Chapter 20 (Part 2) - "Resonance of Will"
Frank dusted off his patterned jacket, the grit of the cold scrapyard clinging stubbornly to the cloth. Debris rattled under his boots as he stared ahead—at two identical figures of Spike standing at a distance, their chain scythes lightly swaying in the wind. Behind him, his team rebounded, catching their breaths, sweat and tension heavy in the air.
"You all hanging up on me and not letting me have a win on this?" he asked, voice calm but laced with frustration.
"Clone? Now I remember..." Frank muttered, his gaze narrowing. "I happened to see it in her skill set."
Astrid exhaled sharply, brushing dust off her scraped shoulder. "This guy... he must be really skilled. The only hit we had on him was Jarvis and you. Hell, I didn't even do a thing."
"You talk about Roi too," Jarvis grunted, rubbing his lower back, clearly sore.
"But he's not letting that show," Astrid added, her tone flat.
Frank rolled his shoulders, exhaling with a brief smirk. "Hmph. Some skill you guys got there."
Name: Jarvis | Level: 57 | Skills: Warrior's Might, Durability, Defence Optimist | Class: Tank
Name: Astrid | Level: 38 | Skills: Warrior's Might, Weapon Master, Quick Step, Last Stand | Class: Attacker
Name: Roi | Level: 64 | Skills: Shadow Master, Shadow Conjurer, Soundless Step | Class: Conjurer
Bill watched from the sideline, eyes wide behind his lenses. His fingers tightened around his screen. What did he just say? Their eyes met briefly—Bill felt his heart skip.
"Hmph... I can't seem to get anything... He's skill-less?"
Name: Bill | Level: ---- | Skills: ----- | Class: -----
Spike's voice broke through the static tension. "Don't break formation."
Her team tightened subtly.
"Now that's a death stare," Frank muttered, his eyes glowing faintly gold as he stepped forward. The light was subtle, but unmistakable—like a glimmer beneath calm water.
"He's not fighting to kill," Astrid whispered. "It's an advantage."
"Or maybe he's just a chicken," Roi added, though his words lacked conviction.
Spike didn't answer. Her eyes were pinned on Frank.
"He's countered all four of us," she said, narrowing her gaze. "Even Jarvis couldn't phase him. Only bruised his arms."
"Hey," Frank called out, voice rougher now, hands stuffed into his pockets. "Why are you all after me anyway?"
No one answered.
"I don't think you guys heard me right," he continued, louder. "I just wanna be left alone. First, she drops a threatening note in my suit pocket—days ago, back at the party in Tayla's father's mansion at Golden Clove. Then she jumps me before this explosion. And now this? What the hell do you even want from me!?"
His voice cracked a little.
"I wanna know... I really wanna know... 'Cause I might lose it sooner or later. Why was I chosen to be dragged into all this bullshit!?"
A beat.
"So I ask again... why are you guys after me!?"
"We don't answer your damn questions," Astrid snapped. "We're just here on a mission. A mission to abduct you."
Frank's expression didn't flinch. But his fingers twitched at his sides.
I'm tired of this, he thought, spotting a metal pole leaning against the rubble nearby.
He picked it up slowly.
"Guys, let's go!!"
THWACK!
A dull, brutal crunch echoed as the metal pole slammed into the side of Roi's head mid-sentence, sending him crashing into a pile of rusted bars.
Three clones of Spike burst forward, forming a triangular assault.
One of them spiraled with a wide chain scythe swing—
WHSSSSH— the chain nearly entangled Frank before it looped around itself. He leapt, midair, seizing one clone's face with one hand.
CRACK! —She hit the wall with force, her form dissolving like mist.
Astrid's blade closed in fast—
CLANG!
Frank blocked it cleanly with his right leg.
"Huh?" Astrid gasped.
THUMP!
A foot slammed into her jaw. She reeled backward.
BOOM!
The ground shook as Jarvis punched the earth—but Frank was gone.
"Looking for me?" came his voice.
Frank appeared behind Jarvis, plunging a fist into his gut.
WHUMP!
Blood splattered from Jarvis' mouth as he flew back.
Chains suddenly wrapped around Frank's arm. He followed them to Spike, eyes cold.
"Got you," she whispered.
Frank gripped the chains—yanked.
"Shit!" she yelped, flying toward him. He swung—
SWOOSH! Her form vanished into smoke.
CRACK! —Something hit Frank across the face. He stumbled.
"A diversion!" he thought.
SNAP!
Jarvis's hand clamped around Frank's neck.
"I got him!!"
Frank gritted his teeth. "Oh no you don't!!"
He grabbed Jarvis' arm, veins bulging.
"Damn… he didn't say he was this strong!" Astrid hissed, still holding her bruised face.
"He's not like last time," Spike said, walking up to Jarvis.
"Jeez, I think I've got broken ribs," Roi wheezed.
"Bill!! What the hell happened!?" Spike barked.
Bill was pale. "He just moved randomly. I couldn't get a read. But—I found something insane."
"Yeah?"
"His movement patterns... they match ours. All of us. Even you, Astrid, Jarvis. Everyone except Roi."
"Huh? What's he talking about?" Jarvis muttered.
Frank cracked his neck. "He said he just found out why I'd beat the crap outta you."
His fists clenched—
CRACK!!
His punch landed clean on Jarvis's head, driving him straight into the dirt. A thunderous cloud of dust rose.
Frank massaged his knuckles. Spike's eyes widened.
"Why's he so strong all of a sudden!?" Roi shouted, stumbling backward.
"He just took out Jarvis... do we even have a chance?" Astrid murmured, trembling.
"He's too strong, Spike!! He just wrecked Jarvis!"
"Listen to her!" Roi added, voice strained.
"Damn the odds… It's against us," Astrid said. Her sword trembled slightly in her hand.
Frank stepped forward, eyes now glowing brighter.
"So I ask again, Spike... why the hell are you guys after me!?....