Until Dusk Protocol-Chapter 25: Polar Vortex

As the match commenced, the towering figure summoned his Leere with a smug grin, soaking in the attention like it was owed to him.

"Come forth, Coiling Devastate."

A flash of light temporarily blinded everyone before revealing a black Oni mask. Before Ji-Soon could make his move, his opponent donned the mask, initiating the first of his unique skills.

"Level 1 deployment, amplification technique: Galvanise." He commanded with all his might.

As if responding to his words, his body began to quiver and spasm violently, as if he had been struck by lightning. His skin took on a pallid grey hue, and his limbs swelled in size.

Ji-Soon was standing a fair distance away, observing his opponent's movements as he broke into a cold sweat. He was unsure of what Decker's ability was and remained in a defensive stance. However, he was determined to uphold his beliefs and was not planning on backing down.

He never hated anything more than discrimination and prejudice towards others; he clung to that unwavering resolve. Defensive play was foreign to him; he was poised for an all-out assault, eager to glean insights into his opponent's Leere.

"Spin wildly, spin eternally, Slot Burst." Ji-Soon intoned, conjuring a floating slot machine from a radiant beam of light.

The elaborate frame of the floating contraption shimmered with an unearthly iridescence, covered with complex designs that seemed to change and swirl as its edges caught the fading sunlight. A flimsy, ethereal glimmer flowed from ancient sigils carved onto its surface.

The golden brow arched. "What the fuck is that spposed to be? A floating slot machine? Really? Guess the circus has lost its acts."

"I was hoping for a more serious battle, but instead I got a floating slot machine. HAHAHAHA!" He let out another arrogant laugh. His laughter rang out, brimming with mockery.

"What are you going to do with that dumb-looking contraption? Spin your way to victory."

The boy with red hair stood in stillness, ignoring his opponent's provocation. He knew his opponent wasn't just some mindless brute—so he kept his focus sharp.

"Level 1 deployment, amplification technique: Outburst," Ji-Soon called, causing the slot machine to begin spinning.

Then, as if he could sense his hesitation, Decker turned his whole body away from his opponent, feigning nonchalance.

"You know, I'm starting to pity you now. There's no way I'm going against some puny punk with a floating slot machine," he called over his shoulder.

His golden hair flickered in the wind as he raised both arms, as if in surrender.

"What a joke. Okay, how about this? I'll let you take the first attack. Go ahead, little man, I'm all yours."

Ji-Soon saw through the ruse; he wouldn't fall for such an obvious trap. However, a daring idea formed in his mind. 'Even if it was just a taunt, this is the perfect chance for me to learn more about his abilities.

'Attacking would mean I fall right into his trap, and staying on the defensive would weaken my momentum. My Leere won't be able to reach its full potential if I start fighting passively now.'

Exhaling sharply, he made his decision. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged straight at Decker.

'He's fast!' he thoughts raced, caught off guard as Ji-Soon's fist closed the distance with uncanny speed.

The world seemed to slow as Ji-Soon's legs blurred—twenty metres collapsed in a heartbeat. For a fraction of a second, all he heard was his own blood thudding in his ears before his foe's silhouette filled his vision.

Decker's thoughts snapped back—he'd seen this attack once before. His forearm jerked up, metal snapping into place, but not before his heart skipped a beat at the memory of teeth.

At the last moment, Ji-Soon's fist sank back, and he pivoted. The world spun—grass curving beneath his boot—before a crescent of motion sliced air.

'A feint attack? This bastard!'

It was already too late for him to react as the blow connected to Decker's virtual ribs.

The impact rang like a distant bell, and even the trees trembled. Leaves drifted down in slow spirals as onlookers staggered out of the ring of dust.

From the forest's edge, Emiko pressed her back against a gnarled oak. The mask in front of her—blue and cruel—stole her breath. Once, she'd known a laugh that sounded just like that. Now every echo felt like a threat.

Tang-Ji peered through the dust. "Did he get him?"

Kazami stood with his arms crossed, leaning against one of the tree stumps. He gave a stern expression before replying with a serious tone.

"No, not even close."

"Wha-" Ji-Soon was flabbergasted as his foot stopped right on his opponent's side.

It was as if he kicked a metal wall; he could feel the blunt, excruciating pain circulate throughout his left leg. Decker's body did not feel like normal flesh; it was more like it was completely made out of steel.

"Hahahah! Dumbass, my Leere isn't just defense—it's a lie detector for wannabes. Physical attacks like those will do nothing against me. You'd need to shoot me with a tank or something to make me feel an itch." Decker let out another cackle to taunt.

"Hmph, a tank? So explosives, you say?" Ji-Soon's face darkened, shadowed with a devious smirk.

He'd anticipated this outcome, taking a calculated risk. The dice were already set when he decided to charge into unknown territory. He took a gamble, spun the wheel, and won the trade.

"Spin! Slot Bursts."

The slot machine floating besides him materialised an item, its form obscured by light. The item's light faded before it attached itself to his shin, the same one that was currently trying to force its way through his opponent's iron-like body.

'Tick, tick, tick,' a rhythmic cadence could be heard subtly, each metallic click resonating with an ominous weight behind it.

"Level 2 deployment, rush technique: Ballistic-Nade."

"Woah! Woah! Relax buddy. Are you crazy? Letting out an explosion that close will kill both of us." Decker pleaded, worry heavy in his voice.

"What happened to that smug expression from before? I guess we'll find out if it really will kill us or just you." Ji-Soon grinned before a brilliant light engulfed his face.

A heartbeat of silence preceded the blast. Then the earth roared, stones arcing overhead like trapped birds released.

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The wind roared violently as the trees around the forest's edges were blown apart.

When the haze finally ebbed, the world felt brittle. There, in the crater's hollow, laid a steel dome—a silent witness to what had just been unleashed.

Emiko blinked wet eyes at the steel shell.

Monuments to control and cage—just like she felt whenever her own life was measured in expectations. Her pulse thundered louder than any Leere.

"Level 1 deployment, guard technique: Warden's Emblem." freewёbnoνel.com

Ji-Soon released his technique, allowing the solid walls to crumble into tiny rainbow shards.

"What an outrageous attack!" came a voice from behind the dust.

"You could have killed the both of us if you were just a little quicker. Cute trick though I'll give you that—acting like a warrior. Sadly, you've been playing at this."

Ji-Soon peered through the fading cloud of particles; his senses were sharpened and his focus narrowed. In the aftermath of the explosion, the outline of Decker's body became visible. But in an instant, he vanished.

"Huh? I thought he was a defensive type; how did he move that fast?" He thought to himself.

Ji-Soon quickly surveyed the environment, scanning every slight movement that could hint at Decker's position; however, his eyes widened as he traced jagged echoes of movement—clones painted in shifting gray where his foe once stood. He was mirage-like as he moved, leaving only a remnant of his whereabouts.

Emiko swallowed hard at the sight before her.

Shadows flickered—ghosts that might have been real. She remembered shadows at home: the ones that followed her in the dark hallways, whispering her failures.

Using the dust cloud as a cover, Decker left shadows of himself behind nature's curtains of dirt.

Ji-Soon felt as though his surroundings became weightless and gossamer-fragile, its ghostly scarves wrapping around him with anticipation, pumping adrenaline into his scattered mind.

"Afterimages? That can't be."

Then suddenly, it occurred to him—the reason why Decker kept babbling about his impenetrable defence.

'It wasn't only to show off; it was also to deceive people, making them think he's just a stereotypical meathead jock with only brawls but no brains.' Ji-Soon's thoughts was cut short as he noticed a shadow appearing from above.

"Up here, asshole!" Decker shouted as he dove straight down, catching him completely off guard.

Reacting with lightning reflexes, Ji-Soon summoned a small shield just in time to block the attack, which resulted in a loud collision.

Sweat streamed down his face as sparks burst out like fireworks, dyeing his already red hair an even deeper crimson—rich and vivid, like fresh-spilled blood.

Their standoff held, a testament to the raw strength each possessed.

"Let me pay you back for what you did just then. Since you're in a hurry to your death, allow me to send you there myself." Decker jeered as his fist was slowly pried further into the dented shield.

The impact of his presence above Ji-Soon increased as seconds passed, and his feet began to sink into the earth; he could feel the weight behind his strike beginning to crush his virtual body.

At the last second, he altered the angle of his shield with gritted teeth, causing Decker's gauntlet to slip off before he returned a powerful upward slam to his opponent's head.

The strike sent the armoured adversary stumbling back, though Ji-Soon knew it had done little damage. He could see his opponent's health bar above his username; he'd only lost a pixel of health.

Decker hunched down, dropping both of his arms to the side before unleashing a roaring aura and changing the shape of his body.

"Did you think you could beat me when it comes to speed? Thinking that I'm just a pile of rocks and an easy target to hit is your greatest mistake," he spat as his blonde curls tangled and coiled tighter, twisting further as his body continued a frightening transformation.

A protective shell made of azure armour snaked over his body, covering him like a second skin.

It writhed and coiled as if it were a living thing, like it was trying to possess its owner. His back sprouted a terrifying metallic spinal protrusion that blended in with his body.

The mask that he first daunted changed its appearance, altering its shape to resemble a demon of sorts with fangs and horns piercing through the shell.

He loomed there—thought made metal—so still it felt as if the world dared not breathe.

"Level 1 deployment, amplification technique, Weeping Path: blue."

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"Hey! What the hell are you doing? You're going to kill the guy if you do that!" Junyo yelled from the forest's edge.

"Shut up and stay out of this!" Decker retaliated before getting ready to launch an attack. His arm let out an eerie, metallic clank as it continued to coil before pulsing violently out of his frame. His blue-armored form melded seamlessly with his body.

'Tick, tick, tick.'

The intricate machine besides Ji-Soon let out a clicking sound, like turning gears and picking up speed slowly. A discrete whirr could be heard as the gears smoothly interlocked, their teeth gliding across one another with deliberate ease.

"Level 4 deployment, rush technique: Twin Corba!" Ji-Soon whispered before conjuring two dual uzis in his hand.

He pointed the barrels at his foe's iron throat.

"Last chance, asshole. Take those words back and apologise to everyone right now. Before I put some holes in your body."

"Woah! Kang! Calm down! If you use a skill with a high level of deployment, it will hit all of us." Kazami warned him from afar.

However, Ji-Soon stood firm without any response, refusing to take his sights away from the mechanical giant.

"Stop yapping, you punks. You think you can flatline me? Well, think again, dumbass! You'll pay for that condescending attitude of yours." Decker persisted, not giving in to his opponent's threats.

"Enjoy your little victory lap—right before the fall." Ji-Soon muttered, beginning his attack.

"Wait! Stop! You'll hit everyone." Junyo panicked as he grabbed hold of his right arm to activate his Leere.

"AHHH! Fucking hell! We're going to die because of these idiots!" Bullets screamed past as Emiko dove into the earth's embrace, every tremor a summons to her buried doubts.

Kazami's arms became wind tunnels, hurling Tang-Ji and Emiko beyond the volley. Skeletons of pines shuddered; motes glittered in the hush.

At the same time, Kompto quickly took hold of Ukiyo's hand and sprang up onto a tree branch using a small explosion, bringing her up with him.

As the gunfire tore through the air and reverberated across the area, the smell of lead started to reach the boundaries of the woodland.

Ji-Soon was flabbergasted to see his opponent dancing between the barrage with such fluidity and accuracy. Not a single shot connected with its target, despite the persistent attack.

Bullets stitched lines across fallen bark, but he hesitated—his vision flickering with each shot. He realised the forest's pulse had gone cold beneath the lead.

The woods exhaled splinters—limbs snapped free from trunks, collapsing into the undergrowth like twisted corpses. The heated encounter left its marks on the woodland's edge, which had previously been a colourful tapestry of life.

Decker sneered as bullets splintered against his frame. "You practicing on dead trees? All that firepower and still no dent—must be tough performing for an empty crowd."

He paused, letting the wind carry his words. "It looks like a skill issue here. You ain't ever hitting me with your shitty aim."

With that, the faint hum of his Leere surged, and the grass underfoot trembled.

Rivulets of bark and soil carved furrows across the ground, as if the land itself had been flayed. The bark had been stripped away, leaving the wood raw and exposed. Leaves and twigs lay scattered, torn from their rightful place by the sheer force of the bullets.

Even the earth itself was pockmarked, bearing the scar of impact from the hailstorm of lead. The stench of gunpowder has now completely filled the air.

Decker's fast movements shook the surface of the ground, bringing him closer as he left behind small imprints with each step. The grass under his feet was flattened and wilted with every gunshot he managed to avoid.

The very air appeared to tremble due to the two overwhelming strengths clashing against each other as they continued their intense struggle.

Ji-Soon was becoming aware that his assault had been ineffective thus far.

Whenever the dust vaguely cleared with each bullet lining, he could momentarily catch a glimpse of a blue trail—an afterimage created by Decker due to his incredible speed.

Even worse, his opponent was unharmed, displaying a still-fresh, green health gauge above his vision. Not only that, he was slowly closing the gap at an alarming rate, which gave Ji-Soon no other choice but to ramp up the intensity of his attacks.

"Level 5 deployment, amplification technique: Tempest Fury Act II."

"Level 5 deployment, rush technique: Vorpal Sentinel."

Ji-Soon muttered under his breath, simultaneously casting two skills.

As time went on, the clicking from his Leere quickened in pace, and the tempo of Slot Bursts accelerated with an almost anticipatory urgency.

The machine's gear-turning sounds began sounding more like a rhythmic symphony of mechanical perfection than a war machine.

Each revolution produced a staccato rhythm that pierced the air while puncturing the battlefield with piercings, metallic clangs, and shrieks.

Small turrets began emerging from the intricate contraption's sides, blooming like the petals of a mystical flower. These turrets bore an enchanting glow, their surfaces etched with swirling patterns that seemed to ripple with magical energy.

He momentarily stopped to reload the chamber on both of his guns as he threw away all rationality. Without a second of hesitation, a lethal hailstorm was unleashed by Ji-Soon, spraying out in all directions as he disregarded everyone around him.

'This bastard! He increased the fire rate; what kind of Leere is that?' Decker thought with a hint of panic.

"It seems like a defensive type from how he was able to block all my enhanced blows. Yet it feels like I'm facing an offensive Leere." He was becoming hesitant to get any closer; however, he knew he had no other choice.

'Shit! My armour plating's getting torn apart! I have to finish him with my next attack.' Decker thought to himself while throwing glances to the upper left side of his vision, noticing that his health bar was slowly going into the yellow zone

The limit of his evasive abilities had been reached.

His armoured body was slowly beginning to be riddled with holes, while others barely missed him as he continued to swirl and dove away from the hail storm. He kept moving forward, unfazed by the assault, as his health finally fell into the yellow zone.

"Level 5 deployment, rush technique: Blue Nova Surge!" His arm blossomed with electric indigo, each pulse a heartbeat in the metal's veins.

With only a few metres away, Decker plunged forward into Ji-Soon's relentless stream of bullets.

However, before the blow could connect, a blinding flash of light erupted behind them. A chaotic dance of jagged tendrils honed in, each one tinged with a vivid azure hue.

Lightning ribbons unfurled around Decker, each crackle a live wire thrown into the void.

His Leere became undone as a result of the surprise attack, forcing his blue armour to break into cystaline fragments as his body crashed down onto the ground

"Level 3 deployment, deconstruction technique: Voltarian Pulse."

At the same time, another skill was also called forth.

"Level 2 deployment, guard technique: Zephyr Veil."

Swiftly after the skill was used, a howling gale wall appeared right between Ji-Soon and Decker.

Bullets rushed towards the barrier, only to be met by an impenetrable force. They shattered into a spray of hot sparks upon impact, and their speed was brutally stopped.

Ji-Soon fell onto his knees due to exhaustion, and Decker was now paralysed by an unknown force.

"Are you two done bickering at each other's throat?" An angry voice suddenly came from behind them.

As the motes drifted back to earth, the world felt momentarily hollow.