Again and again, Roter fought his way back from unconsciousness into reality. In those brief moments of clarity, he saw Sick and Zäck by his side, then sometimes Samos, sometimes Red, and also Torn. But when Torn finally reached him, Roter fully woke up.
Roter slowly opened his eyes and saw Torn standing beside him, looking concerned. The room he was in was dim and unfamiliar to him.
Torn: Roter!
Roter focused his gaze on Torn, trying to orient himself.
Roter: Torn...? Where am I?
Torn: In a secret hideout, far away from the Baron's fortress.
Roter felt the pain in his body and realized he was seriously injured.
Roter: What happened? Why am I so badly hurt?
Torn sighed and lowered his gaze before telling Roter the sad truth.
Torn: You fought against the Baron. Unfortunately, you lost the battle, but you barely escaped death.
Roter felt anger and disappointment welling up inside him. He couldn't believe that the Baron had so much power over them.
Roter: Right... How did the Baron know we were about to retrieve the Precursor Stone?
Torn: It's my fault. The Baron wanted to kill Red as a spy. His own daughter! I couldn't let that happen, not even for the Underground.
Roter: Great... But now Praxis has the Precursor Stone.
Torn: There's still a way to get our friends back and maybe even the Precursor Stone. I need to find Vin. Go to the fortress; we'll meet you there.
Roter: And why should I still trust you?
Torn: Because you know as well as I do that the Baron would have killed Red! Getting through the fortress will be difficult. Probably suicidal.
Roter: You make sure to open the door! I'll be there!
Determined, despite his severe injuries, Roter made his way to the prison in the fortress. He bravely fought through the ranks of guards who stood in his way until he finally reached the cells where he had once been held captive. When he arrived there, the doors miraculously opened.
Torn had kept his word.
Sick and Zäck, who had also been captured, could hardly believe that Roter had come to their rescue. They rushed towards him.
Sick: Roter?! YOU'RE ALIVE!
Sick hugged Roter with all his strength, but Roter reacted irritably due to his injuries.
Roter: LET GO OF ME! YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME!
Zäck: You came all the way here, so severely injured, to free us?
Roter: Somebody had to do it. But why the hell were you imprisoned in the first place? You're strong enough to defend yourselves!
Sick and Zäck exchanged a remorseful look before Sick revealed the truth.
Sick: Actually, we are, but... Elite Soldier 2 defeated us and imprisoned us.
At that moment, a loud noise sounded, and a portal opened in front of them.
Zäck: The portal is active! Come on, now! Let's get out of here!
Without hesitation, they all jumped through the portal, unaware of what awaited them on the other side.
As they jumped through the portal, they found themselves in a completely different location, in the midst of a bustling city. Roter and his companions looked around, confused, as they tried to regain their bearings. It seemed as if they had landed randomly somewhere in the city.
While they made their way to Krew, Sick recounted the dramatic battle against Nr. 2 and the fateful events that led to their imprisonment
. Sick spoke with a mix of determination and bitterness.
Sick: We were in the process of getting you to safety after your fight against Praxis. We knew the Baron would be hunting us down, so we tried to move inconspicuously through the streets. But suddenly, Nr. 2 appeared, ready to arrest us.
A flashback began, revealing the events before their capture:
Nr. 2 stepped forward, her threatening presence palpable to Sick, Zäck, and Roter.
Nr. 2: You have been reported for rebellious activities. That's why we, the Krimzon Guard, are here to arrest you!
Sick: Forget about it!
Sick clenched his fist and unleashed an energy beam with his ability. But to his dismay, Nr. 2 effortlessly dodged the attack, moving at lightning speed.
Sick: What? Where did she go?
Nr. 2 suddenly appeared behind Sick and unleashed a blinding flash of lightning that momentarily paralyzed him.
Zäck: Lightning Eco?
Nr. 2: Exactly... you seem to be well-informed.
Roter muttered quietly to himself: Watch out... her Eco... it's real.
Sick, surprised by the lightning-fast attack, tried to gather himself and assess the situation.
Sick: What do you mean? Is there fake Eco?
Nr. 2: Yes, there is. But these artificial Eco powers of the Krimzon Guard are far weaker than the real Eco powers. They are still in the testing phase, but we have made considerable progress. But why don't you know about it? You also use artificial Eco powers.
Zäck: What?! B-but they're real!
Zäck, filled with doubt, tried to comprehend the truth and question his own powers.
Zäck: What?! Uh... but our powers are real!
Nr. 2: Oh, really? Then where did you get them from?
Zäck faltered, his uncertainty becoming more apparent.
Zäck: Um... Sick?!
Sick, shocked by the revelation, could hardly find words to explain the situation.
Sick: I don't know either!
Sick: So, that means our powers...
Nr. 2: Correct, are not real.
Zäck, feeling empty and betrayed, could hardly believe the fact.
Zäck: No... that can't be true!
Nr. 2: Oh, but it is. In this city, there are only five individuals whose Eco powers are genuine. Roter, Praxis, Samos, myself, and... Aiden.
Sick and Zäck looked at each other uncertainly, trying to grasp the consequences of this revelation.
Sick: Wait a minute... If all our Eco powers are fake... does that mean even the Time Eco...
Nr. 2: Is artificial, precisely.
Zäck: And the Gravity Eco?
Nr. 2: It is said to exist... but it has never been witnessed. Many even doubt the existence of colored Eco.
Sick and Zäck stared in disbelief at Nr. 2 as their notions about their powers and their identity were called into question.
Zäck: So, Roter wanted to warn us that Nr. 2 is much stronger because her powers are genuine?
Nr. 2: Exactly.
Nr. 2 leaped high into the air and descended with a powerful lightning kick. Sick and Zäck barely had time to react as they were hit by the force of the impact and sent flying. The ground shook under the power of the attack, while Torn hastily retreated to stay safe. Samos stood bravely, focusing on healing the injuries of the two rebels.
Sick, slowly recovering from the impact, thanked Samos breathlessly for his support.
Sick: Thanks, Samos. That was close.
Nr. 2, still fueled by the energy of her attack, glanced over the two rebels.
Nr. 2: He can't heal you forever, you know? Using Eco consumes energy. You can't rely on him to support you indefinitely.
Sick, determined, looked at Nr. 2 and smiled challengingly.
Sick: I'll show you just how strong artificial Eco can be!
With an intense yellow glow, Sick charged both his arms with his yellow Eco and boldly leaped towards Nr. 2. Energy blasts unleashed from his hands and were fired towards the Krimzon Guard agent.
However, Nr. 2 showcased her speed, evading the energy beams. With lightning-fast movements, she sidestepped and swiftly delivered a counterattack that sent Sick flying once again.
Meanwhile, Zäck, quickly recovering, recognized the situation and decided to use his abilities to catch Nr. 2 off guard.
Zäck: I'm not impressed by your speed! Blue Eco gives me the necessary swiftness!
With a lightning-fast movement, Zäck charged towards Nr. 2, attempting to land a precise hit. However, Nr. 2 showed no signs of panic or uncertainty. Instead, she smiled confidently and effortlessly countered Zäck's attack.
Nr. 2: Well, well, you're quite fast. But don't forget, I'm faster than lightning itself!
With incredible speed, Nr. 2 suddenly disappeared from Zäck's field of vision and descended from above, crashing down with great force. The impact was devastating, sending Zäck crashing to the ground as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
Zäck, surprised by the overwhelming speed of his opponent, could hardly believe what had just transpired. His belief in the genuine powers of the blue Eco was being questioned.
Zäck: This can't be... my blue Eco...
Nr. 2, wearing an arrogant expression, looked down at Zäck and responded confidently:
Nr. 2: Beginner. You
still have much to learn.
Meanwhile, Nr. 2 was hit from behind by another energy blast from Sick, disrupting her control of position and causing confusion.
Nr. 2: But how is that possible?
Sick, taken aback by Nr. 2's impressive speed and power, refused to be intimidated. He grinned confidently and prepared to unleash his secret weapon.
Sick: Well, well, aren't you impressed? This is my Silent Shot.
Before Nr. 2 could react, Sick shot at the ground, creating a dense smoke cloud that concealed him from his opponent's sight. Quickly taking advantage of the cover, he hid and planned his next moves.
Nr. 2, whose attack was abruptly interrupted, frantically searched for Sick. But before she could find him, she was suddenly surprised by Zäck, who burst out of the thick smoke and landed a precise hit.
Nr. 2: Not bad at all... You definitely have combat experience. However, you lack technique and power.
As Nr. 2 spoke these words, she fired a bolt of lightning at Sick. But Zäck was quick enough to pull Sick out of harm's way and deflect the attack.
Nr. 2 suddenly disappeared, and both Sick and Zäck searched for her but couldn't find her. In that moment, Samos was hit from behind by an unexpected shock and collapsed unconscious.
Sick: No, Samos!
Nr. 2: With your healer out of the picture, any further hit will be critical for you.
Filled with anger and determination, Zäck charged at Nr. 2, bombarding her with attacks. Nr. 2 evaded the strikes, but she didn't notice that Sick was preparing a powerful attack in the background.
Nr. 2: !!! What?
Sick: Now you're finished... Yellow... REVENGE!
A mighty beam of power unleashed from Sick's hand, hitting Nr. 2 with full force. Dust swirled up, and when it settled, Nr. 2 was gone.
Zäck: Well done! We did it.
But suddenly, injured but still ready to fight, Nr. 2 appeared behind Sick and delivered a strong shock, causing Sick to fall unconscious.
Zäck: Sick!
The desolate city spread ominously before Zäck and Nr. 2, while the sky darkened with thick rain clouds. Rain poured down in heavy showers, forming puddles on the abandoned streets. The electric tension in the air made their hair stand on end.
Nr. 2 stared challengingly at Zäck and spoke with an icy voice, "Only you remain."
Zäck had a plan and intentionally lured Nr. 2 into the dead city, knowing that the water here would conduct her lightning.
Nr. 2 played along and asked with a diabolical smile, "Why this place, of all places? The water here will amplify my power."
Zäck displayed a confident grin and replied, "True, the water may conduct your lightning, but in the ruins, your mobility is severely restricted."
Nr. 2 pondered briefly and then nodded in acknowledgment. "Not a bad choice. But even with limited space..."
Suddenly, Nr. 2 appeared out of nowhere behind Zäck and launched a lightning-fast attack.
Nr. 2 triumphed, "Am I not still too fast for you?"
But Zäck demonstrated his skills and dodged the strike. With a quick turn of his body, he countered the attack and bravely confronted Nr. 2.
Surprised, Nr. 2 took a step back and scrutinized Zäck more closely. "I must admit, you use your Eco powers quite skillfully."
Zäck smiled, ready for battle, and retorted, "Praise won't save you from your defeat!"
Suddenly, the rain intensified, and the atmosphere grew even more threatening. The two fighters charged at each other, unleashing their powers in an intense exchange. Each blow, each feint was accompanied by crackling as they employed their Eco abilities
against each other.
Nr. 2 tried to weaken Zäck with provocative words, "You're nothing more than simple rebels... Do you really think you and your friends can achieve anything here? You're insignificant."
Nr. 2 landed a powerful blow on Zäck, sending him spinning through the air. But before he hit the ground, Nr. 2 skillfully caught him and continued her assault.
"There are no heroes," Nr. 2 proclaimed with a superior voice. "That's something you should understand."
Zäck fought valiantly, but he found himself increasingly on the defensive. Exhaustion started to take its toll on his body, but he refused to be discouraged.
"Wrong," Zäck gasped, getting back on his feet. "It's time we put an end to this."
A bright aura surrounded Zäck as he began to concentrate his energy. His body radiated a dazzling light.
"Light speed..." Zäck whispered before charging towards Nr. 2 with overwhelming speed. He unleashed his secret technique to overpower her.
Nr. 2 could only be amazed.
"Ah... your light speed. I've heard of it. Truly impressively fast."
Zäck rushed towards Nr. 2 with uncontrollable fury. His body moved at a breathtaking pace, but Nr. 2 skillfully evaded every strike.
Nr. 2 smirked mockingly and provoked Zäck, "You know, Zäck, your technique may be impressively strong, but you have no control over it. If your opponent dodges, you're powerless because you keep flying uncontrollably."
With incredible speed, Nr. 2 leaped behind Zäck. She even overtook him and caught up with him.
"You're completely powerless, Zäck, if someone were to attack you in this state!" Nr. 2 triumphantly exclaimed and struck Zäck's abdomen with great force while he continued flying forward.
Zäck was defeated and captured by Nr. 2. Meanwhile, Torn brought Roter to a hiding place.
And thus, the flashback ended.
Back to the present:
When they arrived at Krew's place, they saw Sig sitting at the bar while Krew was asleep.
Sig looked at them with relief and whispered, "You guys are alright, and since the boss isn't aware right now, I'll tell you how things really are. I've been Krew's muscle for years, doing things I'm not proud of. But this time, Krew has gotten himself—and us—involved in a really nasty situation. And I think I'm out! Krew will try... Shh... I think he's waking up..."
Sig was interrupted by Krew, who just woke up. Sig fell silent and pretended he hadn't said anything.
Krew spoke with a tired voice, "You guys have to go back to the statue in the sewers with three of my guys. Supposedly, there's still a secret in Mars' face, and you're supposed to check if the stories are true, right? Make sure all three of my guys get to the statue, then they'll handle the rest, hm?"
Roter and the others set off and met Jinx and his crew at the sewers. Together, they ventured into the dark tunnels, with Roter and the others tasked to protect them. However, due to Roter's severe injuries, he wasn't much help.
Jinx looked at the statue and sarcastically remarked, "Uh... a pretty statue. Step aside, we're professionals, don't try this at home. Alright, boys, let's blow this thing up!"
But Roter had an unsettling feeling. "Wait! Who ordered you...? No!"
Jinx chuckled mischievously. "Heheh. That's exactly what we've been looking for... the gem, Mars' heart! Thanks for the company. We're taking it back to Krew now!"
Sick was confused and asked, "What's going on, Roter? Since when do you care about a statue?"
Roter sighed in frustration. "Ah, the statue doesn't matter at all! Of course, you didn't notice, but someone is following us again."
Zäck: What?!
Nr. 2: I'm impressed, Roter. Just like how I trained you.
Roter gazed into the distance and whispered with a somber voice, "Mirella."
Sick could hardly believe what he had just heard. "Wait... she was your trainer?!" he asked astonished.
Roter: Exactly. She's the trainer of all elite and special soldiers. Mirella trained us.
Zäck: No wonder she's so different from the enemies we've fought so far.
Nr. 2, who had been silently listening, took a step forward. "You probably knew I would intervene, didn't you?" she asked Roter.
Roter: Of course. You always taught us to strike at the right moment.
Sick: It was her, Roter. She defeated us
.
Nr. 2: So, how did you manage to escape again?
Zäck: You'd like to know, wouldn't you?
Nr. 2: "Roter survived the fight with Praxis and went to free you after his resurrection."
Sick was speechless. "But how...?"
Roter: "You don't mess with her, guys."
Sick: And what do we do now?
Roter sighed and answered resolutely, "Talk."
Zäck: Talk?!
Roter: "She would never show up alone in a place like this. It's a good time."
Nr. 2: "I'm impressed, Roter. You're not my number one for no reason. I want to talk with you."
Roter: "What do we have to discuss?"
Nr. 2: "Why it's good to become a soldier."
Roter looked at her skeptically. "We don't need to talk about that. I won't serve Praxis. I'll defeat him with the dark eco he bestowed upon me."
Nr. 2 sighed disappointedly. "No room for negotiations?"
Roter shook his head decisively. "No. I have nothing, you have nothing that I want."
Nr. 2: "That's a shame, Roter. When we meet next, we'll be enemies."
Roter smiled darkly. "So be it."