to proceed Zack crashed to the stone ground after hopping off his vehicle and rolled By the time he was standing he rather awkwardly realized that the reason Zeta had paused was the woman was on the balcony pressed up against the far wall and watching the new arrivals with concern
He tried a rakish smile The woman was beautiful with soft lavender hair and pale pink eyes Her arms were crossed defensively across her chest Hello miss DonÆt worry about us we are here to rescue you
Yet just as soon as he finished speaking Zack Krum settled into a crouch The woman in front of him her eyes glowing that familiar baleful grey light raised her hand and conjured a swirling ball of light ZackÆs instincts screamed warning of the danger that she represented Then he looked at the woman a second time past her beauty He saw the shimmering scales on her temples and the horns that curled out from her forehead
She a Chimera Todd whispered perched at the edge of the balcony like a baby bird about to be shoved into freefall by its mother
The light the woman created grew brighter as she prepared to unleash her Skill Todd swayed ZackÆs eyes narrowed that horrible desperation finally finding a target This time he wouldnÆt flinch He took a step forward about to pounce but then Zeta was there its powerful brass fingers clamping onto ZackÆs wrist Wait
The automaton looked solemnly at the woman IÆm sure youÆve analyzed the odds There is no future for you here Come with us leave this place Those distant possibilities we can show them to you With us statistics wonÆt matter as much Even as I say that I feel foolish
Zack looked up at the brass man in confusion What are you doing SheÆs a monster She canÆt really understand you
The System translates language for all intelligent life Zeta responded And human cultural additions to communication are not so important as you believe This being understands
ZackÆs eyes narrowed She
The moon whispered I would be saved by earth bones The womanÆs voice was low and cool like a stream at night She closed her hand and the deadly light vanished She walked up and rapped a knuckle against Zeta That is you
I can be considered bones I am a composite alloy ZetaÆs voice sounded strangely muffled Up close Zack noticed how tall the woman was She towered over all of them a few inches even above Zeta But the brass man and the strange female chimera locked gaze and seemed content to just stare at each other
Yet Zack couldnÆt believe this nonsense He turned to Todd We need
We need to go Todd had already drawn a Scrawl on an extra board and tossed it at the womanÆs feet Zeta tell your new friend that we need to move now before the guards come back in force We donÆt have long
A new voice spoke from above the balcony Unfortunately it is already too late You are under arrest for attempting to free a dangerous criminal Please surrender otherwise I cannot guarantee what follows will not be extremely painful
All three pivoted and looked up Standing on a cloud a man in a sharp Zone 7 military uniform looked down on them with folded arms He had a slightly curved blade at his waist Zack even recognized him
They had been caught by Huang Li the man who wielded the Sky Slaying Sword
Chapter 1900
Zack KrumÆs fingers tingled as he looked up at that stern faced figure A breeze tugged at the edge of his shirt That desperation was back howling with glee at the sudden threat that presented itself in front of him And a true powerhouse no less someone who had fought against some of the best in Donnyton at one of the large tournaments If he could prove himself against this man
Zeta moved first a blurred incarnation of brass as his modular limbs flipped on themselves Without any effort he shifted from a metal humanoid to a clawed metal beast crouching close to the stone to pounce up at the threat Yet even as the automaton moved Huang LiÆs arm countered him by drawing his curved sword and unleashing a ray shining light
Even the speed of it was uncanny ZackÆs pupils dilated Good thing I got the chance to see it before I tried to tangle it up
With a domineering clang that slash overwhelmed all of ZetaÆs momentum and pressed it into the ground Huang Li gracefully raised his blade regarding them all with a cool stare as though implying that non lethal attack was the one warning they would be given The breeze around them began to stir the tension with more vigor
Yes ZackÆs eyes glittered This is what I deserve
The eye of the moon has become clouded The Chimera woman observed into the strained silence Despite the display of Huang Li she seemed detached No possibility of escape exists any longer
As I said Zeta twisted its head around to look at the woman Its limbs folded back to their humanoid variations but it stayed with its belly against the ground The delightful side of interacting with humanoids is they manage to overturn statistics
Zack and Todd acting with unspoken cooperation launched themselves into motion Sprinting like a linebacker Zack dashed directly for the edge of the balcony to throw himself at Huang Li At the same time Todd waved a hand and sent five metal bars and several small pieces of wood spiraling around the cloud riding man ready to strike at the first sign of weakness
Snorting Huang Li slashed again The movement was too fast for Zack to follow but with the prior visual he could at least could see the shining crescent of energy the attack unleashed even now this powerful figure was toying with them
The corner of ZackÆs mouth quirked up Well letÆs make him regret that