CHAPTER 62 : FLAME

Rose rushed forward facing Syakir, attempting to stab him, but he managed to push her hand aside. However, Rose retaliated by punching Syakir in the face."Sister Rose!" Shaurya shouted, wanting to step forward, but the stab wound on his side made him stop."You—" Syakir growled, but Rose pulled his shirt and released another punch to his chest."I won't let you go!" Rose yelled, recalling the suffering that Khairul and Nasuha had to endure due to Syakir's actions. Sharp roots blocked Rose before stabbing her in the knee, arm, and abdomen.Syakir collapsed in front of Rose, who was hindered by the roots stabbing her, blood spilling onto the ground. Lilly managed to take down all the members of the Special Force trying to stop her and quickly assisted Syakir.Kyoko and Mikael couldn't help and realized what was happening while they were fighting Danielle. The police unit was frozen, witnessing what happened to their Inspector."Rose..." Bella didn't know what to do."Sister Rose!" Shaurya grew increasingly anxious and frustrated; the roots piercing Rose were pulled back by Lilly. Rose fell to the ground, but Shaurya quickly caught her. Lilly approached Syakir, closing the seed that contained their stolen lab items and then shrinking the seeds.Syakir stood and glared at Shaurya, who was worried about Rose."S...Shau...Shaurya..." Rose said softly."Sister Rose...Hang in there..." Shaurya pleaded, but Rose didn't open her eyes. Before long, her hand dropped to the floor, and she lay still."Sister Ro-Rose! Wake up...Wake up! Wake up! Rose!" Shaurya begged, shaking Rose's body repeatedly, but there was no response. Bella quickly checked what was happening."That's what happens to those who are unconscious! Look around you, Mutants are more powerful than humans...You are all weak...Creatures like you deserve to die!" Syakir mocked confidently, and Shaurya stared at him with a fierce expression.I feel... as if something is burning within me..."Aaargghhhh!" Shaurya leaped forward with his palm facing Syakir's face, suddenly flames erupted from his palm, and he gripped Syakir's face tightly. Lilly immediately released the roots toward him, but flames burst from every direction of Shaurya's body, causing the roots to burn away as he pushed Syakir, and both of them flew out of the hole Lilly had brought them into."Syakir!" Lilly yelled."H-How... aaargghhh! Youuuurghhh! Mutanttt!" Syakir roared in pain as Shaurya dragged him out of the hole.The HOPE group, just about to enter, stopped in shock at the scene. Shaurya hurled Syakir violently to the ground, smoke and dust swirling into the air."Urgh! Argh...Kurgh..." Syakir was slightly burned, his right leg broken from Shaurya's throw. Shaurya, still on fire with flames surrounding his body, landed in front of Syakir."You! Hurt her! You hurt Rose!" Shaurya yelled. Syakir didn't know what to do. Meanwhile, Lilly ignored the situation in the underground lab; she carried the seed containing their stolen items out of the lab, dragging the remnants of her roots behind her.Danielle noticed what was happening. Mikael tried to capture her with black liquid seeping from under his feet, but Danielle easily broke free and continued chasing Lilly from behind."Where do you think you're going?!" Mikael and Kyoko followed them, dodging the attacks Danielle hurled at them."Shaurya?" Nasuha was confused seeing Shaurya engulfed in flames. Soon, all his flames extinguished, revealing a charred Shaurya standing in front of Syakir, unconscious.Lilly and Danielle, pursued by Mikael and Kyoko, exited the hole shortly after. Lilly quickly moved towards the weakened Syakir on the ground, but Khairul, Nasuha, and Nur immediately blocked her. Danielle was attacked by Mikael and Kyoko, joined by Khalid, Mei, and Chyou.Earthen walls prevented Lilly from approaching Syakir, and Nur appeared in front of her, striking Lilly down with her earthen hand."Because of you two, my brother died..." Nur aimed to deliver another blow with her earthen hand, but Lilly shattered it with her roots."I'm s-sorry!" Lilly yelled."Huh?" Nur was puzzled."Please... forgive me..." Lilly continued to attack, her roots aiming to whip Nur, but Khairul swiftly severed the roots before they could hit Nur."Star Beam!" Nasuha seized the opportunity to unleash a Star Beam that shot forth, pushing Lilly back across the floor."Urgh...Ah..." Lilly struggled to stand but couldn't anymore, having no roots left. Nasuha landed in front of her, with Khairul and Nur approaching."Surrender yourself." Nasuha said.Attacks came from every direction, with the help of Chyou and Kyoko, Mikael and Khalid launched a flurry of attacks on Danielle without risking counterattacks thanks to Kyoko and Chyou quickly switching positions.They forced Danielle to defend himself. Claw Sword couldn't pierce Danielle's body, but Mikael's shadow weapon still managed to injure him.Mei placed her hand on Danielle's head and used her powers on Danielle."Don't look—"The entire Mind Dimension of Danielle went dark, with only a small boy hugging his knees. He lifted his face, looking directly into Mei's eyes."Don't look."Mei suddenly forced out of the Mind Dimension, and Danielle quickly grabbed Chyou and slammed him hard against Khalid.Kyoko and Mikael were shocked by Danielle's speed and accuracy, making them hesitate to attack. Danielle took the opportunity to aim his left hand at them."Chaos, Entropy." The black-red aura caused Mikael and Kyoko to lose control of their powers, causing them to harm themselves. Lightning scorched Kyoko's skin, and shadows stabbed into Mikael from the inside.Blood flowed from Mei's nose, and her eyes filled with anger. She sat down, covering her face.I can't... read his mind...I've never faced anything like this...How strong is his determination...He's hurting me with my own power?"Sis!" Chyou focused on his sister's safety and teleported to her."What... are you doing, Chyou?! Help Khalid!" Mei desperately ordered, shocked to see her brother so stunned.Danielle delivered a punch that crumpled the chest of Khalid's Beast Tiger armor, knocking him back. Mikael and Kyoko were injured and unable to get up, as was Mei. Behind his helmet, Khalid looked furious."Weapon Change! Wrath Blasters!" He switched his weapon to two hand pistols and unleashed a barrage of shots, but his attacks didn't harm Danielle at all."What a cute power." Danielle mocked before delivering a punch that shattered half of Khalid's Beast Tiger helmet.What am I doing?Still holding back?"Transform, Warrior Card! Sentinel!"Khalid transformed his Armored Hero into the Sentinel armor and inserted a card with a devil's face into his belt slot."Weapon! Oni-Slaying Katana!" A katana with a green blade and devilish designs appeared in Khalid's hand. Danielle attempted to unleash Chaos, Entropy toward Khalid, but quickly, the Oni-Slaying Katana sliced through Danielle's left hand."Isn't it cute now?!" Khalid then stabbed Danielle in the chest. His helmet came close to Danielle's face, a smile etched on Danielle's face again."Yes." Danielle's left hand regenerated, and Khalid's expression behind his mask showed surprise. Danielle unleashed Chaos, Entropy on Khalid, causing his shield to crack and break from within."You all are truly amazing... Let me tell you, not even a member of the White Tigers could wound me. You've trained hard all this time; it's clear that you're all different from before. I'm impressed." Danielle pulled the Oni-Slaying Katana from his chest, then broke the katana and let it fall to the ground. The weapon quickly turned to dust."No... No..." Khalid sighed, and the Oni-Slaying Katana card also turned to dust. Danielle noticed and then chuckled softly."Hahaha... You can't use that weapon anymore, right? I think I've seen a story that inspired your powers..." Danielle placed his hand on his chin. Suddenly, Chyou teleported behind him, placing both hands on Danielle's head and trying to snap his neck, but Chyou didn't have the strength to move Danielle at all."Well, this is just sad... What are you actually trying to do?" Danielle asked before catching Chyou's leg and slamming him hard onto the ground in front of Khalid.Danielle looked around; Lilly and Syakir had been captured by Khairul, Nasuha, and Nur, their bodies covered in hard ground from Nur's powers, rendering them immobile."Hiyaarghhh!" Mei threw debris from nearby collapsing sniper towers using her Psychic powers, and Danielle focused on her, effortlessly deflecting the debris.Khalid got back up, inserted a War Axe card, and swung the weapon as it materialized in his hand. Danielle caught the massive axe blade and looked at Khalid."Still able to stand?" Danielle asked. Mei released anything she could grasp with her powers—metal shards, scattered weapons, and small containers in the area.She opened space for Khalid to unleash multiple attacks on Danielle."I commend your fighting strength, even if it's for these useless humans... You deserve to live, so stop fighting." Danielle aimed his left hand forward."Chaos, Crush." Everything approaching him shattered into pieces. Danielle dodged Khalid's War Axe before slamming him down hard, burying half of Khalid's body into the ground.Only Mei remained facing Danielle.Two hands made of earth emerged from the ground, attempting to grab Danielle, but he easily crushed them with his bare hands.Nur and Khairul stepped forward, and Danielle sighed lightly."You all really don't stop coming, huh?" he sighed.Nasuha gently laid Shaurya down; he was still unconscious. Nasuha's expression changed to one of determination, and she flew back into the air."You still don't understand. You've all already lost. I have proved that humans need Mutants to protect them... They're meaningless beings for you to defend." Danielle stated, with Khairul continuing to step forward, drawing his dual swords."Is that how you feel about them too, Danielle? About the family that loves you?!" Ali's voice was heard as he landed beside Khairul, his veins glowing blue in his arms and legs. Danielle's expression turned cold."I thought you wouldn't come." Khairul remarked."Sorry, I was far." Ali replied, and Khairul nodded in understanding, while Nur prepared earth hands behind them for support, and Nasuha flew above both of them.Mei sat down again and smiled faintly..."I'm sorry, everyone... We can't do anything anymore... Please win," Mei pleaded, the injuries from her earlier attempt to breach Danielle's mind still painful, blood still flowing from her nose."I thought I would give you all mercy, but Mutants who are determined to protect humans are really disgusting... I've changed my mind." Danielle said, a bright blue aura emanating from his right hand, while a black-red aura flowed from his left hand."I don't know what makes you see the world that way, Danielle... But I will drag you back," Ali replied."Don't think I still consider you like a brother, Ali." Danielle immediately unleashed Chaos, Entropy towards Ali and Khairul, but the aura attack was halted by the light shield created by Nasuha.Danielle was also surprised that his power couldn't penetrate the light shield. Khairul and Ali continued to attack Danielle from different angles. Ali unleashed a powerful punch, but it left no mark on Danielle, while Khairul's blade didn't harm him at all."You all don't have the ability to hurt me." Danielle swung his hand, pushing both of them far away from him. Nur caught Khairul and Ali before they were thrown further with her earth hands.She then hurled several stone balls towards Danielle, but he simply stepped forward and allowed the stones to hit him."Dang, it did pretty much nothing," Nur sighed.This is the opportunity...To kill my humanity."Yes... Kill Ali, Danielle. Kill him... Kill him... Kill him... You don't need him..."Danielle lunged at Ali, grabbing his shirt and slamming him to the ground. Khairul rushed in to help, but Danielle aimed Chaos, Entropy at him. A light shield formed in front of Khairul, but his steps were halted."Ergh!" Ali used his silat technique to break free, then slammed Danielle back down. He gathered a significant amount of energy in his hands and attempted to punch Danielle's face, but Danielle managed to dodge, causing Ali to punch the ground, cracking it and creating a strong tremor.Danielle threw Ali away from him, and when he stood, two Star Slashes pushed him back again. Although the attack couldn't cut him, Nasuha managed to push Danielle back a bit with her attack.I admit it...They have something that the White Tigers lack.A unity in the group.They are weaker than me, but I can't attack too much because they can cooperate, using their powers to help each other.Surely they've trained hard to achieve this unity and full understanding of each other's powers...But this way, they will never become the strongest beings...Still relying on the human trait of needing each other. They still let their hearts and desires be moved by others and not fully controlled by themselves...So very human!Khairul and Ali continued attacking while Nasuha and Nur defended them using light shields and earth hands. One of Ali's punches finally connected with Danielle's neck, leaving a mark."Your punches are getting stronger..." Danielle said."Noticed that?" Ali replied before delivering a punch that pushed Danielle back, and Khairul managed to wound Danielle from behind.I can't use Order and Chaos at the same time...I always activate Order, Invincible... Making me unable to be hurt and my physical body is always on maximum strength.But when I unleash Chaos, Order becomes inactive, allowing me to be harmed...Right now, I can't fully use Order due to their relentless attacks...Am I... struggling?