"E-Erza! There's no one inside!" one of the men called out, his voice filled with relief.
"Then hurry up and get back!" Erza ordered sharply.
Before they could move, a mechanical whirring sound echoed from behind them—the unmistakable hum of the MV-02's power system. "Oh no!" the two turned around to see a large, silver-armored figure looming over them. They screamed in panic and fled, completely abandoning any thoughts of putting up a fight.
Zack didn't pay them any mind. His gaze was locked on the red-haired woman. As his HUD flickered to life, detailed information about her appeared on the screen:
"Sarah Yates, alias Erza. Age: 23. No recorded relationships. Height: 160 cm. Weight: 45 kg. Measurements: 32-23-33. Abnormal body function detected, energy levels exceeding standard parameters."
Zack raised an eyebrow. "A bit too much info there, Ego," he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Erza noticed the armored figure's attention fixated on her. Her expression hardened, and she slipped the lighter into her pocket, a small flame sparking to life in her hand as she glared back at Zack.
"Sir, energy fluctuations detected," Ego's voice warned.
Zack smirked. "How much heat can the MV-02 handle?"
"MV-02 operates optimally between -20°C and 800°C. It can endure up to 10 hours at 800°C. Beyond that, every additional 50°C reduces endurance by 10%," Ego responded.
Zack nodded, reassured. He took a step forward.
"Stay back!" Erza shouted, her voice trembling slightly. "Can you… understand me?"
"Sarah Yates, isn't it?" Zack's voice echoed coldly from inside the suit. "I'm interested in your abilities."
The mention of her real name sent a chill down Erza's spine. Panic surged in her chest. 'So, he's after me,' she thought, her fear mounting. She remembered the first time she had gained her powers—how she had always feared being hunted down by some shadowy organization that would lock her up and experiment on her. And now, here stood a man in high-tech armor, just as she had always feared.
"I just need a few samples from you," Zack said, taking another step toward her. "It'll be easier if you cooperate."
A fierce look crossed Erza's face. She raised her lighter, the flame growing larger in her hand. "Like hell I will!" she shouted, unleashing a fiery serpent toward Zack. The flames roared as they surged through the air, making the surrounding air heat to unbearable levels.
"Sir, the temperature is reaching 600°C," Ego warned.
Zack barely flinched, continuing his advance. The fire hit the MV-02's chestplate, splitting in two and flowing harmlessly around him.
Erza's gaze flicked to her followers. "What are you doing? Help me!" she demanded.
But they had already scattered, too terrified to intervene. Only one young man remained, holding an iron rod, but even his courage crumbled as he met Erza's fiery glare. "Useless!" she spat, turning her focus back on Zack.
She set the lighter on the truck's hood and focused. Flames twisted and surged, gathering into a massive wave that swept toward Zack, engulfing him in a wall of fire.
"Sir, the temperature is increasing to 700°C," Ego warned.
Inside the suit, Zack felt only slight warmth. "She can't generate fire on her own, can she?"
"Correct, Sir. It appears she can only control existing flames," Ego responded.
"Not too impressive," Zack murmured. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, bursting through the fire in a single stride.
In an instant, he slammed Erza against the hood of the truck, pinning her down. The force of the impact left a dent in the metal, and the flames around them flickered and died, deprived of their fuel.
"Had enough?" Zack asked, his grip tightening.
"Aahhh! Let me go! It's burning!" she screamed, the heat from his armor sizzling her skin.
Zack barely reacted. He knew the MV-02's casing had heated up to unbearable temperatures—it was practically burning—but he didn't feel it himself. He finally let go of her arm.
A vivid red handprint marked her skin, still throbbing with heat.
Erza sucked in a sharp breath, nearly in tears as she blew on the burn. The pain was sharp, but she held it back. What stung more than the pain, though, was the permanent scald on her hand. She stared at it, her anger and pain mixing in her eyes, before turning her fierce gaze back at Zack.
"I admit defeat!" she spat, her voice shaking with fury. "Kill me or tear me apart, just get it over with!" She closed her eyes, steeling herself for what she thought was inevitable.
But Zack didn't move. Instead, he asked, "Ego, what samples do we need?"
"If we're close enough, I can scan her brain activity. All we need is a bit of blood and a tissue sample," Ego replied, offering a more practical solution and sparing Erza's life.
"Close enough? How close exactly?" Zack asked, still focused on the task at hand.
A few moments later, Zack emerged from a nearby store holding three glass tubes: one filled with blood, another with a few strands of hair, and a third with a small piece of skin from her finger. Although Ego hadn't specifically asked for the skin sample, Zack took it anyway. Satisfied with his work, he returned to his vehicle and carefully stored the samples.
"Alright, Ego, let's move out," Zack said, settling back into the seat. The vehicle rumbled to life, blood-stained and heavy with the metallic scent, and began rolling away, leaving the town behind.
After Zack's departure, Erza stood there for a moment, her expression grim. The pain in her arm had faded, but the red handprint remained as a permanent reminder. She also had a fresh bandage on her finger.
"Erza, are you okay?" one of her younger associates asked, having returned after his earlier escape.
Nearby, a few men whispered among themselves, eyeing her with curiosity and sly grins.
"Was someone inside that thing?" one murmured.
"Looked like a man," another added.
"Do you even have to ask? It's obvious Erza must've—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a snake of fire shot from Erza's hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. The men instantly fell silent and scrambled away.
"From now on, no more dirty jokes—understood?" Erza's voice was icy, her gaze freezing them all in place. "Anyone who tries it will regret it!"
Her eyes darkened as memories of the encounter replayed in her mind. Behind that cold, imposing armor, she hadn't expected this outcome. For a moment, she had thought something might actually happen. But no. Instead, he had simply taken his samples, cold and efficient, and then left without a second glance.
Is that guy for real? Am I not beautiful enough for him? Erza thought bitterly, clenching her fists in irritation. She couldn't stop herself from muttering, "Damn it!" as she glared down the road where Zack had disappeared.
A few of her men lowered their heads, sensing her frustration. They knew better than to say anything in her current mood.
"Let's go," she ordered, her voice tight with anger.
Meanwhile, on the road, Zack suddenly sneezed.
"Seems like someone's talking about me," he chuckled.
"Sir, would you like me to track Ms. Sarah?" Ego offered.
"No need," Zack replied with a dismissive grin. "This is just a small visit to satisfy my curiosity. I've got no real interest in her." He grinned again. "Ego, step on it."