"What the hell?" Captain Smyth gasped, disbelief evident in his voice.
Back in the heart of this new sandy realm, Udo assessed his handiwork. "Should've spread faster. I've lost my touch," he mused. Intent on furthering his psychological warfare, he clasped his hands. "Let's give him a taste of true fear," he whispered. "Kalo..."
While Captain Smyth's feet sunk deeper with every step he took in the sand, the ground beneath him shuddered. The tremors grew in intensity until, with a deafening roar, Power Mike, an enormous beast, erupted from the sand. The 8-foot-tall monstrosity, with fierce glowing red eyes, bore into Captain Smyth's very soul.
Overwhelmed, terror coursing through his veins, Captain Smyth could only stare, frozen, as he fell backwards onto the sand. The behemoth's gaze seemed to pierce through him, promising a fate far worse than death.
Amidst the sprawling desert, Udo took a deliberate step forward, the sand instantly swallowing him whole. Moments later, he resurfaced behind the petrified Captain Smyth. "You good, bro?" he taunted.
Twisting around, Captain Smyth caught a glimpse of the enigmatic man now standing at his rear. "This," Udo gestured expansively, "is my Finalis, Ukwa Oba. It's an expansive wrestling ring, a nod to the Igbo tradition. I can stretch it as far as I want – even a country if I desire. My physical stats increase by tenfold. And, of course, I can hop in and out of the sand, appearing wherever I please."
Without pause, Udo took a playful leap, submerging into the sand once again, only to surface moments later directly in front of Captain Smyth. The smirk on his face was unmistakable. "Impressed?"
He continued, motioning to the towering beast beside him, "Oh, and don't forget Mikey. The sand boosts him too. Show him, Mike."
Power Mike turned, the moonlight glinting off his bulging muscles, his stance conveying raw, unchecked power. With a ferocious roar that echoed through the forest, he raised one colossal foot and brought it crashing down. The earth shuddered, and in an instant, a massive quake radiated outward. Trees splintered and crumbled like mere matchsticks before the force of the creature.
Captain Smyth's face was ashen, the colour drained by the pure, unadulterated terror. Without any thought of pride or strategy, he tried to flee, but Udo was steps ahead. With a swift gesture, the sand, as though sentient, ensnared Captain Smyth's feet, bringing him crashing to the ground.
Udo approached Captain Smyth. Each step was deliberate, a predator closing in on its prey. His demeanour was paradoxically serene amid the destruction, but his eyes were a tempest.
"God granted you the power of Dovanity," Udo began, his voice sombre. "A divine gift. Yet, you chose to exploit the vulnerable, all for personal gain. Such misdirected power... Dovanity was never meant for the likes of you. That's why I've abandoned hope in this world. I will save Bowen, and then I'll leave this doomed place and gladly burn in hell."
Udo stopped just inches from Captain Smyth, towering over him, his gaze frosty and unyielding. "Goodnight, Captain Smyth," he whispered.
But then, the unexpected happened. Udo's calm exterior shattered. He clutched his head, his face contorted in agony. "Not now... Please, not now," he muttered, though it was unclear whether the plea was for himself or someone else.
The man who had moments before been the embodiment of power and resolve was now wracked with pain. A harrowing wail pierced the air, filling it with his torment. Blood ran from his nose and ears, evidence of an internal battle raging within. His shouts grew fainter and fainter, and just as suddenly as the episode began, Udo went limp. He crumpled, collapsing to the side, eerily silent.
Captain Smyth, still processing the scene, noticed Power Mike had vanished too.
A smirk spread across Captain Smyth's face, a stark contrast to the bleak surroundings. What started as a chuckle grew louder, echoing eerily across the desolate expanse. The sound of a man celebrating an unexpected turn of fate.
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Under the twinkling stars of the deep blue skies, Alko, with a sense of joy, skipped through the well-lit courtyard, carrying Scarlett's unresponsive body over his shoulder. Approaching Kimberley, who stood by Rory's body at her feet, a sense of accomplishment filled the air.
"Took care of business, I see," Alko said, a hint of mischief in his tone.
"You already know," Kimberley responded as they fist-bumped and unmasked themselves at the click of a button.
But the serenity was short-lived. An urgent voice crackled through their earbuds.
"Kim! They're here!" Atamai's voice broke through the static.
Confused, Kimberley responded, "Huh? Who?"
"Squad Barclay!" Atamai's voice carried a mix of urgency and alarm.
"W-what?" Kimberley's voice trembled slightly, the gravity of the situation beginning to dawn on her.
Alko, overhearing the exchange, couldn't hide his excitement. "Ha! This just got really exciting!"
Kimberley, her instincts kicking in, insisted, "No! We need to leave! Now!"
Disappointed, Alko protested, "Aww, really!?"
Kimberley's mind raced. "Where's Udo? He should be done by now..."
Before anyone could answer, a male voice cut through the tension. "Oh, he is!"
Turning around, Kimberley and Alko were met with a shocking sight: Captain Smyth, dragging Udo by the collar, a triumphant look on his face.
"What...?" Kimberley started, disbelief colouring her voice.
"No way..." Alko was equally stunned.
"That's right! I killed him! I won!" Captain Smyth boasted, a dark satisfaction evident in his voice.
Kimberley, focused on the details, noticed something amiss. "His mask...where's his mask?"
Captain Smyth, with a hint of pride, replied, "The idiot took it off! I can't believe you guys were hiding the Son of Iche!"
Alko, piecing together the events, speculated, "But how come...did he actually-"
Kimberley, however, was already thinking ahead. "No, there's no way he could've been able to do that. It's most likely something that has to do with Udo's vibration..."
As Alko took a step forward, Captain Smyth quickly warned, "Don't move! Don't you move! He's not actually dead yet, but I will finish you off if you do anything stupid!"
Kimberley, realizing the delicacy of their situation, cautioned Alko, "Don't move, Alko."
Captain Smyth, revelling in his power, declared, "That's right! Obey me! I'm the king now! Oh, I'm gonna be so rich when I hand him in. My life is set! I don't even need to do this anymore!" His laughter echoed through the night, a sinister sound that promised more danger ahead.
But just as Captain Smyth was basking in his moment of glory, a voice pierced the air. "Kalo: Beautiful Game," Kenny growled, conjuring a football.
The ball shot forth with incredible speed, catching Captain Smyth off-guard. The impact was immediate and brutal. Captain Smyth's triumphant cackle was replaced with a groan of pain as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Kenny shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "I've been wanting to do that for a while."
Alko chuckled. "Oh, we know."
Kimberley and Alko hurried towards Udo's fallen form, their steps echoing ominously. Ren's voice added to the urgency.
"Kim, Squad Barclay's coming—"
"I know!" Kimberley snapped, brushing stray strands of hair from her face. "We need to move. Now."
Alko swung Udo over his shoulder, his movements swift and decisive. Kenny, taken aback by the sight, hurried over to Udo's limp form.
"Woah, woah, woah..." Kenny's confusion was palpable as he scrutinized Udo.
"Is that..." he began, unable to hide his surprise.
Kimberley, urgency etched in her voice, cut him off. "We'll explain later!"
"But what the fuck do you mean!? Isn't that the Fiend kid on the loose?" Kenny's voice rose, his disbelief growing.
"As I said, we'll explain later! There's no time! If Squad Barclay shows up, we're-" Kimberley's warning was cut short as the atmosphere around them shifted dramatically.
In a moment that seemed to stretch time itself, a golden necklace chain, glinting menacingly in the dim light, flew through the air towards Kimberley with the intent to ensnare her.
But as the chain was about to secure its hold, reality snapped back to its regular pace. Kimberley disappeared from its path, only to reappear a few meters away, completely unharmed.
"Huh...? My auto-dodge activated..." Kimberley muttered. The danger had triggered her Benedi.
Everyone watched, their fascination evident as the golden chain retraced its path back to its wielder.
"Shit..." Kimberley cursed under her breath, her eyes locked on the new arrivals.
Captain Barclay, with Stella and Calvin at his flanks, held the chain with a firm grip, his presence commanding.
"I'm surprised you managed to dodge that. Fair play," Captain Barclay acknowledged, a hint of respect in his tone.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" Ren challenged, his confusion turning to anger.
"Hm? Why does a weakling like yourself believe you're in any position to be asking questions here?" Captain Barclay retorted, dismissive of Ren's indignation.
"Wait a minute...isn't that...Udo Iche?" Stella's recognition was immediate, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Holy shit...it is!" Calvin echoed, equally astounded.
Captain Barclay's eyes bulged in disbelief. "What in the world...how did they... How did you guys get your hands on him?"
Kimberley smirked, mirroring Captain Barclay's earlier dismissal. "Why does a weakling like yourself believe you're in any position to be asking questions here?"
A glare flashed across Captain Barclay's face, but it quickly dissolved into a chuckle, acknowledging the clever retort and the unexpected turn of events with a begrudging amusement.
"You've piqued my interest. Enough talk. I will be taking the Fiend kid back with me, and I will also show you who the real weakling is between us."
Kimberley quickly formulated a plan. "Ren, take Udo and drive off as far as you can. Alko and I will hold them off."
"You bet," Alko agreed, ready for the confrontation.
"Kenny, Kelly, go with him. They'll probably take you guys in too if you stay here," Kimberley instructed, her tone urgent.
Kenny, catching the severity of the situation, responded, "O-okay, let's go, mum!" He took his mum's hand and hurried away with Ren, seeking safety.
Stella, not willing to let them escape so easily, made her move. "Not so fast..." She aimed her ten fingers at Ren and shot her razor-sharp nails towards him.
In a dramatic display of skill and precision, time seemed to slow as the ten nails made their way towards Ren. But then, at the last possible moment, the action resumed to its normal pace. Kimberley, with remarkable speed and accuracy, quick-fired ten bullets at the nails, intercepting them mid-air and shattering them before they could reach their target, all without breaking her focus from Captain Barclay.
Stella was taken aback, her surprise evident. "W-what?" she stammered, her attack foiled by Kimberley's swift intervention, showcasing a level of skill and determination that Stella had not anticipated.
Alko's laughter filled the tense air as he clasped his hands together, invoking his unique ability. "Kalo: Smaak van Doel," he announced, and suddenly, two beer cans materialized in his hands. He slammed them together, tilted his head back, and let the beer cascade into his mouth, an act of defiance and readiness. After wiping his mouth, he declared, "Let's get this party started, shall we?" and charged at Captain Barclay with unbridled energy.
As he leapt for an airborne punch, Captain Barclay, with precise timing, ensnared Alko with his golden chain, effortlessly redirecting his momentum and flinging him away with a flick of his wrist. His gaze then immediately shifted back to Kimberley, his focus undivided.
"Stella, you take care of him. Calvin, go with her," Captain Barclay commanded, delegating the task of dealing with Alko.
Calvin, slightly hesitant, asked, "Are you sure you don't want me here?"
But Captain Barclay was resolute. "No, I need this girl at her best. That way, she'll know the real definition of 'weak'." His confidence in handling Kimberley alone was evident.
Understanding the assignment, Calvin smirked and agreed, "Understood."
Captain Barclay then communicated through her earbud, "Zofia, tell Sterling to keep an eye out for the people escaping. They have Udo Iche in their hands." The importance of capturing Udo was paramount, prompting immediate action.
"What!? O-on it!" came the surprised response from Zofia, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
Now, with the preliminaries out of the way, Captain Barclay focused intently on Kimberley, indicating the start of their confrontation. "Now then. Shall we begin?" he asked, his demeanour serious yet expectant.
Kimberley, undeterred and equally ready for the challenge, simply smirked in response, her confidence unshaken by the imminent battle. The stage was set for a showdown that would test their limits and resolve.
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Beneath the towering edifice of Dove Corporation Headquarters, the entranceway was bathed in the muted glow of security lights. With a sense of urgency, Ren's footsteps echoed through the vast space as he dashed toward his sleek black coupe. Udo, unconscious and limp, hung over his shoulder.
A few paces behind him, Kenny was grappling with the additional challenge of dragging Kelly.
Several yards away, the soft undertones of an indie rock song could be heard emanating from a parked muscle car. Inside, Stirling lounged comfortably, lost in the rhythm of the music. His laid-back demeanour contrasted starkly with the frantic scene unfolding nearby.
Suddenly, the hum of an engine cutting through the night caused him to pause. He sat up straighter in his seat, his eyes narrowing on the escaping duo as they scrambled into Ren's coupe. In seconds, the vehicle roared to life and sped off, leaving behind a trail of dust.
"Must be the escapees Zofia was on about," he muttered to himself.
Not one to be left behind, he twisted the key in his ignition, the muscle car's engine growling in response. With a determined gleam in his eye, he slammed his foot on the gas, propelling the car forward in hot pursuit. The chase was on.