The Picker-Upper
As Adam held his hand over Crow, Adam realized that his opponent had come unconscious.
"...It appears my time is up." [Adam?]
At that moment, Adam jolted. He blinked a few times, and immediately dropped to the ground.
"Agh! My leg! It's cold!" [Adam]
His face contorted in pain as he clutched his leg.
("What… Just happened?") [Bruce]
Scanning the room, Bruce was in absolute awe of his view. Liam sat there dumbfounded, Dante was down for the count, Felix was embedded in a wall, Orion was slumped on the ground, and Crow sat there with rolled up eyes.
("...Is this my chance?") [Bruce]
He looked at Adam, thinking he may be able to defeat a weakened opponent.
("Or I make a break for it…?") [Bruce]
Looking at the door, he found himself edging quietly towards Adam.
("I'll go for it…! There may never be another chance!") [Bruce]
Steeling himself, Bruce was startled when he saw someone at the church's door.
"Sup. Mind if I come in?" [???]
A man wearing a casual white T-shirt with basketball shorts came in.
"...Who are you?" [Bruce]
Running a hand through his buzz-cut style hair, the man smiled.
"The name's Roy. I came to pick up these idiots." [Roy]
He waved a hand towards Adam and his friends.
("...They had back-up?!") [Bruce]
Putting up his guard, Bruce shifted back a few feet.
"Hm?" [Roy]
He looked at Bruce's reaction, causing him to laugh.
"Kehehe! Don't worry, kid. I'm not gonna hurt you." [Roy]
Ignoring Bruce's wariness, Roy casually strolled about.
("He's… ignoring me?") [Bruce]
Feeling somewhat frustrated, he started having doubts of standing by.
("Should I try attacking?") [Bruce]
He made a fist as he watched Roy pick up Orion. Watching carefully, Bruce bided his time.
"Oh wow… Felix really got domed. I wonder which ability it was?" [Roy]
Putting a hand to his chin, he examined Felix.
"...Must be level 6 telekinesis. Welp, gotta just pull him out." [Roy]
Putting aside Orion, Roy attempted to pry Felix out.
("Now!") [Bruce]
Leaping at Roy, Bruce conjured a black spear. He thrust forward, only to stop dead in his tracks as he saw Roy watching him with a cold gaze.
"Back off." [Roy]
Bruce dropped his weapon, stepping away with his hands in the air.
"Good." [Roy]
Turning back to helping Felix, Bruce became a side note.
("Wh… What was that…?") [Bruce]
Staring at his hands, Bruce wondered why his hands were shaking.
"Oh! There we go!" [Roy]
Jerking backwards, Roy successfully took Felix out of the church's walls.
"Now for stooge number three." [Roy]
Carrying Felix and Orion on each shoulder, Roy approached Adam.
"Heya, buddy. You don't look like a happy camper." [Roy]
"Ugh… It hurts…" [Adam]
He writhed in pain, eyes closed as he clutched his leg.
"Man… Whatever will you do without me." [Roy]
He bent down to one knee, hovering one hand over Adam.
"Accelerate." [Roy]
Upon uttering those words, Adam's condition started stabilizing. The ice in his leg melted, and the wounds around him closed. Within seconds, he was fully healed.
"Huh?" [Adam]
Realizing that the pain had vanished, Adam glanced around him.
"Roy?" [Adam]
"The one and only." [Roy]
Adam made a disgusted face once his brain registered Roy's presence.
"What are you doing here?" [Adam]
"Hey, is that any way to speak to your benefactor?" [Roy]
"Benefactor?" [Adam]
"Yeah. Who do you think healed you up?" [Roy]
Adam looked down at his body, somewhat surprised that the gaping hole in his thigh was no longer there.
"Huh. Are you going to heal Orion and Felix too?" [Adam]
"Orion… Sure. Felix… Nah." [Roy]
"Why not?" [Adam]
"Orion still has old injuries, right? I can feel it through his clothes." [Roy]
"What about Felix?" [Adam]
"Felix is Felix. Maybe if he were a bit nicer." [Roy]
Adam stared at Roy with a blank expression.
"...How about this? Let's say I ran out of mana after healing Orion." [Roy]
"Felix isn't going to buy that." [Adam]
"Not if you back me up." [Roy]
"Why would I back you up?" [Adam]
"I'll treat you." [Roy]
"What?" [Adam]
Roy placed Felix and Orion on the ground, freeing his hands to bring out his wallet. Reaching inside, he took out a black card with a golden eagle inscribed on it.
"Any meal. Any restaurant. Only for today." [Roy]
"..." [Adam]
Eyes locked onto the card, Adam remained silent.
"...Deal." [Adam]