Arc 2 - Chapter 44: David vs Kenichi I

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 4:58AM)

“What the hell’s going on?”

“We got a roadblock…”

With the military truck sizzling steam from the brakes, the engine tried to cool itself down. And as it did this, David kept his eyes on the man, a man with ginger-hair who wore all black.

All around them were nothing but mansions, garnished in gold with many decorations for the top 5 to 1 percent. Along with house lights beginning to turn on, some of them had automatic sensors depending on what time struck. Briggs, who ignored the lights, had his fingers caressing his desert eagle near his thigh.

“Crazy bastard cut through a freaking jeep.”

“He’s not crazy, he’s skilled. That jeep was nothing to him, like an insect.”

“Thanks for the description, but what should we do with him?”

Briggs had his finger on the trigger, as his pistol stalled on his hip. David didn’t bother to pull out his, since he had his hand stalled on the wheel.

‘There is a way to best him, but can I pull it off?’

He let go of the wheel, and had his hands resting on his thighs. Feeling his body weight slumping down to his stomach, it was like everything was trying to drag him down. Surrounded by closing walls, lowering ceilings, and rising floors, he felt his whole body burn hot.

Grabbing the handle of the door, he took a small breath before opening it.

“What are you doing?”

“Do you know how to drive a truck?”

“Answer my question.”

“No. Answer my question.”

Briggs wrinkled his face, leading him to tightly grip the grip. Continuing to keep it stalled, he kept a heap of air into his lungs, while maintaining his stare on Kenichi. Since Kenichi did nothing but stand, the truck lights reflected his pale skin.

“I could drive anything.”

“Perfect. You continue with the mission. I’ll handle him.”

Opening the door to the driver, he let his boots thud the pavement below. Flustering away stone debris, he placed his hands into his pockets, and walked forward with pride. Feeling the early morning creeping onto his skin, he saw his breath blow out from his mouth.

Standing to the left of the truck, and several meters away, he homed his eyes on Kenichi. As he turned his head toward him, David had his back straightened along with his neck.

All the while he pulled out a walkie-talkie. Clicking a single button, he raised the metallic device up to his mouth.

“Briggs come in. Are you in the driver’s seat?”

“Yeah why?”

“The moment me and Kenichi fight, you put the pedal to the medal. Don’t slow down for anything.”

“Got it.”

Lowering his right hand, he placed the walkie-talkie back into his pocket. Instead of bringing out his hand, he kept it balled inside of his pocket, while he cocked his head to the right. With the wind caressing his skin, rippling the bottom of his jacket, the same went for Kenichi.

“What have you got against me Kenichi? Is it orders?”

“I don’t have time to speak with you.”

“Well now you have.”

Slowly walking forward, he tread the pavement lightly like thin ice. Knowing a single step would set everyone back, he felt his breath freeze.

Once he was ten meters in front of him, he felt his back swallow the blinding truck lights. Ignoring everything, he made sure that his eyes didn’t glance in back of him.

“You know I don’t want to fight you. Just come with me, come with us.”

“You think I want to do that?”

“Then what will be better? Explain?”

David took two steps forward, and pushed his eyes to be darkened all around. Tightening his chest, clenching his stomach, he growled from the innards of his throat. But Kenichi didn’t even glare, no emotion lighting his face.

“Enough of this.”

David pulled out his right hand, the hand that was snuffed away inside his pocket. Without gripping anything, he only had his fingers and knuckles be shown clear as day. With nothing but a simple hand, it was a bridge that he’ll make.

“Come back…”

The air from the North began to blow, leaving the strands of his hair to sway with the chilling air. Seeing his breath, and feeling his fingers prickle and thaw to ice, he knew being outside would numb his hands.

Until he saw Kenichi avert his eyes, and darkened them to the pitchest of black he ever saw. His fingers trembling, his hands quaking, it was like his body was struggling to carry the chainsaws he wielded.

“I’m sorry…”

His chainsaws rotated.

Embers sparking within the clashing of metal, it left David to pull back his hand. Letting veins scatter his temples, he returned his hand into his pocket, or rather both of his hands inward. He soon pulled out his right hand …

Raising a walkie-talkie, he had it hover over his mouth.

“Get ready to drive off.”

Unwilling to hear Briggs’ future words, he turned off the walkie-talkie and placed it inside his pocket. Since he had his other hand cusping another metallic object, he soon pulled it out …

Which was nothing more than a standard pistol.

Hearing Kenichi’s chainsaws revving up, it was like he was awakening the beast from them. Both of his feet glued into the pavement, he kept his finger on the side of the gun. Focusing his eyes, pinning them, honing them, he felt like his entire being was focusing on a single man…

Until he leaped forward; leaving David to slide his right foot back.

‘Why did it have to be this way?’

________________________________________________________________________

Briggs slammed his foot on the gas pedal. Sending all the soldiers and everyone back to jump, the whiplash that occurred struck like a plague.

But Jenny knew something was amidst…

“It’s Kenichi…”

She felt it in the air, like a spider sensing danger. Goosebumps littering her arms and back, she pushed her feet off the bench, and made her way toward the back. Narrowly avoiding each and every soldier’s boots, she managed to get to the back of the truck.

“Wait, what are you—” Before Alexandra could speak, a simple jump of the truck pushed her words to cease. Rolling through the pavement, a collection of rock swept into her clothing. Once she was finished, she laid on her back, and felt the air be coarse with ice.

‘I have to fight…’

Returning the camera to David…

He effortlessly dodged Kenichi’s slashes. Wielding his simple handgun with his left hand, he felt the air be ripped apart by every miniscule blade. Smelling the combustion of the chainsaw engines, and inhaling the ash that began to descend from the sky, it was hell.

‘He’s moving with precision and ease. Was he holding back that much?’ thought Kenichi.

Avoiding another stroke, David kept his toes tidy on the pavement. With some blades grazing his jacket, David leaped back with strained feet.

Too fast for his barrel to fire, he slid through the pavement with skiing boots. Scraping off leather, a small trail of smoke unveiled. Jumping back tenfold, Kenichi kept a hold of his speed.

Leaving David to fling his gun at him.

“I’ll—”

He raised his gun to the heavens, as if instinct had called upon him. As soon as he did, a sudden gust of wind slammed into his face, or rather both of his temples being fluttered against. Narrowly dodging a slash to one of Kenichi’s blades, some of his teeth chipped.

His left hand inside of his pocket, he pulled out empty bullets, bullets that had no gunpowder. Or so Kenichi thought.

As Kenichi sliced, he leaped forward with pulled back arms. Trying to reach David, while feeling his body convulse in sweat, he thrusted his right chainsaw like an axe.

While David clocked the two empty bullets into the chamber. Letting it reload, it wasn’t a queue but a stack. Since a stack is a last in, first out type of model, then it meant that the two bullets that he entered would be the first to shoot out.

And he fired.

‘I’ll just slice them—’

He couldn’t finish his thought, once he sliced the two bullets with ease. Honing his eyes on the lead, and with time flowing ever so slowly, he pierced through them like he was cutting butter.

Until those bullets spewed a sultry gas

Stinging his eyes, assaulting his nostrils, he took two steps back. Blinded for a split second, David pushed up a small grin.

“This will make you reconsider …”

Having his pistol in front of him, he pulled the trigger, and fired six bullets within the blink of an eye. Rippling the air in front of him, Kenichi used his chainsaws like shields.

‘To never bring chainsaws to a gun fight.’

Instead of piercing through the metal, or through his body, Kenichi sliced those bullets in half. Most of them were blocked by him, but some found their way home.

Blood vomiting from the corners of his mouth. Biting the innards of his cheeks, he tried to direct the pain from his chest to his face.

Using his left hand, he thrusted it deep into his pockets yet again. Pulling out an ammo box, he unlocked the chamber of the gun nearly instantly, and chucked six bullets into the magazine. Locking and loading the gun, all the while he dodged and leaped, he then returned the barrel onto Kenichi. And fired.

Kenichi couldn’t swing his swords, as hot metal burned his chest.

‘Huh…’

Widening his eyes, fast lead fastened through the air. With blood strolling down from his mouth, even his legs felt the weight of his chest and head…

As six bullets struck straight into his chest.

Taking many steps back, Kenichi druckingly walked with his chainsaw swishing against the wind. Bending down, he had his knees crumble to the pavement, with his rotating blades scraping the asphalt. Vomiting out blood, he stared down at the asphalt.

Lowering his pistol to his thigh, smoke plowed from the barrel.

“You … cough cough … Are you … cough cough … going to finish me off?”

David darkened his face, and found his right hand to tremble the gun he had. His finger bastioned on the trigger, but the barrel facing the pavement, his eyes stalled on the bleeding man.

Clenching his jaw, he moved his left hand to secure the chamber. Pushing down a frown, he slowly raised the barrel up, while blood smeared his nostrils.

“Last chance.”

His finger trembled on the gun. Aiming the barrel right where his heart was, David strained his boots with his weight. His palms coated in sweat, time itself had stopped for him.

Closing his eyes softly, he allowed the cold summer air to relax his lungs. Opening his eyes, and pushing out the air, he narrowed his face…

“You should’ve taken your chance.”

A gust of wind blew straight at him.

________________________________________________________________________

‘W-What…’

His vision blurred, and his ears screamed. Digging into his stomach, most of his ribcage crackled. Opening his mouth wide, a gush of saliva spazzed out from his lips, leaving him to cough out the last of his hair.

While he flew through the air.

‘Not again … I used it again …’

Kenichi’s whole face was coated in sweat. Collapsing on one knee, a spazz of blood rolled from his right lip, as he saw David fly. Seeing the speed in which he flew, Kenichi breathed softly through his throat.

‘W-What just…’

His cowboy hat loosened from the blast, it fell, leaving his hair to ripple with the wind. Unable to move his arms or legs, or his head or body, only the wind directed him.

Like ingesting a ghost pepper, the pain burned him.

‘I didn’t see it coming…’

The glass shattered, spraying and pinching across his body. Feeling like he crashed through a window, he finally ceased his flying.

Laying on his back, he stared at the ceiling that was garnished in red. His arms and legs sprawled out, a slow groan escaped from his mouth But most importantly, he felt his own breath be trapped in his throat.

“gasp … gasp.”

Raising both of his hands onto his throat, he placed a thumb on each side, and began caressing his windpipe. And upon swallowing at the same time, the air that was trapped thrusted back down.

His face returning to its normal color, a huge relief of air plunged into his nose.

“That’s better…”

Arching his head up, he took solace at the many couches and chairs scattering the room. Along with amany statues summoned near the hallway, and many artifacts enclosed in glass … It was a millionaire’s mansion.

Getting up from the floor, he stationed his boots on the brown rug that caressed his soles. Walking forward, the rug was only temporary, once he squealed his boots under the marble surface of the hallway.

‘That was no blessing. That amount of power is only dubbed to curses. Most importantly, it feels like an invisible fist … rather than a gust of air …’

Strolling through a hallway riddled with ancient weapons, they were all locked in glass boxes. His hands in his pockets, his boots thumping the marble floor, he noticed one particular box.

Towering over the box that was in front of him, he stared at the dome of metal with a creaked fist. Gazing his eyes at the edges, and letting his hand reach a breaking point, he took his right fist out from his pocket.

‘Boris could pay for the damages.’

And thrust it toward the box.

Scraping his fingers and knuckles, the mini glass shards prickled against his skin. His own blood dripping to the floor, he grabbed the edge of the shield, and felt his palm being stabbed. Not letting the pain get to him, he pulled the circular shield from its prison.

And once he did so, he strapped the shield around his left wrist.

‘It’s heavy, too heavy. What kind of metal is this?’

The front door swung open.

Turning his head toward the direction of the door, he had his pistol in his right hand. Not motioning his body, he kept his eyes pinned on the man garnished in all black.

His chainsaws already revving up, embers of clashing metal sparkled onto the floor. Reflecting his face, both of them stared down at one another.

“You want me dead huh…”

Upon the darkness, David pinned his barrel at the ginger-haired man. As for Kenichi, he continued to wield his chainsaws, as smoke plowed from the metallic engines. Despite blood dripping from his wounds, and down to his chest and stomach, it looked as if he was barely standing.

Which pushed David to furrow his brow.

“How are you still standing? You shouldn’t be able to walk let alone stand.”

“There are ways…”

He caught a glimpse of Kenichi’s right arm, and noticed a syringe surged into it. His eyes sharpened, he tapped his right foot on the marble before darkening his cheeks.

‘What is that syringe?’

Kenichi wasted no time to let David draw attention. Having his right foot over his left, he had a grip on his chainsaws with animosity force.

Until he leaped through the air like a garage door spring.

Pushing away the brown rich rug, he had his chainsaws pulled back as he honed in on David. The wind howling like a hellhound, he had his eyes aimed on David’s neck. Having his shield ready, he raised the shield to his throat, covering his neck from the slashing wind.

Once his chainsaw made contact with the shield, he felt the blades emit embers from the two forces. For a millisecond opening, David already had his gun facing him.

Firing just three bullets, it burned the barrel and scalded the air. As if he auto-dodged the bullets, it wasn’t like last time where David used dirty tricks.

‘He’s going to aim for my liver now.’

Predicting Kenichi’s next move, he saw a glimpse of rotating blades trying to scald his body. Arching his body to the left, the rotating blades barely nuzzled his jacket … but he still had three more bullets. Shooting the leftovers, he didn’t shoot directly at him.

Instead, he shot at a random metallic shield, which was imprisoned in glass. With one of the bullets breaking it, it left the other two to dent in an angle … an angle where it would return back to—

“Do you feel that?”

Kenichi’s body felt hot.

Pulling back his right sword, he jumped back with blood smearing his mouth again. Unable to even land a strike on him, blood gushed from his upper back.

His face turning pale, and his body reeked in hot sweat, it left him gasping for air.

‘Time to activate it again.’

He heard the air howl a weak cry.

All of his hairs spiking up, he jumped back with his shield covering his body. His body dripping in sweat, he sensed the presence of an ungodly being coming straight at him.

‘What—’

—He was sent flying; with the shield in tow.—

Clutching his shield like a lifeline, he flew several feet from where he originally stood.

His ears ringing, his body trembling, he felt his grip on the shield weakened by the sudden force. As he kept his footing still on the marble, David huffed a breath of air out of his throat.

‘The same thing … he did the same thing …’

Kenichi straightened his whole body, and stared at David with glaring eyes. His chainsaws still in motion, he pushed a much colder frown. Even when a small line of blood escaped from his right lip.

“There is no escaping this.”