Chereads / SkillGap / Chapter 40 - CHAPTER 40: BATTLE CITY

Chapter 40 - CHAPTER 40: BATTLE CITY

"... Damn, those two have been able to keep up with me, running away isn't gonna do anything."

Curpriu stops running and turns around, he adjusts his shirt and pulls his deck of black cards from his pocket. His blank but curious face changes to a big grin.

Raskan and Shima stop a few feet away from him.

Cupru: Alright! We're pretty far away… Let the show begin!

Shima and Raskan stop and stare.

Cupriu snickers.

Curpriu: Fools! I don't have the piece, you've chased me for nothing!

Raskan: Oh… I guess that means we have no reason to be here.

Shima: What a big waste of time.

Raskan and Shima begin to walk away, Cupriu looks at them with a confused expression.

Cupriu: Uh? Hello!? I'm evil, if you don't come back I'll kill someone I swear!

They turn around.

Shima: … Maybe we should just take him out, for wasting our time.

Raskan: That's a good idea.

They walk back to him, Cupriu shuffles his deck of cards. Then he puts it on top of his arm and it somehow sticks nicely there.

Shima: You'll regret telling us to come back, tuxedo boy.

Shima pulls out her whip, and then a small box that morphs into her chainsaw.

Raskan looks at his gray and black watch with some tints of gold and makes a disgusted face. On its screen, in yellow text, it states "Water Breathing."

Raskan's watch displays the current skill he has. His skill changes at random intervals (mostly at around a minute but it can be earlier or later) and whatever skill it will be is random.

Raskan: Shima, you go ahead and fight, my skills ass.

Shima: Okay, you owe me a dollar for making me work extra.

Raskan: … You know what? I'll fight.

Raskan steps forward, and Shima laughs.

Shima: I'm kidding, you're incompetent you know that?

Raskan: I'm incompetent for like a minute, don't stretch it.

Curpriu aggressively draws a card and shows it off. The card has a picture of a giant beast resembling a camel that has its neck being weighed down by several chains with metal balls at their ends attached to it.

Shima: The hell is that?

Cupriu: It's a card. Idiot.

Shima just looks at him with a blank expression.

Cupriu drops the card and it plummets to the floor. The beast emerges out of the card, it starts small but speedily grows.

Once it's all out, it begins to spin its head violently, breaking its neck in order to rotate 360 degrees. The spike balls spin around, making it hard for Shima to approach.

She summons multiple vines and launches the small spikes from them toward the monster killing it instantly.

Curpriu: And to the cemetery, it goes.

The card that the beast came from shatters. Cupriu draws and throws another card on the floor while moving away to avoid some spikes from Shima.

A minotaur with a shiny blue samurai helmet and a large blue axe appears, it roars and gallops toward Shima swinging its ax.

She narrowly dodges it, her vines are sliced. The minotaur runs past her and towards Raskan.

Raskan: Hey, big bro, I'm not ready to fight.

Shima quickly throws her whip around the minotaur's neck and yanks it back. She dashes to it and slices it with her chainsaw, the creature, and its card shatter.

Shima looks back at Cupriu, he drops another card, a giant, yellow, square-shaped drill machine with wheels erupts out of the ground. Small rocks and dirt are pushed up, the machine slowly makes its way to her.

Shima summons thick vines that pick the machine up and crush it.

Shima: These things of yours haven't done much.

Cupriu: My luck isn't that great right now. Just give me a few more draws.

Shima: I'll give you a couple of seconds.

Shima appears in front of Cupriu and goes for a slash with her saw. He clumsily dodges and tries to kick her, she holds his leg and then swings her chainsaw upwards to his neck.

Cupriu had drawn another card which he had also dropped before Shima got to him. His hand swiftly becomes robotic, a big jet booster is attached to it.

It flares and he dynamically clashes against Shima's saw, the strength pushes her to the floor.

Cupriu: Kneel before me.

Cupriu attempts to stomp on her, she quickly rolls and gets up, then lunges towards him for another attack.

He punches the chainsaw out of her hands.

"Ow, that felt like it broke my fingers."

Shima creates a vine under Cupriu that slams into his face, some thorns cut his face and body.

Cupriu wobbles back. Shima flicks her whip, striking Cupriu. It wraps around his leg and trips him. Shima sprints and goes for an impalement.

Cupriu's hand moves and guards his chest, her saw bounces off of it. Cupriu scampers up and draws another card. He smiles excitedly and flamboyantly drops the card.

Curpriu: I got one of my best cards! Your time is up.

"My luck might be amazing in this battle!"

Shima dashes but a big dark red coffin rises from the card, it opens, and a mouth with sharp teeth inside screeches. Burned ropes launch out of it, constricting Shima.

Shima: Hey!

She grunts as she wiggles around trying to get her chainsaw to cut the ropes.

"Damn, I can't… Move my saw."

Raskan runs to the coffin, Shima is pulled into it and it closes shut then drops to the floor. Cupriu notices Raskan is coming so he attacks, Raskan jumps over his hand and grabs the coffin.

Cupriu: Don't open that coffin, you'll regret it.

Raskan places the coffin down and opens it, he stares at what's inside, nervously. Shima's body is mummified, wrapped by the burnt ropes. He eyes the outline of her hair and saw. Not a single sound from her is heard, the coffin's mouth is now snickering.

Raskan: What the fuck, dude?

Cupriu neatly draws another card.

Cupriu: I told you not to open it.

Raskan just stares not knowing what to say, he looks back at the coffin and attempts to pull Shima out of it. She doesn't budge.

Curpriu: That's her resting spot, leave her be.

Raskan places the coffin down and closes it, he stares at the street ahead.

Curpriu: Her death has you feeling some sort of way, huh?

Raskan: She's not dead… But in case she is, I'm gonna destroy you.

"Shima's not dead, this has to be some shitty magic trick."

Cupriu: No comment.

"It's about time I get into squabbling mode."

Cupriu drops a card, a chubby human wearing a dark green spiraling mask with a noticeably long nose and an orange kimono covered with a few vibrant jewels emerges.

Cupriu: Welcome, the mystical oaf.

Raskan looks at his watch, it reads "Power mimic."

The oaf moves extremely fast and kicks Raskan in the stomach but then misses his face and manages to hit his back.

Curpriu: My monster hit you 2 times, it's skill activates, now I get to draw 2 more cards! -

Cupriu is saying this while moving his hands dramatically in conjunction with what he's saying.

… I can't use this skill again for another 5 minutes. So with that, I end my turn!

Raskan stares at him bewildered.

"This guy's fucking nuts."

The oaf rushes towards Raskan again, he mimics its speed and they counter each other every time they attack. Their movement is a blur in the eyes of Cupriu.

Raskan flies by and kicks Cupriu in the face, blood shoots out of his nose and he's launched away. The oaf is right behind Raskan, it smacks him in a different direction.

Cupriu hits the ground, he gets up and swipes his clothes to remove dirt then he drops 2 cards. A thin entirely yellow faceless man with a magnet sloppily imbued into his head and a giant cyborg cellar spider with medieval cannons attached to its 8 legs appear. The two move to where Raskan is.

Cupriu: Seize that man! Magnes, drawing of the past! And Ultra Pholcidae Droid!

Raskan and the oaf continue countering each other, Raskan then fakes it out and as he's about to hit its face he's suddenly pulled over to Magnes, his magnet shakes.

Raskan copies his powers and then turns midair. With two magnetic pulls colliding against each other, Raskan is left floating in the air.

The droid shoots cannonballs at Raskan, he turns himself upside down, reversing the magnetic poles. He's pulled to Magnes and once Raskan reaches him, he hits him in the stomach.

Magnes shatters, Raskan then mimics the oaf's power, he dashes over the Droid and slams his foot into its head, it shatters as well.

Raskan: These things sure die fast!

Cupriu looks mad.

Cupriu: Only some do. Don't insult them!

Raskan moves to the oaf and fakes it out again, this time he's not interrupted and hits it.

"Oh, I still keep its powers."

Raskan appears in front of Cupriu and kicks him in the neck. Cupriu blasts off, he gets up and coughs violently.

"This fucker hit my neck!"

Raskan dashes around beating up Cupriu, he attempts to draw a card but Raskan grabs his arm and slams him into the floor.

Raskan tries to speed up again but is unable, he looks at his watch. It displays "Amazing Aim."

At this moment, Cupriu dropped another card.

Cupriu: Hah, come forth! The Blazing Enchantress Girl.

Raskan feels something kiss his cheek, inducing a searing pain in the area. He looks up and a cute witch with a revealing black and bright red outfit tenderly waves at him. Her hair is brown, and she is laying on a hovering saturated purple cloud.

Raskan does not hesitate to try to punch her, she flies away and pouts. He begins to run towards a destroyed building, Cupriu draws 2 cards and holds them out. They catch on fire and crumble into pieces.

Cupriu: My Enchantress's skill activates, feel the fire!

The Enchantress sits up on her cloud and blows a kiss at Raskan. For 2 seconds Raskan feels the pain of being in flames, he staggers but then quickly continues running.

Cupriu: Where are you going!? You can't run from my fire! Get him, Enchantress!

The Enchantress puts out her palm and a brown staff with a curved end that mimics a fireball spawns there. She holds it high and spiraling flame arrows launch out of it.

Raskan dodges them. Cupriu draws another card.

Cupriu: This should hurt.

He throws it and a big meteor falls from the sky, which seems to crash into Raskan. The floor breaks and the meteor splits into smaller pieces. The Enchantress giggles and hovers to it.

Raskan's hand from behind a meteor piece comes into view, he's holding a bunch of different-sized rocks. He throws them, 2 rocks hit the Enchantress right in her eyes, and she shatters.

More rocks strike Cupriu in his eyes and chest, drawing little blood. Then some hit his robot arm, shattering it.

Cupriu: Hey!

Raskan moves from behind the meteor piece.

"I managed to avoid being crushed by that big ass rock, shit still scraped me though."

Raskan is bleeding a little and has small burn wounds on his leg. He picks up more rocks to throw.

Curpriu draws a card and throws it.

Cupriu: This guy could work. I bring to the battle, Ippotus! Legendary Knight of Dellyn!

A knight who has blue hair that reaches his feet, brown, sharp armor, and a cape as a finishing touch is summoned. He holds a long golden cleaver confidently.

Raskan throws his rocks, Ippotus gets into a stance and swings his cleaver, deflecting all of them.

It makes its way to Raskan as he picks up more rocks. Raskan throws more, one at a time now and in confusing directions. One rock, he heaves straight up, one he throws behind himself, one he sends off really slowly.

Ippotus stops and looks around, Raskan sprints to it ready to attack. The rocks fly by and even with the odd directions they were sent, Ippotus deflects them.

With how focused Ippotus was on the rocks, he didn't notice Raskan about to punch him. But a rotted statue with the features of an elephant emerges from the floor in front of him. Raskan's attack is blocked by it and Ippotus slashes his chest, blood soars into the air, and stains Ippotus.

"What just happened?"

Raskan dashes back.

Cupriu: I just negated your attack!

Cupriu is showing the card, it has the photo of the statue.

Cupriu: And because I did, I get to draw a card!

Raskan avoids attacks from Ippotus.

"Damn, this cuts kinda long, I feel like I can survive it though. It's not deep."

Cupriu draws and holds the card tightly. Raskan looks at the blinking watch. It displays "Plant Manipulation" now. Raskan smiles.

"Seems like my luck is telling me something, Shima."

Skinny vines rip out of the ground that grab Ippotus and constrict him. Raskan eyes are searching for the coffin but it's gone.

Raskan: Hey! Where's the coffin!?

Cupriu looks around.

Cupriu: Oh, it's gone, your friend has been buried.

Raskan: I swear to god man, if I kill you and she doesn't come back, I'm gonna make sure your coffin is buried In a pile of pig shit.

Cupriu: I wouldn't care, I'm dead.

Raskan: Well, it's so that like no one comes close to your grave, none of your family members will visit you.

Cupriu: I don't have family members, nor will anyone visit me.

Raskan: That stinks… Just like your coffin will.

Vines rise behind Cupriu, he runs away from them.

Raskan appears next to Cupriu and punches him in the face. Cupriu hits the floor close to a building, he quickly draws 2 cards. One he stares at peculiarly and another he throws on the ground.

Vines rise and pin him to the wall of the building, they tighten on his arms, legs, and neck.

A big wicked rhino with a necklace made of abstract marbles, wearing crippled stone armor is summoned. It charges at Raskan and he dodges it.

Cupriu panics as the grasp of the vines gets stronger, he lets go of the other card he had drawn.

"What a perfect card."

Cupriu refers to his skill as a "Fictional card game featuring monsters, trinkets, doodads, and whatnot." The real name of it is, "Ya- Game." The skill allows Cupriu to play a game with his opponents. At random intervals, which can be a minute or below, he is allowed to draw a card from his deck of never-ending constantly changing cards. All with their different own strengths or skills. The skill is entirely luck based.

Only 2 types of cards are within the deck.

A black card with a cyan border indicates that the card is an effect. It is not a beast but something else, maybe a status ailment, an attack, or something that supports what is occurring.

A black card with a red border indicates it is a creature, humanoid, a being that can be brought to battle. It will use its capabilities to attempt to destroy what it needs to.

There is still much more the skill can do.

Cupriu: I animate the card, Divine Oath of Dias!

A bright light from the sky shines on cupriu and it erases the vines off of him.

Cupriu: For 40 seconds, I am immune to personal attacks!

Cupriu yanks another card out of his deck, melodramatically. He smiles smugly.

Cupriu: This is the luckiest day of my life!... I request the presence of, Ruin Doll Of Prosperity!

"I got my signature card this time!"

A devilish-looking wooden doll with a tuxedo and hat similar to Cupriu emerges, just that its clothes are ragged. The doll's pupils are big and its eyes are deep in its sockets, the extra space makes it look like someone who hasn't slept in days.

It carries a grin, its lower jaw does the laughing. Its teeth are thin but sharp and its hair is dark brown, dirty, and disheveled. The doll wears brown boots and holds a large rusty ax with a handle made of wood.

The rhino speeds up, and Raskan keeps dodging it. He summons small vines that tie onto the rhino's feet, tripping it. Raskan then stomps on its head and it shatters.

Cupriu: My doll activates its skill! For every card I used in this battle, it gains 300% more strength!

Raskan looks at the doll.

"What is this guy on about now?"

Cupriu: His attack was at 1600% but now after calculating it's at 6400%!

Raskan: What does any of this mean? Am I supposed to be worried?

Cupriu: It means, you're gonna die.

The doll roars, and sprints toward Raskan, He summons multiple vines but the doll slices through them nonchalantly.

The doll attacks with its ax, Raskan dodges and punches the doll in the face, the doll is unfazed, it throws what would be a normal punch but its strength is immense, Raskan's nose is broken and he's sent far.

Raskan immediately gets up and dodges another ax attack from the lunging doll. He looks at his watch, it reads, "Drink Anything." He has a troubled expression on his face.

"Is it possible to break wood with my bare hands? I think I saw it in a game once or was it a karate video? I'll just run for now."

Raskan runs from the doll, it chases after him. Cupriu puts his hand on his hip and laughs.

Cupriu: I am making a mockery out of you!

Cupriu notices Raskan is running to him.

Cupriu: Hey! Leave me alone, you've got other things to worry about!

Cupriu begins to run.

"If I steal that doll's ax, I could chop him up!"

Raskan turns and grabs the ax with both of his hands as it flies toward his face. He attempts to pull it away from the doll, the doll lifts the ax and Raskan into the air and heaves it back down.

Raskan hits the floor and lets go of the ax, he narrowly dodges another attack but gets up and runs away.

"Okay, stealing the ax is not gonna work."

Cupriu draws a card and throws it.

Cupriu: This should stop all this running. I trigger the card, "Spider Reminder."

A small red spider with bright blue fangs attaches itself to Raskan's back then it bites him. Immense pain courses through his whole body, but it only lasted for about 2 seconds.

"WHAT THE FUCK."

Raskan halts and kneels, his breathing is rapid. The doll attacks and Raskan gets up to avoid it.

Cupriu: Every 16 seconds, you'll feel that pain and it won't go away till you die.

"I've been getting so many opportunities to draw this battle." Wonder what I did to be so lucky today?"

Raskan makes his way to Cupriu, who draws and throws another card.

Cupriu: I now trigger this card, "Perfect Multiplication!" My doll multiplies for every card I've used in this battle… You're gonna be in a pit of death.

Raskan: Give me a break, man!

Cupriu: Don't worry, it only lasts for about 35 seconds.

The doll multiplies 17 times, all the dolls surround Raskan. They rush in and attack him, Raskan sprints over to one of the dolls and jumps over it. He continues towards Cupriu. The dolls crash into each other, shattering. Only the real one is left.

Cupriu: How did 17 dolls fail to stop you!?

Raskan: Dunno, maybe 18 would have.

Cupriu draws and throws another card.

Cupriu: Welcome, Nurse Piku.

A small floating friendly-looking pink entity with a nurse's outfit holding a crossbow is summoned.

She holds her crossbow up and out of it flies a needle. It stabs Raskan in the stomach, immense pain similar to the spider bite surges through his body, he almost collapses.

"Why do these small things hurt so much!"

Then the spider bite occurs again and he hits the ground. He trembles while getting back up, the doll throws an ax at him.

Raskan moves out of the way and heads to Piku. Cupriu draws and throws another card. He laughs maniacally.

Cupriu: It's time for us to enter where I thrive! La Sombra, the dimension of evil!

The area changes, buildings disappear, and are replaced by black silhouettes. The sky becomes a dark red and eyes made of gold riddle it.

Piku notices Raskan and flies up to avoid being grabbed. Raskan looks pissed off, the doll throws another ax and he continues running, the ax misses and skewers into the silhouettes.

Cupriu: In here, my doll's strength goes up by 500%, that's 6900%!

Raskan makes his way to Cupriu. He throws another card.

A black and white birthday cake with red frosting pops out of the ground. 5 lit candles neatly sit on top.

Cupriu: Demon Birthday Cake! Every Minute one candle goes out and once all of them do, YOU'LL DIE! Make your last 5 minutes count!

Raskan: Will do.

The doll clones disappear. Raskan's watch blinks, it displays "Speak any language." He's dumbfounded.

"AHHH. Are you kidding me?"

Raskan reaches Cupriu and throws a punch, he sloppily blocks, Raskan kicks him in the stomach. The doll arrives, Piku fires another needle and Raskan falls on his back due to the pain.

The doll brings its ax down, Raskan grabs it and holds the ax tightly. The doll pushes harder, Raskan's arms tremble and he sweats exceedingly trying to stop the ax from touching his chest.

Cupriu draws and throws another card while looming over Raskan.

"Quick roll."

A red dice falls, landing on a 6. It bounces off Raskan's face.

Cupriu: My doll's strength goes by 600%. It's now at 7500%... Can you keep holding onto life?

The ax gets closer to Raskan's chest until he can't hold it any longer. The ax digs into his chest, blood leaks out.

The doll lifts the ax, getting ready to swing it back down at full force. Raskan hastens up and runs away from the situation.

Cupriu: Running isn't going to save you.

"I'm getting tired, I might as well do my finishing strategy now."

Cupriu begins to draw multiple cards while the doll continues chasing Raskan.

Cupriu is now cheating. A part of his skill. He's allowed to draw as many cards as he wants but a lot of his energy will be taken.

Cupriu stops at 6 cards, he grabs his cheek. The doll halts, waiting.

"I got all the cards I needed back to back. This is the best battle I've ever had! I'm awestruck at how lucky I am today. I'm gonna buy a lottery ticket after this!"

Cupriu throws a card.

Cupriu: I trigger this card, Crash Frogs!

A blue frog, a yellow frog, an orange frog, and a pink frog all pop into existence.

Cupriu takes his deck off his arm and starts searching for a card.

Cupriu: Once I have 4 creatures in battle, the skill of one of my best cards activates!

He finds it and throws it.

Cupriu: Which is that it can be brought to the battle by sacrificing all my frogs or any 4 specimens! Rise beyond the skies, Assault Predator Furthest Hawk!

An enormous robotic complicated-looking Hawk forms into existence. Red, Blue, Gold, and Gray are the most prominent in its palette. Its mostly pointy diamond-shaped body connects. Large golden wings, 4 sharp red and blue arms, legs, gray claws, and other unique shapes are formed.

The Hawk screeches.

Cupriu: I initiate Furthest Hawk's main skill!

The Hawk moves toward the doll and perches on it. The doll is unfazed.

Cupriu: My Hawk connects to my doll giving it its attack power and because they are connected my doll is now classified as a machine.

Raskan is running away from the battle.

"Hell nah. I'm gonna come back later."

Cupriu: As I said before, running will not save you!

Curpriu throws another card.

Capriu: I use this card, "Technology Advance!" It doubles the strength of all creatures classified as a machine… My doll is now at 23000% strength!

Raskan slows down.

"I can hear that guy shouting still, what a lunatic."

Raskan turns around and realizes he's near Cupriu.

"What? I ran away. Goddammit… I can't escape."

Cupriu: I told you running away wouldn't work. You're gonna die where you stand.

Raskan dashes, the doll cannot move and Piku does not react in time. Raskan throws a punch at Cupriu whose eyes widen. In a split second, Raskan is launched back, and he crashes onto the floor.

Cupriu: Every time you attack me while in La Sombra, there is a 50% chance your attack will hit you instead and with double the power.

Raskan then feels the pain from the spider bite and a needle from Piku at the same time. His eyes water as he lies down.

Cupriu looks at the birthday cake, 3 candles remain. Raskan's watch blinks, it displays "Morph into a goat."

Raskan sighs.

"Guess I'll just sit here and pray I'm lucky."

Cupriu: I could just wait here for the cake to kill you, but that would be a lame way to win. Instead, I'm going to go for the overkill!

Raskan sits up.

Cupriu: How does it feel? The reason you're going to die today is just because I'm simply way too lucky.

Raskan stays silent.

Cupriu: I use this card! "Blending Ceremony." It allows My Doll and Hawk to fuse! End this battle, Furthest Assault Doll!

The doll is enormous, its hands are axes, and it bears the colors, wings, and shapes of the Hawk.

Raskan is just staring at his watch, ignoring everything in front of him.

Cupriu: You're missing out on something amazing by not looking!

Raskan: I don't care about your doll, man.

Cupriu: Okay… My doll's strength is now at 46000%.

Cupriu throws another card.

Cupriu: That card is "Rich Combination." I can double the strength of a creature that was the result of two others being combined. The doll's strength is now 92000%.

Another card is thrown.

Cupriu: This is my last card, I bring to the battle, Kabuki Magician!

A woman wearing a black and white kimono appears. On every section of white is a pattern of blue diamonds and on every section of black is a pattern of white flowers. Attached to the bottom of her forearms are long red pieces of cloth.

Gripping her waist is a golden obi belt, sewn onto it is the design of a red vine and red flower.

Her head is covered by a white hood attached to the kimono. Near the lower left and right side and the top of the hood are golden pins, sticking out of it. On the middle right section of the hood, there is a red flower and on the middle left section, 4 small red fabrics are hanging steadily.

Under the hood is a white mask of a fox with smaller red parts resting on the woman's smooth, puffy, short, black hair. Her eyelashes are red and her eyes are green like an emerald. The lower part of her face is painted white, the only thing sticking out was her underlip as it was painted red.

She shows off a long pole she's grasping, at each end of the pole is an umbrella, one red and another black.

Cupriu: Isn't she beautiful?

Raskan nods while still staring at his watch.

Raskan: Very pretty.

Cupriu stomps his foot on the ground.

Cupriu: You're not even looking!

Raskan ignores him.

Cupriu: It doesn't matter, it's over.

Cuprui points at the Magician.

Cupriu: Her skill activates, she'll borrow the strength of an ally, now her strength which was at 400% is now at 92000%!

Cupriu laughs. Raskan is bitten by the spider, he ignores the pain.

Cupriu points at Raskan dramatically.

Cupriu: Furthest Assault Doll! Kabuki Magician!

The doll perks up, and the Magician hops onto its head and points her umbrella pole straight ahead.

Cupriu: OBLITERATE!

A boundless unavoidable yellow laser shoots out of the Doll's mouth and out of the magician's umbrella pole.

"This might be it for me."

Raskan stares at the laser coming closer, it was like staring at the sun. He looks back down at his watch in disappointment.

"I let you down Shima… Well, it was my luck that really let you down."

The laser is so powerful it destroys part of the dimension and then the buildings and floors of the city it reveals.

Raskan's watch blinks a second before he's engulfed by the laser.

After a few seconds, the laser disappears into the distance.

Cupriu grabs his chest and wipes sweat off his forehead.

The dimension, Doll, and Magician shatter and the cards on the floor disappear. Cupriu grabs his deck and sticks it into his pocket.

Cupriu: Wow, I feel good!

He turns around and the coffin is on the ground.

Cupriu: I almost forgot about you.

Cupriu takes his hat off and uses it to fan himself.

He opens the coffin and inside is Shima with fewer ropes on her. She's pissed and attempting to get herself out of the coffin.

Cupriu smiles.

Cupriu: Seems like you couldn't escape.

Shima stops biting a rope.

Shima: Fuck you.

Cupriu touches her neck.

Cupriu: I'm gonna close the coffin.

Shima: Raskan! Raskan! RASKAN!

Cupriu: Your buddy is gone. It's just you and me.

Shima tries very hard to get herself out of the coffin. Cupriu begins to choke her.

A few seconds go by, and Shima is still attempting to escape, and the choking is getting worse.

Cupriu feels something touch his neck, he panics.

Raskan is now behind him holding his neck tightly. Cupriu lets go of Shima, she lifts her head up out of the coffin.

Shima: Raskan!

Raskan smiles.

Raskan: Hi.

Cupriu: How did you survive!?

Raskan starts to choke Cupriu.

Raskan: Let's just say, I got lucky.

The last blink of Raskan's watch before the laser hit him, read "Be Intangible."

Raskan immediately made his body intangible and the laser passed through him.

After the laser passed, Raskan just stood there crying tears of joy.

"I'm sorry for doubting you, my luck!" I'm glad you have allowed me to live for another day!"

Raskan lifts Cupriu, his feet kick and he scratches at Raskan's arms.

Raskan: How does it feel to know the reason you're dying today is cuz I just got lucky?

Cupriu's face reeks of anger. After a few more seconds, Raskan lets him go. Cupriu's lifeless body hits the floor.

Raskan sits down. The coffin and ropes on Shima disappear, she quickly gets up and runs to Raskan.

Shima activates her ultimate skill, the tree rises out of the floor next to Raskan, and he rests his head on it.

Raskan: Thanks… you owe me the dollar now.

Shima laughs.

Shima: I'll give you one later.

Raskan: No, you owe me more than a damn dollar.

Shima: What do I owe you?

Raskan: 100 dollars.

Shima: You're out of your mind.

Raskan: I literally saved your life.

Shima: I don't actually owe you anything! Because now I'm saving your life.

Raskan closes his eyes.

Raskan: You've got a point.

TO BE CONTINUED...