Without wasting a second, the mercenaries began opening fire upon Marcus. Their guns were silenced, but their bullets still packed a punch.
The bullets bounced off Marcus's uniform and tore through his exposed skin.
Marcus quickly examined the situation before darting towards the closest mercenary. When he reached him, he quickly grabbed their necks and used them as a shield.
The mercenaries quickly stopped firing and began retreating in an orderly fashion, each of them finding cover behind something solid.
Marcus chuckled as he hit the mercenary that he held in his hand. Punching his jaw hard it knocked him unconscious, sending him spiraling towards the dirt.
Marcus then jumped in the air, using his limited flight ability to examine the troops on the ground.
Noting his position, the mercenaries quickly opened fire upon Marcus once more.
Marcus smirked as his adrenaline began pumping and his heart began racing. "Let's make this interesting!" He shouted as he powered a large bast of ether, not to kill but to blind.
He aimed it near a group of three mercenaries and fired it. A bright flash of silver light blinded them, they instinctively covered their eyes, leaving them open for attack.
Marcus swooped down, and with a series of rapid smacks and open-palm strikes, Marcus sent the three men crashing into the ground. He knocked two of them out, but the last one held on.
Marcus chuckled as bullets whizzed past him. He approached the third mercenary whilst winding up a hard kick. Reaching the mercenary, Marcus sent his foot flying towards his stomach. The impact was hard, and the mercenary immediately vomited, his eyes widening to the point where they almost popped out of his skull.
"And just like that, they were eight!" Marcus shouted with a laugh. He wasted no time in closing the distance toward the next group of mercenaries, knocking them out with a flurry of punches.
"Oh my god…." Marisa said in disbelief.
Paul smirked. "Yeah, that kid definitely has a few screws loose." He commented, watching as Marcus tossed a female mercenary into one of her comrades, sending them both crashing into the ground. "But, he could be what we need."
"Just two left?" Marcus said with a playful laugh as he rolled to the side, avoiding the barrage of bullets that were flying his way. He then spun back and grabbed both mercenaries by the necks, he sumptuously lifted both men into the air, before sending them smashing against the dirt.
One of the men fell unconscious almost instantly, but the other, held on.
Marcus, breathing heavily from the extensive ether usage and the constant healing. Looked down at the remaining mercenary. His eyes were filled with hatred and burned with determination. Marcus laughed at the sight, "You're a tough guy aren't you?" He asked rhetorically, yanking the man up from the ground and sanding him up.
Marcus had fun beating everyone senseless, but now, he was ready for the desert.
The mercenary stared Marcus down like a hawk stalks prey. "Are you not going to finish the job?" He said with a deep Russian accent. His anger and irritation are clearly present.
Marcus nodded as he cracked his knuckles, "Yeah, but I want this last fight to be… a little closer." Marcus said with a grin.
The mercenary grimaced, narrowing his eyes as he raised his fist. Marcus could see the hatred within the man, it burned and festered like a plague, spreading all throughout his stance.
Marcus laughed at the man. It was hilarious to see someone so determined, confident, and angry when he knew that winning wasn't an option.
"Well, I'm waiting." Marcus taunted, smirking deviously.
The mercenary lunged towards Marcus at full speed, his fist drawn back and balled tightly. Upon reaching Marcus he quickly swung towards his head. Marcus effortlessly dodged the attack and countered with a backhand.
Marcus smacked the man. The impact was hard and caused the man to stumble over to the left a few feet. He spit up a tooth and blood, before looking back at Marcus with an enraged expression.
The man quickly gathered his strength and rushed Marcus again.
Marcus watched the man with an analytical mind, preparing for his next counter, sane as Dr. Fletcher taught him.
However, the mercenary didn't punch Marcus upon reaching him. Instead, he grabbed him around the waist and tackled him to the ground. The impact was hard, and Marcus had felt as if a bull had charged him.
Marcus hastily attempted to recover, be he couldn't as the mercenary began punching him in the face. Each strike was hard and rapid. Marcus was healing from each strike, but each time he healed less and less.
Marcus smirked, even though his face was being pummeled by this man who was almost double his size.
Marcus knew it was only a matter of time before he exhausted his ether, yet he wasn't afraid.
In fact, he was thrilled.
Marcus raised his hands and began swinging at the man's stomach. Each punch connected harder than the former, until eventually, Marcus landed the perfect liver shot.
The man paused in his beating, his eyes wide as his hands trembled. He made a few strange sounds and movements before falling to his side.
Seeing this as an opportunity, Marcus quickly rose from the ground and took a step back from the man.
He took a deep breath, cycling through his ether until he could feel a slight drop of strength returning to him.
"This should be enough…." Marcus said to himself as he approached the mercenary. He was still on the ground, but recovering from the liver shot.
Marcus grabbed the man by the shoulder and pulled him up.
The mercenary was clearly confused, his brow raising as his swollen lips parted. Once the man was back to his feet, Marcus grabbed the back of his neck. The mercenary immediately swung his fist towards Marcus, but it was too late.
Marcus forced the man's head down as he raised his knee upward. The connection was solid. The sound of bones popping rang loud as blood gushed over Marcus's knee,
He had broken the man's nose.
Marcus continued, lowering down his knee as he threw the man into the dirt.
He crashed on the ground hard, groaning loudly as he did so, but through all of this, the man still hadn't been knocked out.
Marcus chuckled as he stepped back. "Still not sleeping?!" He asked theatrically, his breath heavy and his voice ragged. "Guess I'll just have to try harder!"
"I think that's enough lad," Paul said with a faint smirk as he approached Marcus. "Besides, no one has ever put Anton to sleep but himself."
Marcus looked over at Paul with a confused expression. He had almost completely forgotten about both him and Marisa, as the fight had drawn all his attention.
Marcus exhaled a long breath as he crossed his arms. His adrenaline began to fade as his heart rate began to fall. "Yeah, so now what," Marcus said as he glanced over at Anton, who was bloodied and bruised, but still breathing.
"You've definitely proved yourself useful lad," Paul said with a smirk, he looked genuinely impressed, "I'll contact you tomorrow so you can do that favor for me, but for now, Marisa and I got a mess to clean."
Marcus grinned as he looked at the carnage he left behind. It was a great stress reliever. "So are you gonna take me back to the city or….."
Paul chuckled, "Of course lad, I'm not heartless."
Marisa frowned, narrowing her eyes at Paul. "There's no way in hell I'm cleaning this up myself."
Paul sighed as he glanced at the scattered mercenaries, "well, you feel like doing some manual labor lad?" he asked, gesturing with his thumb.
"You're joking," Marcus replied with a sigh.
He had already fought 12 fully grown and trained mercenaries, and now he had to clean up too?
Bullshit.
Paul sighed, "Figures…" he then looked over to Marisa. "Plea–"
"No," Marisa said coldly. "I brought them here, the least you could do is take them' back." She said with a hand wave as she turned on her heel to walk away.
"Dinner!" Paul called out with an outstretched hand, "Steak, wine, dessert…. you name it."
Marisa paused in her tracks, "A4 Wagyu, from a genuine Japanese restaurant, Pinot noir wine, aged since 1979, straight from France, and…. Banana pudding."
Marcus raised an eyebrow as his stomach started to grumble softly. That sounded delicious.
Paul bit his lip as he narrowed his eyes, "could you do normal steak?" He asked, his voice strained with despair.
"Paul, you want me to move these dirty, sweaty soldiers, and you want me to do 'normal'?" Marisa asked, the disdain in her voice clear, she looked over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at Paul.
Paul gave Marcus a brief side-eye. "Could you… walk back?"
"I don't even know where I am!" Marcus exclaimed.
The audacity….
Paul sighed. "Fine." He said in a dragged-out groan. "Come on lad, I got a little gambling to do after this." He mumbled as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his keys.
Marisa smirked triumphantly as she crossed her arms. It seems she was satisfied with her future meal.
Marcus inwardly smirked, he was curious about Paul and Marisa's relationship. He was also interested in the 'merchandise' Paul was so eager to move.
Paul led the way to the car, unlocking it before slipping into the driver seat. Marcus followed, sliding into the passenger seat.
Settling into his seat, Marcus could feel his body aching. His ether had healed him physically, but mentally he was as exhausted as ever.
"Ya did good, lad." Paul said as he started his car, "Now just sit back, relax, and catch some rest."
Marcus chuckled. "It's not Sunday yet."
Paul chuckled, smirking as he pulled away from the warehouse.
— — —
While Marcus's morning had been filled with bar hopping and fighting, Luna had been enjoying her day with Kinsley and Kira.
After attending orientation, Luna was sitting at Kinsley's various classes she would attend for the new academic year.
Currently, they were in lecture hall 3-A, for Kinsley's third-period class, which was calculus.
The trio of girls sat in the back of the room, talking amongst themselves as the professor, who was a bald middle-aged man, sat at his desk reading a book.
"Are all of your classes this relaxed?" Luna asked curiously, looking up at Kinsley with a titled head.
Kinsley shook her head. "Not necessarily, this is just the first day. Things will pick up as the year progresses." Kinsley explained, "But I'm not too worried about class anyway, I'm here for the football program, that's my ticket to success."
Kira giggled playfully. "Kinsley is just mouthing off, she does her work the same as the rest of us." She explained with a warm smile, "But I'm curious, is Marcus in school for anything?"
Luna hesitantly nodded. "He's technically a senior in high school…." She said honestly, "But his job, allows him to travel the world without worrying about school.
Kira raised an eyebrow as Kinsley's mouth dropped. "H-how old is your brother?" Kinsley asked worriedly.
"18." Luna answered proudly, "he just turned a few months ago, his birthday was in May."
Kinsley's eyes widened, and she looked over to Kira with a worried expression. "Is twenty and eighteen weird?" She whispered, her voice shaking slightly.
Kira shrugged. "I think it's fine, but Americans are fairly picky when it comes to these things." She then looked over to Luna, "But I'm sure your brother doesn't mind dating older girls, right?"
"Marcus has never dated anyone in his life." Luna explained, "Kinsley is the first woman to like him."
Kira giggled as she shook her head, "That's not hard to believe, he is a little… late when it comes to women, but he's not alone, Kinsley is in the same boat."
"Kira." Kinsley hissed, frowning as she crossed her arms
Luna nodded in agreement, "Yes, Kinsley told me she's been single her whole life, however, she's quick to pick up things, like yesterday–"
Luna was cut off by Kinsley placing a hand over her mouth. Kinsley's cheeks were flushed pink, and her eyes were narrowed. "First off, what Marcus and I do in private, stays private." Kinsley looked down at Luna, "Secondly, when did you become so chatty?"
Kira giggled as she crossed her arms. "Well isn't it obvious, she's having fun talking about her brother, with those she considers friends, why wouldn't she talk?"
"But, she's talking about such embarrassing things," Kinsley said with a sigh as she removed her hand from Luna's mouth, resting it on her cheek. "You shouldn't hear what Marcus and I do…"
Luna looked up to Kinsley with a genuinely sympathetic expression. "Does talking about Marcus anger you?" She asked. "Is it because you're old?"
Kinsley's flush deepened, "I'm not old, it's just two years…" she said defensively, "besides age has nothing to do with this, Marcus and I barely know each other as is, I don't need Kira finding out everything…."
"But aren't you friends?" Luna asked. "Marcus and Felix share everything, they swap clothes, they play games, and they've even argued on several occasions." Luna explained, "yet, they still share everything when they talk."
Kira, who had been silent up until this point, sighed. "While I do enjoy the tea you've poured, there is something you must learn, Luna."
Luna nodded.
"Kinsley is an extremely reserved girl, and so while I'm open with sharing my experiences with her, she doesn't feel the same," Kira explained. "And that's perfectly fine, Kinsley deserves that much, but…" Kira smirked, "she doesn't have the right to hide such juicy secrets!" She hissed.
Kinsley frowned. "Why are you such a nosy?!"
The professor, who had been quiet up until this point, looked up from his book. "Ladies." He said with a dry tone, "Let's not ruin my generosity with your antics."
The entire class looked back to the trip with curiosity flaring in their eyes.
Kinsley shrank back in her seat, her cheeks red with embarrassment. "S-sorry." She muttered quietly. Kinsley kept her eyes averted from her curious classmates.
Kira tried her best to stifle a giggle, covering her mouth, as she too averted her gaze.
Luna looked genuinely confused, her silver eyes moving from Kira to Kinsley.