Chapter 17 : Astraeus Battle

All Astraeus member assemble to confront Scrozux. Scrozux look around. Unable to find Axion, he called her out.

"I know you're here. Axion is it?" Scrozux yell.

"Axion?! You're looking for her?" ask Admiral.

The whole station looked at Axion. Admiral Maskmana glance at Axion.

"Lady Axion, I shall help you," said Captain Albi.

"Captain! " said Axion firm. "He personally call out my name. Let me have the honor of fighting my own enemy."

Captain Albi was about to insist on interfering. But Admiral Maskmana hold him.

"Axion," Admiral Maskmana called.

"You mind? " Axion asked

The admiral gives a nod. "Everyone, stand back!"

"But Admiral... " said Rum, trying to make an excuse to join the fight.

"It's an order," said Admiral, cutting off Rum's sentences.

Kaizo looked at Admiral Maskmana before he focuses at Axion. He knows Axion is strong. But he's curious why The Admiral believe in her so much.

Axion stretch her shoulder. Showing off her confidence. She walks slowly towards Scrozux. "So, you've found me. I suppose you're not as foolish as I thought you would be," said Axion with confidence.

"To think that the noble hero station, Astraeus would be the hideout of a renown bounty hunter. No wonder you catch up to me quickly at Junkberg," Scrozux chuckled. "Let's settle our score, once and for all."

"Oh? I didn't know you're counting your failure," said Axion sarcastically.

Scrozux growls. He shot himself with a syringe and activate strengthbot. Axion look sharp at the syringe. Wondering what drug did Scrozux use. Scrozux's body grow. His roar shakes the whole hangar.

"This trick again," said Axion, unimpressed.

"Don't put me on the same level like Zaroro. I can use this power better than him," said Scrozux.

Scrozux roared and run towards Axion like a rhino. Axion jump over Srozux to evade his attack. She lands smoothly behind him. Scrozux turns back.

"Always the sly one," Scrozux mumbled.

Axion stand with folded arm. She lifts her head and look down on Scrozux.

Scrozux filled with anger. He wants to wipe out Axion's arrogant face immediately. He pulls his sword and start swinging it towards Axion

Axion summon a magic shield and block the sword. She feels vibration on her magic shield, calculating Scrozux's strength. She slightly flinches. Scrozux continue to attack Axion. Axion jumps back and keeps evading.

"Holding back his attack with magic shield might not a good option," Axion thought to herself.

Scrozux getting ruthless. Although the battle is fierce, Axion make sure to keep the fight stay in the hangar and not break too many parts of Astraeus station.

"How long you're going to evade my attacks? Wait as long as you want. I have plenty of time," said Scrozux.

Take your time. Learn your opponent. Learn your surroundings. Those are Axion's fighting style.

The longer she fights, the more she learns. Scrozux needs to finish the fight quickly before Axion find a perfect way to defeat him.

3 minutes passed. Scrozux shot himself with another drug. Axion begin to wonder. From the last battle, Axion learn that Zaroro can't last long using the power sphere. But Scrozux has been fighting for longer than 5 minutes. Axion looked at Scrozux's side pocket. More vials of drugs stick out from his pocket.

Axion looked at Scrozux. "Chances are the drug help him last longer. What is it? Stamina shot?" Axion thought to herself.

"You must've wonder. How I managed to hold this long. Although I know you should've notice all along," said Scrozux.

"Oh, I'm flattered. To think that my intelligence is acknowledge by the famous bounty hunter," said Axion sarcastically. They both know Axion who is a class S bounty hunter is better than Scrozux.

"You will not be able to defeat me," said Scrozux as he uses another shot of his stamina drug.

Scrozux groans as he let his body absorbed the drug. Axion glances at Scrozux's spaceship. Few possibilities appear in her mind. After the shock from the drug calmed down, Scrozux begin attacking Axion again. Axion push a button on her ear piece. A helmet immediately fully covers her head.

"Admiral, I need someone to secure Scrozux's spaceship," said Axion through her communicator as she evades Scrozux's attack.

"Understood," said Admiral.

"What's wrong? Can't fight back?" said Scrozux. He begins to laugh.

Thinking Axion couldn't match his strength, Scrozux's attacks become more brutal. But also more disorganized. At last, Axion summon a magic circle in her hand.

Ice as strong as a diamond.

Ice as cold as a heartless love

Never melt even within the fire of hell

Axion closes her eyes. Focusing on her magic and chant a spell. Scrozux swing his sword with his full strength. Axion suddenly open her eyes. Before Scrozux's sword reach her, she summons an ice sword in her hand and stab his chest armor. Shocking the entire mass who watch the fight. The lock on Strengthbot breaks.

Both Scrozux and Axion froze for a moment. Axion's eyes is cold and sharp. A slight murderous intent hidden behind her icy gaze. Piercering Scrozux's eyes. Before Scrozux can recover from Axion's stare, Axion forcefully pull Strengthbot and jumps back.

Scrozux groan in pain from the surge of strength that suddenly leaves his body. He falls to his knee.

Scrozux look at Axion who turn away from him. "H-How...?" Scrozux mutter as he gasping.

Axion silent for a moment. She glances through her shoulder and said, "Stregthbot might strengthen your body. But it doesn't strengthen your armor. My sword is made of ice as hard as a diamond. It's harder than the steel on your armor."

Axion walks a few step closer towards Scrozux. "The manner of carrying one's self will often be the difference between conflict and resolution. It is said that a man who think only of his strength are bound to fall by the unknown force of his enemy," she said as she coldly looks down on Scrozux. "Such a shame that someone as smart as you would cease to listen in the face of a great power. You were much troublesome before you get greedy of Strengthbot's power."

Scrozux growls. He suddenly swings his sword at Axion and run towards his spaceship.

"Stop right there! We won't let you get away!" said Kaizo.

Scrozux shocked. His spaceship is already surrounded. Rum already neutralized the spaceship's controls. Making Scrozux unable to remotely control his spaceship. Scrozux suddenly coughed blood. The side effect of his strength drugs starts to torture his body.

"Get Scrozux to medical bay. And keep a close eye on him, " said Admiral Maskmana.

Axion walks towards Captain Albi. She lightly throws Strengthbot at him and walks away. Leaving the whole Astraeus station in awe.