Within the warehouse, Melton's vision adapted to the faint light, exposing the somber sight in front of him. The atmosphere was heavy with the odor of rot, mixed with the sharp scent of narcotics and booze. The cold, concrete floor was strewn with lifeless women's bodies, their faces frozen in expressions of terror. The whole area was filled with the smell of death, decay, and hopelessness.
"What the hell happened here and who says here?" Melton said as his expression hardened.
"Nexus, give me an aerial scan of this place," he ordered, his voice low and urgent.
Before Nexus could reply, Melton noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere, a disruption that was not fully visible. On instinct, he tensed up, but it was already too late. Out of nowhere, a strong punch struck his stomach, sending him flying and crashing into a stack of crates. The force of the impact left him breathless as he struggled to catch his breath and regain his composure.
"What on earth was that?" Melton mumbled as he got up, but was once more hit by the mysterious force. He was thrown in reverse, hitting the wall with pain spreading throughout his body.
While trying to get up, he yelled, "Nexus, give me a status update immediately!"
Nexus's voice chimed in, but it wasn't the answer Melton wanted to hear. "I'm unable to detect any hostile presence on the radar."
"Damn it, Nexus!" Melton cursed in frustration, spitting blood onto the ground. He surveyed the room with narrowed eyes, seeking any indication of his unseen assailant. Afterwards, an idea came to his mind. He bent over and took a handful of dust from the deteriorating walls, scattering it in the air surrounding him. For a brief moment, dust came to rest on an unseen shape—an indistinct, moving form.
"I have caught you," Melton said with a growl. Swiftly, he seized a nearby naked wire, experiencing the electric current course through his blood as he took it in. He attacked the silhouette with a sudden burst of strength, hitting it with a snapping blast of energy.
Nexus chimed in almost immediately, "Electricity resistance: 10."
"Shut the hell up, Nexus!" Melton snapped, focusing on the fluctuating form before him. The figure was no longer completely invisible, flickering in and out of sight like a glitching hologram.
Melton pressed the attack, throwing punches and kicks with precise, calculated strikes. The figure countered, but its movements were now sluggish, its earlier advantage waning as Melton continued to batter it with electrified blows. For a moment, it seemed like Melton had gained the upper hand. He struck with relentless fury, the warehouse echoing with the sounds of their intense battle.
Melton taunted, saying, "You're not as strong as you believe," as he landed a powerful punch that caused the figure to stagger backwards. "Who is the one who dispatched you? What is Erebus? Or perhaps another individual?"
The character stayed quiet, with only its uneven breathing revealing its existence. Melton surged ahead, prepared to strike the finishing blow. As he prepared to attack, the figure gained strength again and became more visible, surprising Melton with a powerful strike. The impact of the blow caused him to tumble across the ground, with blood trickling from a gash above his eye.
The shadowy figure towered above him, its shape difficult to make out but threatening. Melton's vision became unfocused as the figure readied for the fatal strike. His strength was fading away, his body bruised and damaged. He shut his eyes, preparing for the conclusion.
All of a sudden, a dark, mysterious figure came in between Melton and the person attacking him. The atmosphere buzzed with power when the new arrival released a surge of energy, propelling the unseen figure backwards. Melton woke up in time to witness the shadowy figure looming over him, acting as his savior.
The invisible attacker regained its footing, its form flickering with instability. "Who the hell are you?" it demanded, voice filled with anger and confusion.
The enigmatic character remained silent. Instead, it surged ahead quickly, delivering a sequence of accurate strikes with powerful impact. The unseen attacker resisted fiercely, but it was evident that the new arrival was in a class of their own. In a matter of seconds, the attacker lay on the ground, trying to get up while the unidentified figure stood above them.
"This is your final warning," the enigmatic individual said icily, then dealt a finishing blow that left the assailant unconscious.
Melton, experiencing the aftermath of the fight, found it difficult to sit up due to the pain all over his body. "Who... who are you?" he inquired, his voice feeble and tense.
The person facing him had their face still covered in shadows. They advised Melton to be more cautious, their tone unexpectedly friendly. "This town shows no mercy to people who drop their defenses."
As the mysterious figure turned to leave, Melton, still regaining his strength, reached out instinctively and grasped their wrist. The figure paused, and in the dim light of the warehouse, Melton's grip tightened. "You saved me. Why?" he asked, his voice hoarse from the fight.
The figure didn't respond immediately, the silence stretching between them like a taut wire. "Does it matter?" they finally said, their voice low and guarded.
"It does to me," Melton replied, trying to make sense of the unexpected rescue. There was something familiar about the way they moved, the way they spoke.
Just as the figure tried to pull away, Melton's grip remained firm. With a swift motion, he tugged the hood back, revealing Jemmy's face. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of annoyance and something softer. "So, it's you," Melton said, his eyes searching hers. "You've been following me."
Jemmy didn't deny it, merely staring back at him with that fierce look. "I told you not to be greedy, didn't I?" she muttered, though her tone was more resigned than harsh.
Melton opened his mouth to speak, but Jemmy cut him off with a sharp glance, her eyes flicking toward the figure stirring behind them.
"Save it," she said, her tone cool. She nodded toward the guy she'd knocked unconscious earlier, now starting to regain consciousness.
"Take care of that if you want the bounty," she continued, her voice laced with impatience. "Then you can talk to me about anything else, dumb head."
Without another word, she turned away, leaving him to finish the job.