"MICHAEL!" Racheal screamed, her eyes fixed on Micheal's motionless form, encased in a canister, with a smaller tube connected to him that appeared to siphon an unusual energy into Dr. Grey's unconscious body.
"You traitor!" Bai yelled at Yoshi, his face contorted with fury as he shot Yoshi a menacing glare, clearly indicating that he would not hesitate to end Yoshi's life if he were free from his restraints.
"RELEASE ME, YOU TRAITOR, SO THAT I CAN MELT YOUR HEAD OFF YOUR BODY!" Hei also roared, his anger pulsating from his body like an erupting volcano.
"Relax, everyone. He will wake up soon," Yoshi replied with a calm expression, indicating that he wasn't worried about his captives.
"You'll pay for this with your life," Henry said, his demeanor slightly more composed than the others. Yoshi, smirking at the threat, approached him, halting just a few inches away.
"How'll you manage that while you're tied up?" With a wicked grin, Yoshi leaned forward and asked.
"Tied up? You sure?." With a grin on his face, Henry chuckled and spoke to Yoshi, who suddenly sensed a powerful wave of energy emanating from somewhere downstairs. Alarmed, Yoshi's eyes widened as an explosion erupted from below, making the entire research facility shake.
In mere seconds, the electricity cut out, enveloping the entire facility in darkness, yet just as quickly, it returned. As soon as it happened, Yoshi leaped backwards, and a punch struck the ground where he had just been standing, shattering it instantly.
After landing next to the canister containing the bodies of Michael and Dr. Grey, Yoshi got to his feet and glanced at where he had previously been standing; a large crater existed there in his place. He looked up to see the rest of the team, liberated from their restraints and now standing with fierce, predatory expressions.
'If I hadn't moved when I did, that punch could have torn a hole through my chest. I must remain vigilant against them,' Yoshi thought, his eyes scanning the team with caution. The team appears to have devised a backup
plan for situations like this, quite astute.
"It seems you possess more intelligence than I initially thought. May I venture a guess as to who devised that plan? Micheal?" With a smile, Yoshi picked up his sword from the ground.
"You didn't truly believe Micheal would allow us to move into the enemy base without a strategy. He understood that we were facing someone intelligent, someone who would anticipate nearly every possible outcome. In a typical scenario, this would suggest our defeat. However, Micheal, being as clever as he was, chose to turn that to our advantage. What was the plan? It was straightforward; he understood that the villain would attempt to manipulate us psychologically, aiming to lower our defenses and potentially incite discord among us. Therefore, the strategy was to feign conflict, pretending to be at odds with one another and Micheal would handle the remainder of the situation." Henry cracked his knuckles and massaged his shoulders as he explained the plan that Micheal had whispered to them before they entered the research facility.
"Thus, the assault....." Yoshi contemplated, his thoughts assembling the clues with precision.
"Yeah, after cutting the power, Micheal used his speed to rush to me, and whisper that he would set a timer for the explosives, placing them near the power center to disrupt the electricity supply. He then took the bag of explosives from me; I still don't know how he managed it. When the power supply returned, he was back in his original position. I have to admit, he's a remarkable actor. Now, he's lying in a canister with a bullet in his head, killed by his own brother. When we first met, I warned that you would probably spiral out of control and try to kill us. If I had known how right I was, I would have ended your life then." Hei clenched his fist, which radiated an unsettling darkness that enveloped his entire hand.
"If Michael were part of your group, I might be concerned, but without him, you all don't have a chance." Yoshi chuckled, gazing at the team with a condescending expression, as if they were beneath him. He took a few steps forward and swung his sword across the ground, drawing a line that he then pointed to as he spoke, "The only way you're crossing this line is if you kill me."
"Well, in that case, it shouldn't pose any issues." Hei grinned ominously, charging ahead with his hands enveloped in darkness, while the others trailed closely behind him. This wasn't a movie where they would confront him one by one; they were all set to launch an attack and finish him once and for all.
As his enemies drew near, Yoshi grinned and unsheathed his sword, propelling himself forward with a surge of lightning that enhanced his speed. Hei, taken aback by Yoshi's unexpected speed, had no choice but to clap his hands together, unleashing a powerful wave of dark energy that ate away at the floor as it surged ahead, ultimately surrounding Yoshi in a shroud of darkness.
"Is he dead?" Bai inquired, as he and the others halted upon witnessing Hei's assault strike Yoshi. They were aware of the potency of the dark energy; after all, it was able to corrode a refined structure, so its might could not be underestimated.
They were still pondering Yoshi's fate when, out of nowhere, a sword shrouded in darkness erupted from the thick fog. Its speed was so incredible that it seemed to materialize before Hei's head in an instant, poised to pierce through it. Just in time, Henry's hand intercepted the blade, but that was merely a diversion. Yoshi emerged from the dark fog, his fist racing toward Henry's heart like a swift arrow. Just before it could make contact, flames erupted from behind Yoshi, who immediately ducked and twisted his body. His left leg swung toward Racheal's chest like a slingshot. Fortunately, a shield made of Light appeared just in time to block the attack, sending Yoshi flying backward. With a graceful movement through the air, he landed on his feet.
"Is everyone alright?" Bai asked, gripping his arm that bore a graze. Yoshi, despite being struck by Bai's attack and sent flying backwards, managed to hurl a dagger made of light in his direction. Although he had dodged just in time, he still received a graze, highlighting the impressive nature of Yoshi's reflexes.
"It required the combined effort of the four of us to barely halt him; he wasn't exaggerating when he claimed we are weaker without Michael." Henry reflected on the moment when Yoshi's fist flew toward his heart with such speed that he couldn't react in time; had Racheal not intervened, the outcome would have been catastrophic. He wouldn't make that mistake again; he swiftly transformed his body into the very material of the cuffs that had restrained his powers.
"His speed is the issue; with him utilizing Michael's speed, our reaction time lags significantly. And did you notice that, Henry? He attempted to strike at your heart without a moment's pause, indicating his genuine intention to end us," Hei responded with a frown, pondering how the Yoshi they had endured so much with could betray them so abruptly. There was no doubt when it came to taking a life; the individual before them was a ruthless killer. Were all the adventures they shared merely a facade?
"His speed and ability to utilize all our skills, including that of Micheal, makes him a formidable adversary. However, whatever Dr. Grey is inflicting on Micheal is certainly more concerning, so we must act swiftly to intervene. Engaging him in close combat poses significant risks; I am the only one capable of handling that. Your defenses may not withstand his onslaught for long, so I will lead the charge and confront him directly. The rest of you should support me with ranged attacks, and please, prioritize your safety." Henry, thinking quickly, devised a plan that represented their greatest opportunity.
"No problemo, cap," Hei replied with a smirk, as
Henry dashed toward the waiting Yoshi. Yoshi, with a smirk of his own, crouched down, dark energy swirling around his right fist and light energy glowing from his left. With lightning crackling around his feet, he propelled himself forward like a bolt of lightning, charging at the approaching Henry, who clenched his fists and swung them downward at Yoshi, pouring all his strength into the strike.
BOOM!
The attack impacted the ground, sending debris scattering in every direction, leaving behind a massive crater that showcased the tremendous power of the assault. Right after the attack, Henry pivoted and lifted both hands into a boxing defensive stance. The moment he did, he felt two powerful impacts collide with his arms, propelling him six feet backward.
After completing his assault, Yoshi vanished from his spot just as a massive fireball, a hammer formed from light, and a spear of dark energy struck the ground where he had just stood, obliterating the terrain in an instant.
"This guy..." Henry murmured with a scowl. When he attacked, Yoshi somehow managed to move behind him and launch his own strike. It was an ordinary attack, yet he could feel the strength behind it upon impact, indicating that Yoshi had utilized his ability. Moreover, he had somehow fused that with Hei and Bai's powers, as he felt the sting from the strikes on his arms. If he hadn't been using his ability to strengthen his body, that attack could have severed his hands. The most frustrating aspect was Yoshi's frightening speed; he was simply too fast. The way he proficiently combined all their attacks into one demonstrated just how dangerous an opponent, this guy truly was.
"Hmm…." Henry's eyes lit up when he noticed the line that Yoshi had drawn just a few feet away; it seemed Yoshi had overlooked it. As Yoshi evaded the barrage of attacks from his opponents, it became clear that they were exerting themselves to the limit. Despite his remarkable speed, Yoshi found himself compelled to dodge in order to survive the onslaught. Henry saw this as a chance to turn the situation to his favor; if he could break the connection between Dr. Grey and Michael, perhaps he could rouse Michael, leading to a more equitable confrontation.
Taking one last glance at the ongoing battle, Henry turned around and shot forward, eager to finish it before Yoshi noticed. However, he had gravely underestimated Yoshi; he had only taken two steps when a sword landed right in front of him, halting his advance. He paused and turned to face Yoshi, who was descending toward him from the air with an electrified fist. He quickly raised his hand to block the incoming attack.
BANG
The floor beneath Henry fractured from the force of the blow, and with a quick motion, a kick propelled him backward toward his friends, who lay on the ground, moaning in agony.
"What happened?" Henry asked as he struggled to rise to his feet. His scorched arms still vibrated from the earlier block, feeling numb. He guessed that must have been a result of Yoshi using Micheal's lightning. It made sense in a way; this was the same lightning capable of incinerating Reapers into ashes. Given his enhanced physique, it seemed only fair that he ended up in this state.
"That guy is freak, a freaking monster; it's as if he has eyes on the back of his head or something. He evades before the strike even approaches, countering simultaneously produces the same outcome. As soon as he spotted you approaching Michael, he swiftly took us down one by one with astonishing speed. We barely registered the attack before we found ourselves on the ground." Hei responded with a pained expression, casting a glance at his right arm, where he sensed that a bone had surely shattered.
"What actions should we take next? We cannot overcome him in this manner; he is far too powerful. We need to act swiftly regarding him, as if that other individual regains consciousness, it will be the end for us." Bai also spoke, his gaze fixed on Yoshi, who lingered behind the line with a nonchalant expression. It was as if he wasn't taking them seriously at all; rather than finishing them off, he simply stood there, observing them as they rested.
"Indeed, we must take action. I also just realized something interesting; when facing him, it's as if we're confronting a replica of ourselves, only improved," Henry remarked, his eyes flickering with contemplation.
"What is your point?" Racheal inquired, eager to learn about Henry's plans.
"None of us are perfect, yet we have a deeper understanding of ourselves than anyone else does; we recognize our strengths as well as our flaws, which he does not. If we can utilize that, we might be able to change the tide of the battle," Henry replied, prompting a series of nods from the team who concurred that it was a concrete plan.
"You make a valid point, but his speed remains an issue. If we don't address it, we will likely face the same result." Hei pointed out, eliciting a frown from the team who recognized his accuracy. Even if they could exploit the weaknesses, Yoshi's speed made it nearly impossible to touch him.
"Absolutely, I have a plan for that," Henry grinned, addressing the others who momentarily halted, their curiosity piqued as they contemplated the remarkable scheme he had devised.