"Then what are you suggesting we do?"
"We can't let this continue. If we let it have this region unrestricted, it would be better off if we just moved away. But by now, too many powers are being established."
"What's wrong with this region?"
"Haven't you noticed that spinning slot machine? Every time someone goes over there and triggers it, they fail, and then it gets stronger, pumping out more of that energy."
"And you said before that those randomly appearing treasures have a lure to the zombies?"
"Exactly. And there has to be a reason for that. This isn't a video game—they're not just randomly guarding these things for no reason. I bet they're growing stronger by sticking around them."
"So sh—it has been allowing people it thinks are weak enough to activate the slot machine, and blocking us out of an abundance of caution. It doesn't want the slot machine to disappear because it's benefiting from it. And if we continue letting it do so, it will grow so powerful that we won't have a place here anymore.
"Is that everything?"
"Yes."
"And you want to what? War with it?"
"At the very least, we need to get in there. That man… I don't know how he grew so powerful, but he's churning through them like butter. I suggest we support him from the back instead of just remaining idle."
"We can't do that," Malik said firmly. "I sensed it just now—she's sending some powerful zombies. We don't have much time. They just broke through my perimeter defense."
The two of them were currently in a cave on the face of a valley wall. A rope dangled in the wind, slapping against the side of the rock from time to time.
From here, even if someone walked by the edge, they wouldn't necessarily spot them. Though, the rope ladder might be a dead giveaway.
However, given how far they were from the main action, no one would spot them.
Before, Malik had fired the bullet right out of the cave entrance. The bullet had curved up and to the right before zooming toward Zarek. It was because of Malik's ability and a unique aerial scouting Treasure they had that they could both watch the situation and know that Zarek was alive.
Of course, Malik had marked the Enchantress in the past. It was just that she had somehow destroyed that marking.
Either way, with the combination of the aerial scouting Treasure and the evolution to his Talent, even without a mark, he could be lethal from right here.
"Most of those zombies won't even be able to make it down the cliff face without falling to their deaths in the valley."
"They're not so stupid when they're directed by her," Malik said.
"For the love of god, is it so hard to call an 'it' an 'it' when you see it?! It's a fucking ghost, Malik. Did you already forget what it used to be? Did the nice set of tits turn off your brain?!"
Malik's face shut down. "Do. Not. Talk to me like that. I won't tolerate disrespect."
Qiqi bristled with anger, but she clenched her teeth and fell silent nonetheless.
"Are you suggesting this because you're jealous of a ghost? Or is this actually a smart plan?" Malik asked coldly.
"It's not about the damned ghost, Malik. You seem to want to see everything but me as a woman these days. I don't get your mind. Have I not been by you long enough?"
"Don't try and guilt-trip me for something I haven't even done yet."
"Yet?" Qiqi sneered.
Malik's brow furrowed. He didn't know what this woman wanted. He was more than a little frustrated. It felt like he couldn't find the right combination of words no matter what he said.
And obviously, he knew that it wasn't about the Violet Enchantress. He had never done anything but try and kill her. But that only made it more complicated, not less.
If it had been so simple, he would just agree to her stupid plan. If they managed to kill her, then all of this would end.
BANG!
Dammit, Malik cursed.
The rest of his gang was an even further distance away. They had set up temporary camp on the top of a mountain that was easily defended and outside the usual range of the Enchantress.
He had meant to come here alone, but Qiqi had insisted on coming, so he let her.
Rocks fell across the face of the cave entrance, falling from above in heaps.
BANG!
Qiqi took a breath and exhaled. "You're right. We need to go."
Malik shook his head and picked her up by the waist, throwing her onto his back and strapping his rifle to his chest.
There wasn't the slightest hint of fear on his face. He just stood there, waiting.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
One rock after another fell, and then he suddenly shifted.
He shot out. On a rock that had fallen, if one looked closely, it would be possible to see a glowing red mark on it. Malik's body cut toward that rock so fast one would have thought that he was the bullet.
He stomped a foot onto the falling rock, his eyes flashing at another rock falling from above.
Like a guillotine falling in reverse, he cut a clean line toward the next mark.
He leapt from rock to rock until he was close enough to the ledge that a mark appeared there.
His body seemed to phase through the wind, defying gravity and all the rest of physics alike to shuttle himself forward like a projectile right out from a railgun.
Sharp, fast, decisive.
He landed on the cliff edge, releasing a hand from one of Qiqi's thighs and unholstering a weapon from his hip and aiming it forward.
He suddenly had a whole lot of frustration to shed off.
'There you are, huh… It seems the Enchantress isn't a pushover.'
Even in the midst of the commotion, Zarek's ears twitched as he picked out extra sounds of combat from kilometers away.
'The question is… will he come this way, or go further away?'
Zarek's katana swept down and across, taking the leg of a giant.
'Oh?'
There was a flicker in Zarek's eyes. To his surprise, Malik was actually coming in this direction.