Two opponents were already overwhelming. Three pushed me to the edge. Even with my body reinforced by ether, their combined assault was wearing me down.
I kept my focus on No. 6. From past fights, I knew he had the uncanny ability to recover his stamina mid-battle, dragging out fights far longer than anyone else. His strikes didn't hurt much, but the others' blows did, and together, they were relentless.
Zero's voice echoed in my head, urging me to run. He told me three ether-wielders at once was more than I could handle, that survival meant retreat.
Then he gave me another option, let him take control. I hesitated. I didn't know who he truly was, and he carried knowledge even Mr. Park, the chief scientist on ether, didn't possess. That alone made him feel dangerous.
But survival, and rescuing Suhee, left me no choice. I surrendered control.
Their strikes felt heavier and sharper than when I had fought them before, they were aimed to kill.
I was pulled back into that endless space from before, yet this time I could still sense everything outside. My body moved as if I were the one fighting, though I wasn't. It was unsettling.
The pain of their blows still reached me, but my hardened body absorbed them, and Zero fought with lethal precision. His movements were like a predator's, merciless.
No. 13 charged first. Zero pivoted low and unleashed a brutal kick to his shins. The crack of bone snapped through the air, and No. 13 collapsed, screaming before silence swallowed him.
No. 6 followed, but Zero was faster. A single uppercut drove into his jaw with such force that the shockwave shattered every window in the room, shards raining like crystal dust. No. 6's body lifted off the ground before crashing down, unconscious.
Only No. 11 remained. He fought hard, ether surging around him, but Zero dismantled him strike by strike. Every punch was a hammer, every kick a thunderclap. No. 11 staggered, reeled, and finally fell, beaten into the floor.
Three down. And I hadn't even raised a hand.
To be continued…