Plunder!
After killing the pale male agent who looked as though he had just recovered from a serious illness, Richard immediately activated his power without hesitation.
[Gain new ability: Teleportation!]
[Get the same type of abilities, ability fusion!]
[Blinkstep is enhanced!] [Blinkstep -> Teleportation, current level: Alpha level!]
After seeing the information provided by the system, Richard immediately opened his attribute panel to examine the changes.
Just as he had anticipated, the Beta-level Blinkstep had disappeared. In its place stood Alpha-level Teleportation.
Including the Teleportation he had just acquired, he now possessed five Alpha-level abilities. Although the total number of his X-Gene mutant powers remained unchanged, Teleportation was clearly superior to the Blinkstep technique he'd wielded before.
It wasn't until the male agent's dismembered body parts fell onto the grass that the female agent—whom Richard had targeted as his breakthrough point—finally reacted and activated her mutant power.
Gravity Bind!
Though Richard's exact position was difficult to pinpoint, the female agent's Gravity Bind encompassed a circular area twenty meters in diameter.
BOOM!
With the female agent at its center, the ground within a twenty-meter diameter instantly sank by ten to twenty centimeters.
The female agent deployed her power with impressive speed—but Richard was faster.
Before the gravitational field could envelop him, he utilized his newly plundered and upgraded Teleportation ability, instantly transporting himself to a location beneath a large tree more than a hundred meters away.
Although the Teleportation power had been plundered from the male agent, either due to the system's upgrade or individual differences, Richard's execution of the ability didn't leave behind the strange black mist that had characterized the male agent's use.
To outward appearances, the Teleportation he had just performed looked no different from his previous Blinkstep technique. If he hadn't known better himself, no one would have realized he was using Teleportation rather than Blinkstep.
Whether it was Azazel, Nightcrawler, or the pale male agent, their teleportation always manifested with additional "visual effects." Compared to them, Richard's Teleportation was considerably more streamlined.
Despite the lack of visual flair, Richard wasn't concerned. In fact, he preferred this cleaner version of Teleportation without unnecessary visual effects.
After using Teleportation to evade the female agent's Gravity Bind, Richard didn't immediately attack her or the male agent who had transformed into a giant. Without the restraining influence of the teleporting male agent, their defeat was merely a matter of time.
Whether it was the remaining male and female agents or Jean and Wolverine watching from afar, everyone's expression grew serious after witnessing Richard effortlessly dispatch the teleporting male agent.
The remaining agents looked particularly troubled. They weren't a temporary arrest team hastily assembled to capture Richard. Shortly after joining the Department of Mutant Affairs, the three of them had formed a permanent squad specifically tasked with apprehending high-value targets that ordinary mutant agents couldn't handle.
To use a military analogy, their three-person team was equivalent to special forces within the army.
Now, this team that had conducted missions together for several years had lost one of its members. For their tightly coordinated unit, the death of any individual created an irreparable flaw in their once-perfect division of labor.
And in battle, a single flaw often meant death.
Although they couldn't determine why the pale male agent hadn't used Teleportation to avoid Richard's attack, the giant male agent and female agent didn't waste time pondering this question. Instead, they focused on determining their next move.
In terms of raw combat effectiveness, they still maintained the capacity to fight. But without the teleporting male agent to restrain Richard, capturing him would prove nearly impossible—even with the female agent's Gravity Bind ability.
Unlike them, Richard didn't hesitate over whether to continue the mission or retreat. After confirming that his Alpha-level Teleportation functioned similarly to his previous Beta-level Blinkstep, he decisively launched his attack.
His target: the giant male agent.
Teleportation!
In an instant, he transported himself into the air behind the towering figure.
Skyshatter!
Four lightning-fast slashes targeted the giant male agent's head.
Due to their significant size difference, Richard employed the Skyshatter Technique—a move he rarely utilized.
Like Gravesong, Skyshatter also featured four consecutive strikes. However, Skyshatter represented the aerial version of the four-strike combo.
As Richard executed Skyshatter, the giant male agent crouched low, moving with the instinct of a wild beast. He then displayed agility wholly inconsistent with his massive frame, executing a side flip to partially evade Richard's attack.
Though he avoided several strikes, the Masamune still carved a nearly meter-long gash across his back.
Compared to having his head severed entirely, this injury was relatively minor. The wound didn't bleed profusely, and remarkably, the laceration on the giant male agent's back began visibly healing almost immediately.
Witnessing this, Richard realized the giant male agent's power extended beyond mere size transformation. After assuming his giant form, the agent gained not only increased size and strength but accelerated healing as well.
While the giant male agent dodged Skyshatter, the female agent once again deployed Gravity Bind, attempting to trap Richard completely. But without the teleporting male agent to hold him in place, restraining Richard would prove challenging.
Just as before, Richard teleported away before the gravitational field could envelope him.
Though she failed to capture Richard, the female agent's Gravity Bind inadvertently trapped someone else—the giant male agent.
In her desperate attempt to catch Richard, she had expanded Gravity Bind's range to a diameter of fifty meters. While a larger area meant diminished gravitational force, the female agent had no alternative. Constraining the area to just one or two meters would leave her with no chance of capturing her elusive target.
After Richard vanished, the female agent immediately canceled Gravity Bind, sparing the giant male agent from experiencing the hundreds-fold increase in gravity.
Upon regaining mobility, the giant male agent didn't search for Richard's position. Instead, he approached the female agent and protectively positioned himself in front of her.
The giant male agent's chivalrous gesture wouldn't sway Richard's determination. Although Hell's Gate and Black Materia weren't especially powerful compared to coveted skills like Heartless Angel, Supernova, or One-Winged Angel Form, Richard remained committed to his mission.
Teleportation!
Richard materialized approximately twenty meters in front of the giant male and female agents. He regarded them calmly before speaking in measured tones:
"You two aren't just ordinary colleagues, are you?"
"If you have anything you wish to say to each other, I suggest you say it now."
"Otherwise, you won't have another chance in the future."
...
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