"You've got a deal."
This was exactly what Boothill wanted.
"Sis, since you've put it like that, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Leon called out.
The word "sis" left his lips.
Topaz, who was just about to leave, inexplicably froze.
Then, she couldn't help but turn, raise her hand, and abruptly offer the "Cornerstone" she was clutching.
"Bro, with an attitude like that, what more is there to say?"
Topaz's head felt a little dizzy; she didn't even know what she was saying.
"Here, this is my 'Cornerstone,' take it for protection."
She said it in a daze, as if she didn't care at all.
But inside, contrary to her calm exterior, a desperate struggle was taking place.
No, no, no!
Stop, you can't do this!
Ugh, how could I just give my 'Cornerstone' to someone!
"Diamond" will have my head if he finds out!
Topaz was screaming frantically inside, but her body was completely out of her control.
She could only watch helplessly as she handed over the Cornerstone, like a powerless husband.
[Freljord Bottle Cap +1]
"Look what you've done."
Hearing the prompt, Leon realized what was suddenly wrong with her.
"Haha, sorry, I forgot to turn off auto-loot."
Leon sheepishly accepted the Cornerstone.
Only after this whole process was complete did Topaz finally regain control of her body.
"...Um."
Having returned to normal, Topaz's gaze fell on the "Cornerstone" in his hand.
"My 'Cornerstone'..."
Topaz hesitated, wanting to speak, but she didn't know how to ask for it back.
Although she didn't know why, she had given it to him herself. Wouldn't it be a bit rude to just ask for it back directly?
But she couldn't just not take it back; without the "Cornerstone," her combat effectiveness would be drastically reduced.
Would she just be left to shout encouragement from the sidelines?
"Here."
Leon felt no reluctance and tossed the "Cornerstone" directly to her.
Just grinding some skill proficiency was enough.
She's a teammate now, so I can't take this "Cornerstone."
It would be unjust.
It wouldn't be too late to take it back when we become enemies someday.
"...Thank you."
Topaz raised her hand and caught it securely, speaking out.
Although she didn't know why she had to thank him for getting her own thing back.
Maybe it's because she had effectively signed a voluntary gift deed, and this was going back on her word.
'A walker of intersecting Paths...'
Topaz thought, looking at the Cornerstone.
In the universe, there are many who, through their ideals, walk two Paths simultaneously. Such people are known as walkers of intersecting Paths.
The abilities this handsome man displayed were clearly related to "The Harmony." He had to be one of them.
RUMBLE!!
A flash of golden light appeared and vanished in an instant—another world-destroying blast from the Enigmata Cannon was coming!
With quick reflexes, Topaz activated her "Cornerstone," and a circular barrier filled with the power of Preservation enveloped the three of them!
BANG!
The beam struck the barrier directly, and the ground trembled!
"Preservation" absorbed the full force of the attack. After the roaring explosion, the white smoke cleared, revealing a few small cracks in the barrier.
'How did these two manage to withstand that...'
A cold sweat broke out on Topaz's forehead.
The "Enigmata Cannon" was, after all, the creation of a member of the Genius Society.
As a follower of the Path of "Preservation," and with the help of her Cornerstone, it wasn't surprising that she could block it.
But how on earth did these two Pathstriders manage to not only contend with it but also win?
Do they really have some hidden ace up their sleeve?
Topaz wondered.
Leon: Yes, my children, I was secretly putting in the work.
"Looks like we don't have time to draw up a battle plan,"
Topaz said with a sigh, watching the Antimatter Legion that had teleported in along with the beam.
"Who needs a battle plan."
At Leon's command, Vanquisher split into two short blades.
"Me being here is the best battle plan!"
He gripped the blades, his entire being exuding the absolute confidence that came from his stats.
BANG!
"Watch out!"
Topaz cried out in alarm, her pupils contracting sharply. She never expected another sudden twist.
The first thing to greet them wasn't an attack from the Antimatter Legion, but a bullet from a teammate's backstab!
But Leon didn't need anyone's concern.
Without even looking, he swung a blade with a casual flick of his wrist, instinctively slicing the bullet that was fired at the back of his head in two!
The muzzle of Boothill's revolver was emitting white smoke from the heat.
He stood rigidly, staring blankly at his right hand, which had risen on its own, and the trigger that had been pulled for no reason.
"Why the sudden betrayal? You a turncoat or something?"
Leon turned and asked, confused.
"I don't know... my body just moved on its own..."
Boothill said in disbelief, his mood exceptionally foul.
He had actually shot at his brother...
This was no joke. What kind of damn Galaxy Ranger shoots at his friends and family!
Even killing one's own relatives for righteousness must be based on a righteous cause!
His brother was a genuinely good person!
Damn it, why the hell did my hand fire on its own? It's my damn shooting hand!
"Stay away from me. Something's really wrong with me right now."
Boothill gritted his teeth, pressing his left hand onto his extended right arm, trying to force it down, only to find it wouldn't budge no matter how hard he pushed.
It was clearly his own body, but right now it felt as if it didn't belong to him at all, completely unresponsive to his commands.
"I'm afraid it's the 'Iron Tomb's' doing..."
Topaz shielded Leon, slowly backing away from Boothill with a wary expression.
"This Boothill... I remember he's undergone extensive cybernetic modification. That means he's basically no different from an inorganic lifeform."
Topaz felt a headache coming on. The situation was already stressful enough, and now this.
"Snort"
Numby sensed the hostility, lowered its front paws, and started hissing at him.
"Damn, what a trash teammate."
Leon couldn't hold it in anymore.
He'd said he liked playing from behind, and now he was really playing from behind. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"Go, quickly! My second personality is about to come out!"
Boothill's left hand struggled to lock his right wrist, forcefully suppressing the urge to fire again.
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Before him was a turncoat teammate raising a gun to his face, and behind him, the grand army of the Antimatter Legion was steadily approaching.
And you're just a stat-checking monster. What would you choose to do?
"I'm leaving my brother to you."
Leon turned without hesitation and charged straight into the advancing Antimatter Legion.
"Just leave his head intact. I'll piece him back together later."
As his words fell, a flash of blue and purple light flickered through the Antimatter Legion!
As if meeting no resistance, Leon plunged into the heart of the army. In just a moment, he had carved a path from front to back, emerging from their encirclement with nonchalant ease.
CRACK!
Voidrangers, Tramplers, Decaying Shadows.
All sorts of creations of "Destruction" were dismembered by Vanquisher. The sharp blades sliced through their grotesque bodies, sending shattered limbs scattering through the air!
"I'll take care of all three problems myself. You just keep my brother stable for now."
Leon said this, and in the next second, his figure vanished.
______
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