Chương 61: RETURN OF THE SCORNED

T'balt cracked forward, flying straight at Sam and snatching him by the armor. Sam's eyes lit up, but the action had happened too fast for him to think his way out. Somehow, he still managed. The armor disappeared, releasing Sam from T'balt's grip, and so when he punched, he only connected with air. Sam slipped away, catching his breath and holding his chest like he saw his life flash before his eyes.

"Acelin… keep protection over Ellie. Cannon with me." The two did as they were commanded as Ellie worked to heal her burns. Strength and speed were a combo they'd worked before. It would have to work again.

"Now it's four on one. I'm getting bullied worse than you were," Sam said, cloaking his hands in the mystical water.

"Suck it up, buttercup," Monan said.

"A little gratitude might be nice, you know." Cannon charged, and Sam prepared himself, but in that split second with his thinker's loot activated, he saw T'balt's eyes shift. He turned to Monan, who was now too far away to get to in time. Cannon was the feint, and T'balt's real target was Monan, the Redeemer. That's all he needed. Sam didn't matter to him. He just needed to get him out of position, far enough that he could get to Monan with no resistance.

"Now!" Sam yelled. T'balt's eyes widened, for when he arrived at Monan's body, he found it overtaken by wind, and like that he was gone. He was replaced by a fiery explosion. In that last instance, Acelin appeared, blocking the blast with his forcefield. Though the impact still sent them both reeling back. Cannon caught them both as they flew.

"Are you both alright?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah. That was too close," T'balt said.

"Thanks, Ace."

"Pft. Don't call me that."

"Who are these candied asses?" said Cannon. The two intruders were standing over Monan, having just barely saved his life. A trail of wind and fire behind them. One T'balt had completely expected, and the other he hoped he'd never have to see again.

"Long time no see, babe," she said. Chosa stood tall, hair messy and long. Her face was thinner and her body even more so. Still, she stood strong in her sleeveless jacket and tight leather pants. It looked like something Monan would wear. T'balt sighed.

"Of course."

"Babe?" Ellie's face twisted into something resembling disgust. All three of his allies looked at him, and he just turned his eyes.

"You must be the new bimbo. I always figured you'd be into the dull types, T'balt," Chosa said.

"I always wondered why you sent me away. I didn't find a damn thing in that little blue box. Turns out you just needed a dumb excuse to screw me over."

"Who are you calling a bimbo?" Ellie had her bow drawn. T'balt lowered her hand, seeing that the inciting of a fight was exactly what Chosa wanted.

"Don't pay her any mind."

"T'balt… is what she's saying true? Did you…" Ellie whispered.

"It is… I did tell you about what she's done. But she's nothing more than a ghost from the past now. Don't let her get to you. I need you to focus."

"But why does it already look like she's getting to you?" He was gnashing his teeth, barely preventing himself from biting through them. He was damn sick of the games he played with her.

"Monan…" he seethed. Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"You didn't think I'd let her miss this grand moment, right?" Monan boasted.

"I know you tried to hide her from me, but remember what I said about that memory. I've gotten pretty good at remembering phone numbers."

"Figures." T'baltcovered his eyes for a moment.

"It looks like I just can't avoid you, Chosa." Her eyes grew darker as she summoned the chained scythe to her hands.

"Hell hath no fury, right, T'balt? Get ready for your bad end."

"Talk about a complicated relationship, huh, T'balt." Cannon mouthed off.

"Keep on your guard," he said.

"She's dangerous. She's killed me before."

"So that's why. I knew you wouldn't." Ellie's face flushed red for a second." I mean, for someone you once trusted to do that to you… That's unforgivable."

"And what about the mean-looking one with the gap in his teeth?" Acelin noted.

"That's just the Bear. He can make explosions anywhere from within two meters of himself, so watch out for anywhere he aims his hands." Vikram was looking just as rancid and slimy as ever. He was wearing a jacket with the word NRV spray-painted on it. A reminder of a bygone time. Must've been Monan's idea.

"Pfft. I'm already bored with this shit," he said.

"So much for a surprise attack." Sam shrugged, kneeling next to Monan.

"Well, sometimes you gotta improvise. You'll get 'em next time, slugger." Vikram spat. This was now looking like it was going to be a full fight. And if T'balt hoped to win, he'd have to capitalize while Monan was still disabled. He could already tell the three in front of him were going to be a problem. He didn't know if his people were looted to deal with them. Though they seemed ready to fight anyhow.

"Now we're even, you bullies," Sam called out.

"See how you get in a fair fight."

"Actually, I'm gonna rest a bit longer," Monan moped.

"I gotta clear my head."

"Are you serious? You should be good enough to move again, at least. You can't just leave us hanging."

"The bear and the bird can handle themselves. Besides, I'm gonna keep watch for the kid's next move."

"Right then… I guess." Sam turned.

"So listen, if you both remember the plan, then I think we can… ahhh damn." His two partners had already jumped in to fight, leaving Sam scratching his head. Chosa was flying by the pull of her wind control, and Vikram was throwing explosions at the group. Acelin protected the four of them with his forcefield surrounding them. Chosa tried to sneak behind and hit them with her scythe, and Vikram kept pelting them with combustion after combustion.

Acelin was doing his best to hold, but cracks were already starting to form in the shield.

"Ellie," T'balt said. She closed her eyes, sensing the man through the heat of the flames, and she pulled her bow. With perfect timing, she loosed the arrow. It only barely got Vikram in his hand. But that was opening enough. When the explosions stopped, T'balt took after the man. Vikram wasn't equipped with just explosion loot, though. He saw T'balt coming and matched his speed.

"He has a speed loot, too." He knew something was different about him. They chased each other around the pillars of the hall.

"That speed isn't going to do you any good now." Vikram showboated. He launched explosions everywhere, forcing T'balt to zig and zag through the hall. But his explosions were causing parts of the building to crumble, and so T'balt also had to focus on dodging rubble without a reflex loot. And then on top of that, he had to dodge the scythe. He jumped, rolled, and slid narrowly avoiding the blade by the skin of his nose. He had to make a tally for all the times Chosa had tried to kill him.

And again, she was unrelenting in her efforts. But they were both speed-based, too fast for the others' eyes to follow. Except for Acelin.

"I'll go help."

"Be careful," called Ellie behind him. Barely hearing her, he flashed into neon light, taking after T'balt. Then they suddenly found themselves rained on by holy water. Ellie sensed it first, telling Cannon to jump away. But even the splashes of the water from the floor were enough to burn holes in their skin. They retreated far enough for Ellie to heal them both.

"Sam," Monan called.

"Yeah."

"Take a thought to the big guy. He hasn't revealed his third loot yet." Cannon sucked his teeth. Had they caught on to him so soon? He was supposed to keep it a secret until the time was right, but he saw Sam's eyes turn again.

"Oh... then he must have what you're looking for."

"That's what I thought… then I guess I will join up now." Monan finally stood from his waking nap.

"I owe you some retribution, you two." Cannon pushed Ellie behind him.

"Stand back, El." Then the cacophony of holy light swarmed around his outstretched hands. It was meant to be a surprise attack, but with Acelin and T'balt off dealing with the other two. Cannon didn't have any other way to defend himself and Ellie. Not against these two, so he had to make a call on his own. Monan smiled as Cannon was forced to summon the light sword.

"What you have there belongs to me. That's my God Slayer sword."

"Well, you and I both know the only way you're taking it," Cannon answered.

"Don't worry. I'm willing."