Run and Hide (2)

The debt collector raised his leg high over Jack's weakened, staggering state...!

Jack, sensing yet another wave of danger creeping up his spine, quickly backed away—!

BOOM—!!!

"What the fuck—?!"

The ground where Jack had just been standing exploded—shattered from the sheer force of the stomp!

Dust and broken chunks of pavement shot out as another crater formed!

When the dust finally settled, Jack saw the grinning visage of the debt collector...!

"Hehehe~! Surprise, Jack? This is the power of the M-System, after all." He pulled out his golden card from his pocket, twirling the glowing card between his fingers. "I dumped nearly all my money into Strength~!!!"

He pocketed his M-Card away before then raising his free left hand... and punched the steel frame of the old train—!

KRRNNGGGHH!!!

"—!"

Jack's eyes widened once more, seeing the thick metal dent and crumple from the almost-nonchalant punch of the debt collector...!

"Ugh... damnit!"

Jack quickly dashed through the gaps between rusted train cars, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum—!

But another murderous presence surged from behind—!

"Running won't save you, idiot~!"

SHING—!

In the edge of his vision, a flash of silver came for his back—!

Gritting his teeth, Jack twisted his body just in time—! The katana narrowly missed his spine, but instead it grazed his side instead—!

"Agh—!" He hissed in pain but forced himself to keep moving—!

His vision blurred for a second, his wounds burning with every step, yet he pushed forward—!

He turned sharply and dove behind one of the cracked station pillars—!

"Hah... hah... damn it—!"

He gasped for breath, clutching his side as crimson stained his already tattered suit. He turned his eyes back toward the exit sign once more, the glimmer of hope within him still lingering—

But then—

CRACK—!!!

The pillar behind him suddenly shattered—!

Dust exploded outward as a brutal punch tore through the concrete—!

"Found you~!"

The bastard's voice oozed mockery—!

Jack barely rolled away—!

But—

RUMBLE—!!!

The destroyed pillar had been supporting part of the broken station roof... and now, with a groaning shriek—

It collapsed—!

"Shit—!"

Jack dove forward, avoiding the full cave-in of the rooftop—

—but one unfortunate chunk of concrete clipped his shoulder, sending him crashing into the dirt—!

"Ugh—A-agh...!"

Pain shot through him like lightning—!

He tried to push himself up, but his arms shook... and his knee slammed into the ground hard...! Not only was he slowly bleeding, but his whole body was screaming in excruciating pain...

Panting, wounded, and dazed...

But... he heard the slow footsteps of his tormentor getting closer—!

And when he slowly turned his head, he saw the debt collector calmly approaching... before a katana pointed straight at his face.

"That was fun while it lasted. But really... shouldn't even try when you're just a broke little rat squirming in the dirt."

The debt collector twirled the golden card in his hand... flaunting not just the difference in power—but also the difference in wealth between him and Jack.

"Well... any last words, Jack Conrad?"

His tormentor and would-be executioner's grin widened like a wolf cornering its prey.

Jack could only stare back in silence... the sliver of hope within him slowly fading, as any chance of escape from his torment diminished.

But, for a moment... his attention shifted—fully focused on the golden 'M-Card' that his tormentor kept flaunting in front of him.

And then... a thought crossed Jack's mind—

He slowly rummaged through his pocket... and his hand reached for the one trump 'card' of survival he'd just discovered—

The Black M-Card.

The mysterious, 'broken' M-Card with the grinning joker.

He knew he could access the M-System... without opening the interface.

He'd seen it before—he'd just seen even this bastard summon a sword without a single window appearing.

So... Jack mentally called forth the M-System—navigating to the M-Shop... all within his mind.

"Oi... what the hell are you doing?" the debt collector scoffed, narrowing his eyes as he saw Jack rummaging through his suit. "Still think you've got some kind of trick? You're done, rat!"

The debt collector raised his katana high into the air... ready to end Jack's life—

But—

"That's a nice sword you've got there."

"...What?"

"Mind if I... copy it?"

"...Huh...?!"

The debt collector blinked, thrown off by Jack's downcast expression... and the unsettling grin slowly forming on his lips.

It made no sense to him. Had Jack snapped from certain death?

"Tch! You've lost your damn mind—!"

And then he brought down his katana to end Jack's life—

But suddenly—

[BUSINESS IMITATION!]

A robotic announcement echoed through the air around them—!

SHING—!!!

And then the sound of sharp steel reverberated through the ruined station—

But...

It wasn't Jack's body that had been cut—!

Something had flown off into the distance... before landing with both a dull thud and a clink in the dirt.

And what it was... a hand—a SEVERED right hand, still gripping the sharp steel katana.

For a moment... everything froze.

The debt collector stared wide-eyed—

At Jack's face, now filled with a mischievous grin...

And then down at the bleeding stump where his right hand used to be—

"AAAAAGHH—!!"

He quickly clutched the wound with his remaining hand, dropping the golden M-Card as he howled in agony—blood gushing out in spurts...!

Jack slowly rose from his knee... a steel katana now in his own hand, fresh blood dripping from the blade.

And in his other... the black M-Card glowed with a ghostly light as he playfully twirled it like a master magician.

The joker's grin on the black card seemed wider—almost alive, as if it were laughing at the pitiful sight of the debt collector writhing in pain.

A breeze swept through the broken rooftop above them... moonlight pouring down like a spotlight—right where Jack stood.

And then slowly... Jack's hair began to shift in color, turning pale—then white—as it gleamed silver beneath the moonlight...!

"Hehehe..."

A small chuckle escaped his lips, and when he lifted his downcast expression, gold flickered in his eyes like a fire igniting within a dying hearth.

He stood tall, bloodied... but reborn—with a smile that could mock even the devil's own grin—!

"You're not the only one with a 'card' to play~."