James
Ricky, here's the plan.
I'm gonna try to keep my distance from Chuck and keep attacking from a distance.
Ricky
Right! And what should I do?
James
You said you touched the map, so your job is to stand right there.
James pats his back as he gets back to attacking Fornax
Ricky
What do you mean stay here!?
I wanna help!
Chuck
Do you really think he'll be safe if he stays there Spectre?!
It's no fun if he doesn't run!
Fornax swings at Ricky, Ricky manages to avoid the hit
James
You need to stay right where you are!
If you touched Circinus, then you'll be safe so long as you don't move!
Remember what I said about its power?
Just let Lacerta and I do the fighting!
You just make sure you don't die!
Ricky
B-but I can do more!
James
Great to hear, but I need you to just stay there while I finish this!
Chuck keeps swinging at Ricky but keeps missing
Chuck
Why can't I hit you!
Just let me hit you!
Agh!
Chuck blocks James's shots with Fornax
James
Chuck Berry, it's over for you.
If you surrender now, I won't hurt you…much.
Chuck
Ha!
Like I'd do that!
Chuck lights his fists on fire and begins swinging at James
James
(A practical application of his power…)
(But it doesn't mean anything if he can't hit me.)
James continues shooting at Chuck
Chuck
(Time out, I need to think about what I should do next…)
(If I stay here, I can break Spector and everything he values, which would be good…)
(...with that said, if I stay, that means Spector also has more chances to hit me, and he's probably better at using his power than I am…)
(Normally, I'd just run away and stay in the clear, but if I run today, he'll already know about my power and he'll keep chasing me…)
(Damn, looks like I'll need to find a way to break Spector quickly to make sure no one else gets involved…)
(I don't know how many more of these guys he has stowed away waiting to attack…)
(Damn it, I should've just kept waiting like he told me to!)
Chuck glances at John's bank
Chuck
(There's gotta be some way for me to get out of here!)
!
Fornax punches away some bullets fired off by Lacerta
James
Don't get too comfortable over there
I'm still here, remember?
And it's gonna take a lot more than a few flaming punches to take me out!
Lacerta!
Lacerta continues firing at Chuck, Fornax lights his hands on fire and returns the bullets to James
James
(If I don't end this soon, nothing's gonna change, we've been out under the sun for a while, he's gotta be tired by now, so how long can he keep this up?)
!
James gets knocked to the ground by Fornax
Chuck
Thanks for letting me get that hit in Spector!
Now, if you'd stay put, I need to get going!
Fornax winds up, but Chuck turns around and sees EURion attacking him
Chuck
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS ANYMORE!!!
Fornax bats Ricky out of the way and sends him flying
Chuck
Prepare to die Spector—
Chuck gets sent flying by Lacerta's punch, James gets back up
James
How dare you hurt another one of my friends.
Lacerta
Chuck tries throwing a punch, but James returns it with a volley of punches and steps on Chuck, pinning him to the ground
Chuck
(F-fuck! He's gonna snap my spine!)
Chuck tries reaching up with Fornax, his arm gets shot
James
I'd stay down if I were you.
You aren't in the best position right now.
My Lacerta has the interesting ability to shoot its scales like bullets…
…These bullets rotate as if they were being shot out of a barrel…
…Remember what happened when I shot you the last time we met?
My Manifesto has gotten stronger since then, these bullets lodge themselves into the target and spin with enough force to snap a bone clean in half.
Why don't I show you?
Lacerta fires a bullet straight through Chuck's arm
Chuck
FUCK!!!
James
You know, ever since my bullets became like this, I've wondered how many bullets I could fire in a person before they died.
Thanks for volunteering as a test dummy.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 891011121314151617181920…
Chuck
(T-this asshole! Has he lost his mind!)
(H-he wasn't bluffing about the bullets!)
(My legs might as well be mincemeat by now!)
(I-I don't see a way out of here…)
(But, look at him!)
(He hasn't even realised it, but he's becoming more and more like me…)
(He's so lost in the joy of causing others pain he doesn't even realise what he's doing!)
(Even if I can't feel my legs, I've never felt happier!)
(Just watching him lose himself to the violence, trying to take everything from me is so much better than I ever could've imagined!)
(I don't even care what happens to me after this, there's no feeling that can compete with this feeling!)
James
Had enough yet?
Chuck smits out some blood
Chuck
I-is that…
Lacerta shoots him again
James
Speak up.
Chuck
Is that all you got?
James scowls at him
James
You think you're funny?
DO YOU FIND THIS FUCKING FUNNY!?
Lacerta proceeds to begin stomping repeatedly on Chuck
James
HOW ABOUT THAT?!
HUH?!?
IS THIS STILL FUNNY TO YOU!?!
James gut punches Chuck and sends him flying
James
Is this what you want?
Is this how you wanted things to go?
You should've just ended this all when you had the chance.
But now…
There is no discussion to be had.
Humanity is vile.
Humanity is sin given form.
We are the scourge on this planet.
We take.
We spread.
We slaughter.
We do everything in our power to make life good for ourselves, indulging in our hobbies and our urges without consideration for the cost!
Chuck, you are the sins of humanity.
You indulge yourself in the tormented screams of your victims.
You bring suffering and pain to everyone around you.
You act solely on impulse.
You show a complete and utter distaste for other humans and use your strange power to cause harm to those who have no understanding of how it works.
Chuck
Heheh…
James kicks Chuck
James
What's so funny?
Care to share?
Chuck
They're just awfully big words coming from a hypocrite like you…
James gets even angrier and picks up Chuck by his throat using Lacerta
James
I.
Am.
Nothing.
Like.
You.
Chuck
Hehehehe, you say that…but you're guilty of each and everything you accuse me of doing…
…what's the difference between us?
You lie about your intentions and pretend that you're acting in the name of "justice"
That's the only reason you're not considered a criminal for indiscriminately attacking people with a power they can't see.
He is the only one who's truly in the right…
He gives sight to those who can't see, he helps people who would otherwise be left bereft and alone.
He is the one that truly embodies justice.
James
Shut up.
Chuck
?
!
James's grip tightens
James
SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHTUPSHTUPSHTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!!!!
Lacerta pummels Chuck into the ground
James's hair is a mess and he's sweating profusely
James
You're wrong…
I-I'm nothing like you.
I don't kill people…
…I-I didn't kill them on purpose…
It was an accident…
It wasn't my fault!!!
I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN A MONSTER!!!
I DIDN'T WANT THIS!!!
I WANTED A NORMAL LIFE!!!
A NORMAL FAMILY!!!
WHY CAN'T I HAVE THAT!!!
STOP LAUGHING AT ME!!!
James proceeds to keep beating Chuck into the ground
James
WHY CAN'T I BE HAPPY?!?
Lacerta delivers its strongest punch left, shaking the ground in the area
James is about to throw another punch, but EURion's hand stops Lacerta
Ricky
James!
That's enough…
Please…
I think–
I think you've done enough…
James begins crying
James
…
What have I become?
James collapses to the ground
James begins sobbing as Ricky tries to comfort him
Mysterious figure is watching the events through the blinds
Mysterious figure
(He's far stronger than I would've anticipated…)
(It's terrifying that one man has that much power…)
(Well, one man other than myself that is.)
(I will purify this world of sinners such as that man and create a true utopia for only the pure)
(I will bring Heaven to New York, no matter the cost.)
(Though, I'd best be cautious around avoiding a direct confrontation between myself and the detective…)
(...At least until my Corvus is complete…)
(That man's Manifesto changed part-way through the battle, and I'm certain with my power, I too can achieve such a form with my Corvus.)
(Chuck Berry, deceased. Brutally killed in a brawl with private eye James Spector.)
(What an interesting bout.)
The man smiles
Mysterious man
I can't wait to see what happens next.James
Ricky, here's the plan.
I'm gonna try to keep my distance from Chuck and keep attacking from a distance.
Ricky
Right! And what should I do?
James
You said you touched the map, so your job is to stand right there.
James pats his back as he gets back to attacking Fornax
Ricky
What do you mean stay here!?
I wanna help!
Chuck
Do you really think he'll be safe if he stays there Spectre?!
It's no fun if he doesn't run!
Fornax swings at Ricky, Ricky manages to avoid the hit
James
You need to stay right where you are!
If you touched Circinus, then you'll be safe so long as you don't move!
Remember what I said about its power?
Just let Lacerta and I do the fighting!
You just make sure you don't die!
Ricky
B-but I can do more!
James
Great to hear, but I need you to just stay there while I finish this!
Chuck keeps swinging at Ricky but keeps missing
Chuck
Why can't I hit you!
Just let me hit you!
Agh!
Chuck blocks James's shots with Fornax
James
Chuck Berry, it's over for you.
If you surrender now, I won't hurt you…much.
Chuck
Ha!
Like I'd do that!
Chuck lights his fists on fire and begins swinging at James
James
(A practical application of his power…)
(But it doesn't mean anything if he can't hit me.)
James continues shooting at Chuck
Chuck
(Time out, I need to think about what I should do next…)
(If I stay here, I can break Spector and everything he values, which would be good…)
(...with that said, if I stay, that means Spector also has more chances to hit me, and he's probably better at using his power than I am…)
(Normally, I'd just run away and stay in the clear, but if I run today, he'll already know about my power and he'll keep chasing me…)
(Damn, looks like I'll need to find a way to break Spector quickly to make sure no one else gets involved…)
(I don't know how many more of these guys he has stowed away waiting to attack…)
(Damn it, I should've just kept waiting like he told me to!)
Chuck glances at John's bank
Chuck
(There's gotta be some way for me to get out of here!)
!
Fornax punches away some bullets fired off by Lacerta
James
Don't get too comfortable over there
I'm still here, remember?
And it's gonna take a lot more than a few flaming punches to take me out!
Lacerta!
Lacerta continues firing at Chuck, Fornax lights his hands on fire and returns the bullets to James
James
(If I don't end this soon, nothing's gonna change, we've been out under the sun for a while, he's gotta be tired by now, so how long can he keep this up?)
!
James gets knocked to the ground by Fornax
Chuck
Thanks for letting me get that hit in Spector!
Now, if you'd stay put, I need to get going!
Fornax winds up, but Chuck turns around and sees EURion attacking him
Chuck
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS ANYMORE!!!
Fornax bats Ricky out of the way and sends him flying
Chuck
Prepare to die Spector—
Chuck gets sent flying by Lacerta's punch, James gets back up
James
How dare you hurt another one of my friends.
Lacerta
Chuck tries throwing a punch, but James returns it with a volley of punches and steps on Chuck, pinning him to the ground
Chuck
(F-fuck! He's gonna snap my spine!)
Chuck tries reaching up with Fornax, his arm gets shot
James
I'd stay down if I were you.
You aren't in the best position right now.
My Lacerta has the interesting ability to shoot its scales like bullets…
…These bullets rotate as if they were being shot out of a barrel…
…Remember what happened when I shot you the last time we met?
My Manifesto has gotten stronger since then, these bullets lodge themselves into the target and spin with enough force to snap a bone clean in half.
Why don't I show you?
Lacerta fires a bullet straight through Chuck's arm
Chuck
FUCK!!!
James
You know, ever since my bullets became like this, I've wondered how many bullets I could fire in a person before they died.
Thanks for volunteering as a test dummy.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 891011121314151617181920…
Chuck
(T-this asshole! Has he lost his mind!)
(H-he wasn't bluffing about the bullets!)
(My legs might as well be mincemeat by now!)
(I-I don't see a way out of here…)
(But, look at him!)
(He hasn't even realised it, but he's becoming more and more like me…)
(He's so lost in the joy of causing others pain he doesn't even realise what he's doing!)
(Even if I can't feel my legs, I've never felt happier!)
(Just watching him lose himself to the violence, trying to take everything from me is so much better than I ever could've imagined!)
(I don't even care what happens to me after this, there's no feeling that can compete with this feeling!)
James
Had enough yet?
Chuck smits out some blood
Chuck
I-is that…
Lacerta shoots him again
James
Speak up.
Chuck
Is that all you got?
James scowls at him
James
You think you're funny?
DO YOU FIND THIS FUCKING FUNNY!?
Lacerta proceeds to begin stomping repeatedly on Chuck
James
HOW ABOUT THAT?!
HUH?!?
IS THIS STILL FUNNY TO YOU!?!
James gut punches Chuck and sends him flying
James
Is this what you want?
Is this how you wanted things to go?
You should've just ended this all when you had the chance.
But now…
There is no discussion to be had.
Humanity is vile.
Humanity is sin given form.
We are the scourge on this planet.
We take.
We spread.
We slaughter.
We do everything in our power to make life good for ourselves, indulging in our hobbies and our urges without consideration for the cost!
Chuck, you are the sins of humanity.
You indulge yourself in the tormented screams of your victims.
You bring suffering and pain to everyone around you.
You act solely on impulse.
You show a complete and utter distaste for other humans and use your strange power to cause harm to those who have no understanding of how it works.
Chuck
Heheh…
James kicks Chuck
James
What's so funny?
Care to share?
Chuck
They're just awfully big words coming from a hypocrite like you…
James gets even angrier and picks up Chuck by his throat using Lacerta
James
I.
Am.
Nothing.
Like.
You.
Chuck
Hehehehe, you say that…but you're guilty of each and everything you accuse me of doing…
…what's the difference between us?
You lie about your intentions and pretend that you're acting in the name of "justice"
That's the only reason you're not considered a criminal for indiscriminately attacking people with a power they can't see.
He is the only one who's truly in the right…
He gives sight to those who can't see, he helps people who would otherwise be left bereft and alone.
He is the one that truly embodies justice.
James
Shut up.
Chuck
?
!
James's grip tightens
James
SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHTUPSHTUPSHTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!!!!
Lacerta pummels Chuck into the ground
James's hair is a mess and he's sweating profusely
James
You're wrong…
I-I'm nothing like you.
I don't kill people…
…I-I didn't kill them on purpose…
It was an accident…
It wasn't my fault!!!
I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN A MONSTER!!!
I DIDN'T WANT THIS!!!
I WANTED A NORMAL LIFE!!!
A NORMAL FAMILY!!!
WHY CAN'T I HAVE THAT!!!
STOP LAUGHING AT ME!!!
James proceeds to keep beating Chuck into the ground
James
WHY CAN'T I BE HAPPY?!?
Lacerta delivers its strongest punch left, shaking the ground in the area
James is about to throw another punch, but EURion's hand stops Lacerta
Ricky
James!
That's enough…
Please…
I think–
I think you've done enough…
James begins crying
James
…
What have I become?
James collapses to the ground
James begins sobbing as Ricky tries to comfort him
Mysterious figure is watching the events through the blinds
Mysterious figure
(He's far stronger than I would've anticipated…)
(It's terrifying that one man has that much power…)
(Well, one man other than myself that is.)
(I will purify this world of sinners such as that man and create a true utopia for only the pure)
(I will bring Heaven to New York, no matter the cost.)
(Though, I'd best be cautious around avoiding a direct confrontation between myself and the detective…)
(...At least until my Corvus is complete…)
(That man's Manifesto changed part-way through the battle, and I'm certain with my power, I too can achieve such a form with my Corvus.)
(Chuck Berry, deceased. Brutally killed in a brawl with private eye James Spector.)
(What an interesting bout.)
The man smiles
Mysterious man
I can't wait to see what happens next.