"Oh, is that so," 06 replied calmly.
He was silent for a moment, his gaze still locked on Fyar. He then glanced at 05, whose body was already almost fully recovered. New flesh had grown over her wounds.
"We have to bring him to the Boss, 05."
"Do you think he’ll be happy?" 05 asked.
She stretched her newly formed neck. A soft sound of bone shifting was heard.
06 laughed lightly. "A power that can injure you and disable my magic. Plus, he’s likely low-level."
He shook his head.
"Imagine the stupid smile on his face when we bring him someone like that."
"Ah. You’re right," 05 answered flatly.
"Makes sense."
05 pointed her finger at Fyar.
"You better join us."
Fyar just stood silently. His cold eyes watched their conversation. Behind Illya’s back, his trembling hand was secretly loading a new bullet into the pistol.
From their names... it seems they’re 000? No wonder they’re this strong.
The one named 06 said he had seen a small part of my weapon. Does he mean the shell casing? I remember I forgot to pick it up after killing those bandits because I thought it was a dream.
Fyar looked around. Illya’s condition is bad. Zaefal is bad. Rasie is bad. I’m bad.
Fyar bit his lip. If we force a fight, we’ll die.
Shit... What can I do. Think, Fyar!.
There must be a way. There must be.
Imagine if this is chess.
If this is chess, what’s the best move I can make?
"Oi!"
A hoarse shout came from behind them. It was Zaefal.
"He’s still alive," 05 said.
Her gaze fell on Zaefal, who was stabbing his broken sword into the ground, trying desperately to get up. His body trembled violently, blood pouring from his stomach.
06 sighed. "Just kill him."
He looked back at Fyar. "We’ll take the one in front of us."
05 nodded. She planted her claws into the ground and prepared to lunge at Zaefal.
"Illya!"
WOSH!
Fyar instantly teleported, appearing right in front of Zaefal, blocking 05’s path.
Illya, still on Fyar’s back, looked extremely pale. Cold sweat covered her temples.
Fyar raised his reloaded pistol, aiming it alternately at 05 and 06.
"Step over my dead body, idiot," Fyar said flatly.
Clap. Clap.
A slow clapping sound came from 06.
"Your confidence is commendable," 06 said.
He looked at 05.
"I’ll get the girl," he pointing towards the shop where Cyhas was hiding.
"Handle them. Don’t kill the purple-haired one."
"Okayyy," 05 replied. She stretched her neck and readied her claws.
Their desire is Cyhas and me. What can I do to use that to keep them alive?
Fyar tried to think hard. He searched for possibilities in his head, looking for the best solution for this position.
There is.
There’s one. Heh.
This is probably a gamble.
Fyar took a long breath. The cold festival air burned his lungs.
He slowly lowered Illya from his back.
"Fyar?" Illya whispered. Her legs could barely support her.
Fyar smiled faintly at her. "Leave this to me."
Fyar turned back to 05 and 06. He took a deep breath.
"ALRIGHT! I’LL JOIN!"
The shout echoed across the ruined square.
Instantly, Illya and Zaefal were stunned.
"Fyar? What are you saying?" Zaefal asked, bewildered. He stopped trying to get up, staring at Fyar in disbelief.
"Fyar?! What do you mean?" Illya asked, her voice trembling.
06, who was just about to teleport, stopped. "Oh?" He turned towards Fyar.
05 tilted her head, curious.
Sst.
05 dashed, landing a few meters in front of Fyar.
Fyar looked at them both. "Both of you fight me at once. But use thirty-five percent of your strength."
05 raised her eyebrows. "Hah? Thirty-five?"
"Yes, idiot!"
"You and I are on different levels. By lowering your level, this fight will be fair and even."
Fyar put on a mocking expression. "Or are you scared? Oh, or do you know deep down that you’d lose if I were on your level?"
"Hahaah, whatever."
05’s jaw tightened. "A-alright, you damn brat."
Fyar paused for a moment. "If you manage to wound me in twenty seconds, I’ll join voluntarily. You’re free to do whatever you want. If I manage to wound you, I’ll still join. But don’t hurt them and let them live."
He stopped, swallowing. "If you break that promise..."
A few seconds of silence.
"I’ll kill myself."
"F-f-Fyar?"
Illya’s face turned pale. Her eyes widened in horror, her hands covering her mouth.
"Fyar, you idiot! What are you doing!" Zaefal roared. He punched the ground with his bare hand, trying to get up again, but his body collapsed.
05 grinned. "Ohh. Why are you so sure we’ll keep our promise?"
Fyar laughed lightly. A hoarse, bitter laugh. "In that case, my assessment of you is low. And you are truly idiots."
He looked at 06. "You’ll lose my potential just because you can’t keep a small promise."
"Ha. Haha." Fyar looked at 05. "Idiots."
He looked back at 06. "You said your boss would have a stupid smile, right? Just imagine my contribution to your team if I join."
Fyar’s cold eyes stared them down. "How strong is your organization if it ignores someone like me, who has this strange power. And... imagine that potential being destroyed because you couldn’t fulfill one easy promise!"
"Hahaahah!" Fyar laughed loudly again.
06 was silent, analyzing.
"Brat."
Sst.
He instantly teleported, appearing beside 05.
"In that case, why not just join without a fight?" 06 asked.
Fyar shrugged. "If you don’t agree, I won’t join. And if you kill them, I’ll kill myself. Besides, wouldn’t it be better to test your new member?"
06 looked at 05. "How much time do we have left?"
05 seemed to think for a moment. "Ten minutes left."
"Perfect," 06 said.
He turned to Fyar. "Deal."
"06, can I be the one to fight? I’m really curious about him," 05 asked.
"You really are greedy." 06 sighed. "Fine."
After saying that, he turned to Fyar. "Oi, purple-hair. I’ll fight you alone. No need for both of us."
"No problem. Don’t regret it!" Fyar shouted.
Fyar’s breath left him in one long exhale. He closed his eyes for a moment.
This is the best move I can make.
I’m hoping to buy time. Maybe a strong adventurer or the Guardians will come. If not... then I’ll be forced to join them.
Heh, a false hope for a hero to arrive. Pathetic.
He turned, looking at Zaefal, who stared back with anger and desperation.
"Sorry," Fyar said softly.
He then turned to Illya. He bowed his head. Fyar pressed his forehead against Illya’s. Her body was trembling violently.
"This is the only thing I can do to keep you alive," he whispered.
"Fyar? Don’t be stupid, Fyar..." Tears began to stream down Illya’s cheeks. "Fyar... don’t..."
Fyar pulled back just enough to see her face. Slowly, he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his still-trembling thumb. Then he pulled Illya into a tight hug. Incredibly tight. He buried his face in her green hair, breathing in her scent one last time.
"I love you, Illya."
As Fyar was about to release the hug, Illya held on. Her hands gripped his blazer tightly.
"Illya."
"I don’t want to..." Illya sobbed, her voice muffled in his chest. "I don’t want to..."
Fyar forcefully but gently released Illya’s hands from his body. He smiled at her. The most painful smile. Then he turned, putting his back to Illya and Zaefal.
"Finished with the goodbyes?" 05 asked, her voice flat.
"Finished," Fyar answered flatly.
He drew his katana from the sheath at his waist, hidden by the blazer. Fyar held the pistol in his right hand, and the katana in his left.
"Neutralize."
Srengg.
Purple energy covered his katana and pistol.
Wosshh!
05 dashed forward, swiping her claws at Fyar.
Dor!
Fyar, with fast reflexes, shot 05 right in the shoulder. The bullet exploded. 05’s body was thrown back. Her speed and strength felt like they slowed drastically. She lost her momentum.
Dor!
Fyar shot at 05’s head, but 05 narrowly dodged it.
Wish!
Fyar swung his katana at 05’s stomach. 05 was wounded. The slash hit her, leaving a wound that smoked with purple energy. She was hit by the Neutralize effect again.
Sreek!
05 launched a claw attack at Fyar.
Teng!
But because of the Neutralize effect and her body regenerating, her movement was slightly slow. Fyar managed to parry it with his katana. Claws met purple steel.
Illya and Zaefal watched the fight tensely.
"You’re not bad. Not bad!" 05 shouted.
Dor!
Fyar managed to shoot 05’s thigh. 05 collapsed to the ground. She roared in pain.
A chance!
Seeing that, Fyar prepared to slash 05’s neck.
"Idiot!" A smile formed on the girl’s face. The roar was a trap.
Sst!
05, from her fallen position, launched her claws at Fyar’s stomach.
At the same time, Fyar’s katana was just about to touch 05’s neck.
Whop!
Suddenly, 05 and 06 disappeared from their spots. They both vanished in an instant.
Fyar’s pupils widened. What happened?
He looked around. The square was quiet again.
They’re gone?!