"So, these are the weaklings who have been giving us trouble," Amber said, sweeping her eyes over them before stopping at Damien. "Oh, this one is quite handsome; I'll take him."
A vein popped out on Maria's forehead. "You're not taking anyone, b*tch," she shouted.
(A/N: I decided to change Mary to Maria; it just feels right that way.)
"I will. What can you do about it?" Amber asked, looking disdainfully at Maria.
"You..."
A gigantic vine erupted from the ground and lashed out at Amber. She sidestepped and slashed it in half with her claws, which immediately retracted into her fingers.
"See, there's nothing you can do," she grinned provocatively, making Damien have the urge to facepalm.
"Uh, I thought we were here to fight," Damien asked.
"I like that embarrassed look of yours; it's way better than your unfazeable leader facade."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
[You know she's right, don't you?]
'.....'
"As I was saying, you..."
"Enough talking!" Maria shouted as multiple vines erupted from the ground and lashed out at Amber once again.
[*Sigh* Girls these days, can't even handle a little teasing directed at their man.]
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Damien's suit transformed into its SP form before flying up to join the two ladies who were already fighting.
__________
"They've initiated the fight," Lisa observed, her gaze fixed on the unfolding scene.
"Yes, if I were to guess, the conflict began when Amber teased the captain, and Maria lost her temper," a voice responded.
"So that's what you and Amber were discussing?" Lisa inquired.
"From my observations while with them, it's evident that 70% of the girls on his team, along with his vice-captain and the opposing team's captain, Adele, all harbor feelings for him."
"It appears he's skilled with the ladies," Lisa contemplated.
"Actually, he isn't. His success with girls is something like a passive skill. He primarily hides behind his capable leader persona and rarely engages with girls, except for his childhood friends and his adopted sister," revealed the voice's owner, Lewis, who emerged from the shadows.
"So, he's the archetypal main character?" Lisa remarked.
"Indeed, and it's vexing. I've even caught some of my female subordinates forming a fan club for him."
"What did you do in response?" Lisa inquired.
"Am I perceived as that malevolent?"
"..."
"Well, I allowed them to continue. After today, they won't be encountering him anymore."
"That seems rather ruthless of you."
"..."
"You seem to be searching for reasons to label me as malevolent."
"Not really. I simply felt like branding you as such," Lisa replied before refocusing on the distant scene.
"Do you believe you'd be able to defeat him?" Lisa asked.
"Absolutely. What else could you think of me?"
"I was merely curious, given that he can keep up with Amber despite his F rank."
"Amber hasn't employed her ability yet."
"None of them have. Amber and the vice-captain are leveraging their racial advantages, while he relies on his enhancements. The assassin girls and the one with rainbow hair are biding their time."
"Why does it seem like you're supporting them?"
"Does it come across that way? You might be correct, or you might be mistaken. It all depends on one's perspective."
"Your attitude is probably why you lack friends or suitors," Lewis remarked, his lips slightly curling.
"Friends... they're only a hindrance. In the grand scheme of things, having friends equates to exposing a weakness for enemies to exploit. As for suitors, most of them harbor ulterior motives."
Lewis raised an eyebrow and opted to ignore her, concentrating on the distance and waiting for an opportunity to strike.
_________
BOOOOM!
THRUUUUUUMMMMM!
RATATATATATA!
Amber continuously dodged the rain of bullets and the continuous attacks from the vines unleashed by Damien and Maria in tandem.
"Don't you see? It's futile. Just come with me, and I might even decide to let the girl go scot-free."
BOOM!
UGH!
Damien landed a solid hit on her stomach in his suit's PM form, causing her to vomit blood.
"Sorry, but I don't do aliens."
WHACK!
He delivered a roundhouse kick, sending her crashing to the ground.
Damien put his two hands together, transforming them into a giant cannon.
' Fire '
BOOOM!
________
A/N
Turns out I wasn't free today as I expected.