Actually scratch that.
I raised my hand and then said,
"Blue."
A powerful force of attraction filled the surroundings as Yuna who was skedaddling found her suddenly floating in the air.
"This thing-"
But she couldn't finish her words as my arm was already buried in her stomach.
She immediately crumbled once more like a deck of cards, coughing and gagging, bile spilling slightly out of her lips.
I was actually surprised.
She survived that?
I was going for the kill there.
Even though I didn't use full force, I used an amount that I estimated should have just killed her. After all, I wanted to practice my efficiency quite a bit.
Wasting too much energy in my attacks was something I want to avoid if possible(unless I'm trying to have fun).
Her dress was slowly stained green as a paste-like substance slid out from the rips of her dress.
Oh.
So that's how she survived.
She probably created some sort of heavy plant armour just before my attack landed. I would have split her in half otherwise.
"Be careful. She can release a scentless toxin into the air." I told Mei and Theresa.
Theresa took a step back as her brows furrowed.
"Body odour poison?"
…
I guess she isn't wrong?
"Well, you can call it that." I said without much thought.
The poison itself was pretty slow acting in my opinion, even if I didn't have the adaptations to toxins and poisons.
Yes, they did have a paralysing effect, but it would take quite a bit for anyone with a decent amount of Honkai resistance to get affected.
That's why Yuna was doing the heavy plea and act just now. She was trying to buy time for herself.
Mei snorted as purple lightning crackled in the air.
"It doesn't matter. I've denatured the poison."
"Ah?" Theresa said in surprise. "The Herrscher of Thunder right? You are that good with your powers?"
Mei just gave her the side eye before saying,
"I'm good at everything, you monkey-"
Then she paused, as she took a closer look at Theresa for a moment.
"You… you're not just any monkey…"
"What? Is she a monkey of merit or something?"
"I feel like that's a reference but I'm not sure from where."
"Guys! What the heck is this monkey thing you're talking about!" Theresa complained. "Is this an inside joke that I don't get?"
Then, she pointed at Yuna.
"Plus, she's still here! It's rude!"
I deadpanned.
"You're the one who called her poison, 'Body odour'."
As Yuna's coughs slowly died down, our attention returned to her once more.
I pointed a finger at Yuna, ready to finish her, but the clang of metal made me pause as Theresa pulled out a spear from behind Judah.
It was gold in colour, connected by a chain to the main body of the cross.
"Let me finish her. You guys can go back and rest first. I'll do the rest."
Her tone didn't really imply that she left much room for argument. Thus, I guess I should just let her do it.
Maybe she felt useless since Mei and I did all the work.
It wouldn't be too good if she, who was our ally right now, felt like she didn't need to do anything and leave things to us after all.
"Alright." I relented easily. "What do you think, Mei?"
"I have no interest in insects like her."
Well I guess I should have expected that. But asking is a courtesy after all.
I'm not like someone beside me…
*wink wink*
"I feel like you're thinking something bad about me."
"Hmm, maybe I should get you to a doctor. You seem to be hallucinating, Mei."
Theresa just sighed at our jokes, but I noticed a faintly soft smile flash across her face. It was wiped off quickly as her muscles tensed and she walked towards Yuna.
"Urghh…" Yuna groaned as she kneeled in front of Theresa. "Y-you… are you going to end my existence here?"
"Yes." Theresa whispered. "I'm sorry. But you're too far gone."
Hearing this conversation, I kept my eyes on them.
Theresa…
She was frigging monologuing right now…
Therefore, my senses were locked onto Yuna, wary of any sudden buildup of Honkai energy.
Mei seemed to be sharing the same idea considering she was boredly staring at them as well.
"Ah…" And for a moment, Yuna's blurry eyes seemed clear for a moment. A smile forced itself on her face as she whispered back.
"T-tha-nk…"
She could barely say out her words.
And…
She… wasn't lying?
Theresa sighed.
"The Honkai must have left a sliver of your will. Don't worry." She drew her arm back. "It'll be all over soon."
And then…
A sense of unease.
But why? This girl wasn't doing anything and she wasn't fighting back from what both Mei and I could tell.
Any poison left in the air was being denatured by Mei…
So why?
Why did something feel so wrong?
Epitaph appeared, my eyes flicking around the area. When my eyes went onto Theresa's body once more, I froze.
Why…
Why wasn't Theresa moving?
And why was she falling down now?
She…
She was hit?
But by what?
I didn't have time to think of it as I was already in motion. Blue hurriedly attracted Theresa's figure towards me, just in time before a sudden force smashed down upon where she once stood.
Boom
The pavement shattered, causing dust to fill the air. Epitaph immediately warned me of other attacks in an instant as I sent those into Infinity's blacklist and expanded its range to cover Mei.
Whoosh.
The attacker's fists froze, causing shockwaves to reverberate through the air, dispersing the smoke.
And I saw them.
Mechas.
Their fists were lodged in front of my Infinity. They came from all sides, clearly trying to get to Mei and I after trying for Theresa.
And speaking of her…
I looked down, seeing her pale face with cold sweat dripping down her skin. Her eyes were closed, her entire body shivering slightly from what seemed to be pain.
Was she actually poisoned in front of us?
No… that shouldn't be right.
"These metallic insects…" Mei muttered as she stood in my extended Infinity barrier. "Probably from that woman Cocolia."
I didn't say anything, but I agreed internally.
After all, I saw a literal AE logo on it.
They were not at all trying to be stealthy with who it would belong to.
Sure it could be thieves who stole the mechs and tried to frame Anti-Entropy, but given our acquaintance with Cocolia…
Is there any more that needs to be said?
"Hello, Gojo Satoru. Third Herrscher."
Cocolia's voice was as clear as day from the speakers of the mechas. Since they surrounded us, the sound came from all sides.
Annoying, but they were clearly trying to be intimidating.
"So it's you. The stupid bimbo who framed my father." Mei's voice cut through. "Why do you hide behind a speaker?"
"Haha. It's nice to meet you too, Third Herrscher. But I must say, I am surprised that you would call Ryoma your father…"
"After all…"
I could just see the sneer from Cocolia right now.
"You're just a nobody that parasites off of the real Raiden Mei, aren't you?"
A sigh came from my lips.
"You're so boring, Cocolia."
I swiped my arm.
Swish.
And the upper half of one of the mechs slid off its body, causing it to slide to the ground. The crash was loud, and it caused the other mechs to retreat hastily.
My eyes glowed blue as I stretched my neck.
"What did you say about her again?"
Off to the side, Mei didn't say a word. She just watched all of this with a poker face. But then she tapped me on the shoulder.
"I appreciate your defense, Gojo. However, you do not need to worry." She said, "Her words are just like the mild chatter of elementary students."
"Ha. Elementary huh?" A harsh laughter came from the speakers. "Perhaps you may find what happened to Theresa not so…"
I sighed tiredly.
"What did you do…"
"Well it's poison of course." One of the mechas pointed at Theresa's shivering visage. "I must say, beating someone like Theresa Apocalypse in frontal combat is nigh impossible."
"Thus, we needed to take another way. Something more feasible."
"Unfortunately, it's not easy to find toxins that can affect those with Honkai resistance, especially people like her…"
"However…"
"When I found out a pseudo Herrscher was free roaming…"
Her smile was clear from behind the speakers.
"And her main abilities were toxins…"
"Well that was very convenient for us, wasn't it!"
"As for how we poisoned her… Let's keep that a secret for now."
The mechas turned towards Yuna's prone and damaged body.
"Thank you, pseudo Herrscher."
"You've shown us the way."
(A/N: Please give powerstones if you liked the chapter guys. Please comment and review as well!)