I could feel it in my bones—this wasn't going to end with words. It never does with Jerry. As I stared at him, my hands trembling at my sides, I could hear my heart pounding, but it wasn't fear. It was something else. Anger. Rage. The desire to make him pay for everything he's done.
"You really think you can take me down?" Jerry's voice sliced through the air like a whip, mocking, cold, almost bored. He stood there with that same damn smirk plastered on his face, like he was untouchable. But I wasn't about to let him continue. Not after everything he's done.
"You're wrong, Jerry," I spat, my fingers twitching as I gripped the invisible threads of fate that had become my weapon. "I'm not going to let you get away with this anymore."
I took a deep breath, focusing. My Hax Ability, Crimson Thread, was all I had left in this moment. I could see the invisible threads—each one sharp and binding, like strands of fate woven together to create the future. But the more I used them, the more I could feel the strain on my body. Still, I wasn't backing down. Not now. Not when he was so close to destroying everything.
With a quick movement, I extended my right hand forward, and the threads shot out from my fingertips, invisible to the naked eye, but with a deadly precision. They arced through the air toward Jerry, seeking to bind him, to trap him in a way that he couldn't slip away from.
But Jerry—damn him—was faster. With a flick of his wrist, he waved his hand, and the threads I'd sent out shattered in an instant, as if they were made of nothing but paper.
"Is that really all you've got?" he mocked. His smile only grew wider, like he was enjoying this.
"You're not going to get away with this," I gritted my teeth, pulling more threads out of the air and sending them hurtling toward him again. But this time, I wasn't just aiming to bind him. This time, I had one goal—to destroy. To make him feel the way we all felt when he betrayed us.
But Jerry wasn't stupid. His hands moved again, and the threads shattered once more. With every attempt, I could feel my strength draining, the threads harder to summon, their impact weaker. He was out of my league—there was no doubt about it. But I wouldn't stop.
Not until I've given him everything I've got.
He flicked his fingers, and the ground beneath me cracked, erupting in jagged stones. I barely had time to react as the debris shot toward me, forcing me to leap out of the way. My foot caught the edge of a rock, sending me tumbling to the ground, but I pushed myself back up immediately, my heart pounding in my chest.
"You're pathetic," Jerry sneered, stepping forward, his aura crackling with energy. "You think you can beat me with those little threads of yours? How cute. But it's pointless."
I gritted my teeth, my vision narrowing. No. I wasn't going to back down. Not this time.
"You don't get it, do you, Jerry?" I shouted, standing tall. "You've made a mistake. You think you're the only one with power, but you've never understood the kind of strength it takes to protect people. I'm not afraid of you anymore. I won't let you destroy everything we've worked for!"
He paused, his grin faltering for a split second. Then, his eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward. "You really think you're a match for me?" he taunted.
But before he could make a move, a sharp voice cut through the tension.
"Actually, she might be."
I turned to see Uzi, her eyes glowing with determination. Behind her, N and V stood ready, their expressions fierce.
"You're not doing this alone, Rose," N said, his voice steady.
V cracked her knuckles, a smirk playing on her lips. "Let's show this guy what happens when you mess with our friends."
Jerry's eyes flicked between us, his smirk returning. "How quaint. A little team-up. But it won't matter."
With a sudden motion, he snapped his fingers, sending a shockwave through the air. The ground trembled as energy crackled around him.
But Uzi was faster. She lunged forward, her Solver form erupting from her back, wings unfurling with a menacing hiss. "Not so fast."
She collided with Jerry, her claws slashing through the air. Jerry countered with a blast of energy, but N was already there, his arm transforming into a shield to absorb the impact.
V darted in from the side, her tail lashing out like a whip, aiming for Jerry's midsection. He twisted away, but not fast enough—V's tail grazed his side, leaving a sizzling burn.
I didn't wait for an invitation. I summoned every thread I could muster, sending them spiraling toward Jerry. He deflected some, but others wrapped around his limbs, binding him momentarily.
"Now!" I shouted.
Uzi surged forward, her wings flapping with incredible force, propelling her toward Jerry. She slashed with her claws, each strike precise and deadly. Jerry blocked one, then another, but the third caught him across the chest, drawing sparks.
N joined in, his movements fluid and calculated. He aimed a punch at Jerry's face, but Jerry caught his fist mid-air, twisting his arm behind his back. N grunted in pain but used his other hand to elbow Jerry in the ribs, forcing him to release the hold.
V was relentless, her chainsaw arm revving to life as she swung it toward Jerry's head. He ducked just in time, the blade missing by inches, but V was already spinning, bringing the chainsaw down in a vertical arc. Jerry barely managed to block with his forearm, the force of the blow sending him skidding back.
We pressed on, a coordinated assault from all sides. Jerry was fast, but we were faster. He was strong, but we were relentless.
But just as it seemed we might have the upper hand, Jerry's form shimmered, and he vanished, reappearing a few feet away.
"Impressive," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But not enough."
He raised his hand, and the ground beneath us cracked open, sending shockwaves through the area. We staggered, trying to maintain our footing.
"You think you can defeat me?" Jerry sneered. "I'm beyond your reach."
But Uzi stepped forward, her eyes burning with determination. "We don't need to defeat you. We just need to survive."
Jerry's gaze flicked to her, then to the rest of us. For a moment, he seemed to consider something.
Then, with a resigned sigh, he straightened. "Fine. For now."
He snapped his fingers again, and the energy around us dissipated. The ground stopped shaking, and the oppressive weight lifted.
"Enjoy your fleeting victory," Jerry said, his smirk returning. "It won't last."
And with that, he vanished, leaving us standing in the aftermath of the battle.
We were battered, bruised, but alive.
"That was too close," N said, his voice breathless.
V nodded, her expression serious. "He's not going to stop. We need to be ready."
I looked at my friends—my team. We had faced the impossible and come out on top. But I knew this was just the beginning.
And I was ready.