An explosion goes off…Lacerta's tail falls off…
James
Coughs up blood
(W-what…the…hell?)
Deacon
Damn, I thought I landed a direct hit onto his core…
I suppose I was mistaken…
Oh well.
Another bomb should do the trick, Apus!
Apus flies up from behind Deacon
James
(I-I got lucky with that one…)
(I thought I was a goner for sure!)
(But…I don't understand how, or why, but Lacerta is healing me!)
(The bullets that got bounced back at me have started to heal…)
(But then the nails that dig into me from before haven't…)
(Why is that?)
(Could it be about how I received the injuries?)
(Thinking back to it…)
(...All the injuries that healed were taken by Lacerta and not by me!)
(The nails are still dug into me because I was the one who took the blow from them!)
(I-I must have underestimated Lacerta!)
(I thought its abilities were limited to just being a glorified gun…)
(But I guess it's appearance isn't just for show…)
(This thing actually has lizard-like qualities to it!)
(I-is this nut right?)
(Can we actually benefit from getting to learn and understand our Manifesto?)
…
James's face contorts in a strange expression, confused as to how he should be feeling at this revelation.
(No, of course not…)
(That's the dumbest train of thought I've ever had…)
(This thing is nothing more than my gun.)
(It is the curse I must bear.)
(Even if there is more to this strange phenomenon, it doesn't matter to me.)
(My only concern is helping the average Joe of New York by dealing with these mobsters before they get too strong of a foothold in this town!)
(That's my top concern!)
James attempts to fire more bullets at Deacon, but Aries steps in to protect him
James
Aaaagggghhhh!
Blood spills out of James's body
Taylor
Until we've dealt with this guy, my Aries will be protecting you.
So let's get this over with!
Deacon
I thank you Taylor…
Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. I have misjudged you.
Taylor
Don't think about it. This is the only thing my Aries can really do.
On its own, Aries isn't very strong, it relies on the strength of others to use for its attacks…
Deacon
Very well then Taylor, I'll make sure to get you some medical attention after this.
And I guarantee you a spot in the new world…
Taylor
Thanks? I guess?
Deacon
Apus!
When he's in your sights, drop it!
Another bomb falls from the sky
James
(What are these bombs made out of?!)
(Now that I know so long as I don't receive a fatal blow, I'll be fine.)
(Works out well for me, cause I don't feel like having their blood on my conscious after this…)
(Today's supposed to be a day of celebration, not of mourning and remorse.)
!
James jumps out of the way of another bomb
James
(This is my chance to observe the bird and see how it moves!)
Deacon
Apus, I'd like you to make this last bomb the strongest if you could.
Ignore the surroundings, we'll deal with those after the intruder.
We'll be switching locations after this event regardless…
So unleash the most dreadful bombs you can!
Apus flies out from Deacon's back
James
(Now! I have to see where it goes and what it drops!)
The bird circles above James before something begins to flutter down
James
(That has to be the bomb!)
(I just know it!)
Lacerta!
Shoot the bomb off target!
Give me a better view of it!
Lacerta fires off a bullet hitting the bomb, it's revealed to be a feather, gently drifting down.
The feather explodes!
James
(Feathers!?)
(That's what's been causing those explosions this whole time?!)
(I can't believe it!)
(But what's more, that also revealed an aspect of this bird's attack…)
(The feather didn't explode immediately when I hit it with my bullet…)
(...no, the bomb only went off a bit after that!)
(Is it based on distance?)
(Does it only explode when it reaches a set distance from the bird?)
(or–)
An explosion goes off
Taylor
You got 'im!
You really did it!
Great job Deacon!
Deacon
Let us not be too hasty with our celebrations Taylor…
We don't know if that explosion was truly enough to finish him off!
Those on the verge of death who feel they have nothing left to lose can often be the most unpredictable, and in the unpredictability, there lies danger!
As the dust from the explosion clears, James' piercing yellow eyes shine through the dust staring towards Deacon and Taylor
James
I applaud you, masked man. You and your Manifesto, Apus you called it, are both truly formidable threats…
…I would've expected no less from the boss's personal bodyguards…
…but that same strength also confirms something for me.
Deacon
And what would that be?
James
If your boss really wanted to finish me off like he seemingly has, then why hasn't he sent more powerful users to attack me?
I mean after all, for someone who plans on assembling a criminal empire, it would only be natural to have a grand army of powerful hitmen ready to go…
…yet despite that, the closest he ever came were Mercury and May. All the others he sent against me were nothing more than petty criminals in suits.
But you two are different…
…You two are different. You two are powerful and loyal.
That isn't the kind of loyalty you'd see in a few new recruits.
You two are definitely the last line of defence here, aren't you?
Deacon & Taylor
…
James
Heh. Your silence speaks volumes.
(That's great news…to think, all that stands before me and the boss behind this whole operation is a man, clinging to life; and a dangerous and unstable religious loon.)
(This works out well. Now, to finish this fight using Lacerta to win!)
Lacerta!
Deacon
(What's his plan?)
(What scheme does this man have ready in his head?)
(I doubt he's given up already, so there has to be something!)
(Could he have figured out the secret behind my Apus?!)
Taylor
(I-I can't give in to my injuries before defeating this intruder…)
(...I-I must, s-stay awake so the boss can escape…)
James
You both have very interesting Manifestos…
I wonder, can your Aries protect two people at once?
Well? What do you say we test it out…
Lacerta's arm appears out of James's. As James is lying low down to the ground, he begins to take aim.
Lacerta fires off two bullets, one at Deacon's legs, one at Taylor's arm
James
(What I said was true, they both have a true amount of skill and mastery over their powers…)
(But unfortunately, I've also figured out most of their weaknesses!)
(Thanks to Lacerta's ability to heal itself and me in the process, if I brace myself with its limbs, then it doesn't matter which attack hits!)
(Either way, I'll recover!)
Taylor
Aries!
Protect Deaco–
!!!
AAAGGGHHH!!!
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
T-The bullet lodged itself in the bone!
Aries!
No matter what, protect Deacon!
James
(It's admirable the amount of trust this guy has in this organization. Maybe in another life, he could've gotten dealt a better hand, and avoided joining this gang.)
Deacon
Don't worry over me Taylor, for this next bomb will be the deciding blow and end this confrontation once and for all.
Detective James Spectre, you have proved yourself to be completely unworthy of the new world and of the power you wield.
Why God has chosen to grace you with such an ability, is beyond me.
But it no longer matters, because you will soon be nothing but a red splatter in a trenchcoat on the road.
Apus!
Drop one last bomb!
Make sure this is the one to end this fight!
James
Y'know mask guy, I agree with you on a few things.
I don't know why I have this power. I don't know what kind of higher power, whether it be god or the devil, gave it to me.
These "Manifestos" are something beyond our own understanding.
Maybe one day, I'll learn more about them.
But for now, I know one thing: I will defeat you. I will defeat your boss. And I will be walking out of here alive.
Deacon flinches
Deacon
Very well then, allow me and my Apus to send you to hell ourselves. Apus!
The bird swoops up for one final attack
James
Lacerta!
Lacerta uses its tail to kick up the dust on the ground around it
James
(C'mon bird…just drop that feather!)
(Give me my opening!)
Deacon
(Damn it! I can't see him! I have no idea where I should drop my bomb!)
(I'm gonna have to guess!)
James
(Huh? Wait, is that?)
(he dropped it!)
(Now's my chance!)
Lacerta! Fire!
Lacerta fires multiple bullets off at the feather, knocking it back up into the air
Taylor
Huh?
Why'd he waste bullets like that?
He's just firing off into the sky!
Who are you aiming for!?
HAhAHAHAH-
Hey, Deacon, why aren't you laughing?
We just won
Deacon?
Hey!
James
The reason your friend is scared is because he's realised something you haven't
Taylor
And what would that be?
James
Apus's bombs work on a timer. These are supposed to give Apus enough time to escape the blast radius to ensure the man in the mask won't be hurt from damage received by his manifesto.
But unfortunately, I was able to push the bomb back up towards the bird using the increased velocity of the air from my bullets.
And now…
The bomb goes off
Deacon collapses to the floor
James
I wasn't sure if the mask guy was able to change the power of his bombs after dropping them, but I guess not.
Deacon is gargling blood on the ground
James
Hey, you. What did you say about me being undeserving of this power?
Don't get me wrong, I'd be grateful to cleanse myself, however I believe that the safety and happiness of others comes before my own.
And for what it's worth, I didn't kill Mercury…he was betrayed by his partner.
I-I'm sorry he's gone…but that shouldn't hold you back. We all deserve time to mourn, but you shouldn't take it out on the world.
You've been wronged in your past, but instead of seeing this power as a chance to crush those you believe to be "worse" or "weaker" than you. Try using it to accomplish what you said: make this world a better place by being the change you want to see…
James begins walking away
Taylor
H-hey–
Coughs up blood
James
Don't waste your strength, either of you.
I'll be out in twenty minutes at most, if you can hold out until then, I can guarantee your safety.
Do you think you can do that?
And before you answer, I need you to know…
James grabs Taylor by the collar of his shirt
James
When I think about how many people will suffer if I let your boss escape, compared to you two, the choice is an easy one to make. So, to give you a chance, hold on for twenty minutes.
James puts Taylor back down
James takes a deep breath before entering into the building
James
(W-what's with this impending sense of dread?!)
(I can feel the air leaving my lungs right now…)
(Just what kind of monster is lurking upstairs?!)
Hm?
James sees a telephone on the table
James dials the phone
James
Yes, I need an ambulance, I have two men who have received possibly fatal wounds.
How? They accidently activated the explosives before they could complete their contract and demolish a building.
No, I won't be there to answer questions, I was passing by and am calling from home. Yes. Thank you very much.
James hangs up the phone
James
(An ambulance should be here shortly to save them…I'm grateful the phone lines weren't cut before I got here.)
(Those two should be able to receive the medical treatment they'll need…)
Now, "boss", it's time we finally met face-to-face.