Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 25, HxH Greed Island

One hour after the first battle with Team Germany.

The city of Masadora was in a state of ruin. The first incident caused by Bomber, real name Genthru, resulted in massive casualties and the destruction of the city by more than 50%. The latest incident to take place in Masadora sealed its fate. The battle between Team Japan and Team Germany was too fierce. Their battles claimed the lives of many and flooded a good part of the city in molten lava that was still burning even now. As a result, all of players of Greed Island who stayed in the city after the Bomber incident left for good. Additionally, the NPC that gave out quest for Cards were nowhere to be seen.

Shin: (Wow, we really ruined the game Greed Island. Team Japan is not as responsible as Genthru or Team Germany, but we definitely had our part in this.)

Shin and his comrades were marveling at destruction of Masadora of their own construction from a roof top of a city building. Shin, Hikari, Connor, Kisara and Renji had regrouped after the first battle against Team Germany. They were all alive and were currently resting up for the next battle as they were sure that there was going to be another battle soon. Team Japan and Team Germany had engaged in one battle so far and neither side had lost any lives, but by no means was the battle a tie like the enemy Adam of Team Germany tired to claim it to be before he left with his three critically wounded comrades.

Connor had repelled Adam, an unlocked member and magic swordsman of Team Germany. Although in the end Connor couldn't take Adam's life to contribute to the Team Battle, he was sure that he had critically injured him. Of course, Connor and the others, having heard of the battle considered the possibility that Adam might have a powerful survival ability as he was hit with a barrage of bullets and still had enough energy to rescue his comrades, it was still clear as day that Connor won their battle.

With some difficulty on his part, Shin dominated the battle against three of Team Germany members; Webber the Bane enhancer and Earthbender, Kurt the fire magician, and Lutz the team's healer. Shin nearly died from their powerful enhancements and combination attacks, but Shin overpowered the three in the end. Adam, having escaped from Connor, managed to rescue and escaped with his comrades. Shin wasn't that disappointed even though he didn’t get any kills. Shin had forced Team Germany's healer Lutz to restore him to full health and hand over information about his abilities.

Shin: "And then there's Hikari, Kisara, and Renji. They never even entered the battle. Connor and I are basically unharmed, but the same definitely can't be said of Team Germany. All four of them were critically injured to various degrees, so they won't think that they had tied, much less won. They lost far more than they gained from this exchange."

Hikari: "I agree. Also, they basically got defeated by just two members of our team. Haha, the fools! I bet they are scared that we may have more forces hidden somewhere on the island... but they'll still come here to finish us off thanks to your provocations, Shin. You really do have a talent to piss off girls."

Shin: "What does Team Germany leader's gender have to... no, that isn't important. In any case it did seem like they really want to kill me. They'll come for my head and that will be there downfall. As long as the five of us resist, then it will give the others the chance to attack Team Germany's base. Their Newbies, injured members resting, and those staying to protect them... they'll all die today!"

I was certain of this and the others held a similar belief. It was both a belief that our comrades won't let us down... and a belief where we couldn't afford for them to fail. In any case, we were more positive about our victory than our defeat. Especially Renji. Tightly grasping his Chinese sword in his hands he looked the most positive out of all of us. It was a characteristic of his. He was a bullied kid in school, yet after being surrounded by friends he could trust he naturally became a bright kid. He didn't have Kisara's combat potential as a fellow Newbie, yet just his presence had become something vital to Team Japan.

Renji: "That's right, but we shouldn't just passively defend leader. We should kill a few of them if we have the chance."

Shin: "Well, aren't you ready for a fight? Your spirit is a good thing, but just focus on protecting Hikari. After fighting the enemy I can confidently say that you wouldn't last five seconds against even their weakest member, but at the very least you can use your life to take an attack for Hikari."

Renji: "Why are you assuming that I'll die!?"

Kisara: "Why would you assume that you'll survive? A small difference of strength can make all the difference in a battle, and you and our enemy have a difference in power that is like day and night. Just look out there. What can you don't against someone who flooded a city in lava?"

Renji: "...I can run. My grandma would always praise my ability to run away from danger."

Shin: "Enough about your grandmother."

Shin then turned away from Renji and the others and looked into the distance towards a certain city.

Dorias.

It was the city that Team Japan agreed to meet up with Genthru. Genthru had threatened us to meet him to hand over our Cards and by herself, Aqua volunteered to meet him and fight him alone. There were reasons behind this, but Shin couldn't remember any of them as he thought about Aqua's safety. It had been a while since Aqua departed alone to meet Genthru in Dorias. Their battle should have begun by now, and hearing no notification from God about her victory or defeat worried Shin to no end.

Shin: "...Hikari, could you check the situation in South for me?"

Hikari: "South? Aqua, huh... Okay! I'll look to see how Aqua is-"

Connor: "Hold off on that. The enemy is approaching!"

Connor who had been silent this whole time and surveying the skies was right. A ball of light from a transportation Spell Card was flying towards Magic City of Masadora at a fast speed and would land in a few minutes. They were still a ways away, but Connor with eyes reinforced with Demonic Energy, and then with Hikari's Persona both confirmed this. Like Shin wanted it looked like Team Germany had taken the bait to come after his team, but all too soon the realization that another struggle of life and death was approaching made it impossible for him to feel glad.

Shin: "This is it! Hikari, Renji, and Kisara move to another building across the street and hide. Hikari, can you mask yourself from their Psyche Force user with your Persona?"

Hikari: "I can try, but I don't have the confidence to do so if we all split up."

Shin: "Then just mask the three of you. It doesn't matter if the enemy spots us. Remember you are not to engage the enemy. If they find you use smoke grenades to runway under cover of the smoke towards one of Jin's spies to escape. Don't engage, but if it’s impossible to escape just support from the back. Leave fighting on the front lines to Kisara and Renji."

Hikari: "Will do."

Shin: "Connor, move to the outskirts of the city and ready long range sniping. If they enemy approaches you then feel free to fire and I'll back you up with sneak attacks."

Connor: "Understood."

With everything said they separated. Hikari, guarded by Renji and Kisara by her side, left to find shelter and hide. Connor, using the C-Class Trigger, transformed into his Trion Body and escaped towards the outskirts of Magic City Masadora. Shin now alone ran forward towards the center of the city using himself as bait. Team Germany seemed to be obsessed with him, and so Shin wanted to use that obsession to draw them away from Hikari, Renji, and Kisara, and at the same time create an opening for Connor to snipe the enemy.

The first battle was just to gain Team Germany's attention, but this battle was the real deal. His comrades in the secondary attack group would be moving in to attack the enemy base to acquire Team Battle Points, and that was his job as well. To wipe Team Germany out, or gain enough points to negate the -5 Team Battle Points sustained from the Battle with Razor.

Shin reminded himself on last time that he felt an immense pressure weighing down on him. Without even seeing it Shin knew that Team Germany, with a greater force than before touched down within the city of Masadora. Then a few seconds later Shin felt a foreign set of eyes on him which felt similar Hikari's own Persona scans.

Shin: "This feeling of being watched is stronger than before. Team Germany's Psyche Force user really came! This will make it easier for the other to launch an attack if he's preoccupied with chasing us. Now... it's all about staying alive."

Shin then ran towards the source of danger, but made sure to not get too close as he didn't believe he can come out alive in a reckless frontal assault. Shin would much rather draw in the enemy while staying on the defensive, and when Connor begins his attack he would use that chaos to claim a few of the enemy member's lives. That was Shin's plan... but not the enemies. As Shin waited for a response from Team Germany he felt a strong vibration underneath his feet. Shin looked down and could now see expanding cracks across the city streets. Shin didn't know what was going on, so he entered Unlocked Mode to prepare for anything, but it wasn't good enough.

Webber: "Japanese monkey boss! You weakling that only knows how to run and fight cowardly. What are you waiting for! Hurry up and come down!"

Two large hands, one mutated rough hand another that looked fresh with no skin grabbed Shin's legs and with no way to resist was pulled down underground. Shin only had time to take out his magic sword from a Na Ring before he was dragged somewhere underground with no viable light.

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Within an abandoned store of Masadora three members of Team Japan were sitting down of the floor and awaited good news from their comrades out fighting Team Japan. They were waiting in silence, yet one of them, Hikari who had stood up in a panic. What she discovered was not good news, but bad news.

Hikari: "This... this isn't good! The enemy is coming!"

Renji: "What's wrong? What's happening out there?"

Hikari who, in addition to masking hers, Renji, and Kisara's position with her Persona, was watching the city of Masadora and knew what was going on and began to tell her two comrades. Hikari witnessed as Shin was pulled down underground by the giant of Team Germany, Webber. If that wasn't bad enough the other members of the enemy Team were searching for their location following the directions of their Psyche Force user. Hikari had masked their location with her Persona and was sure that the enemy didn't know exactly where they, but with only so many places to hide and being led by someone with the ability to search wide areas, Team Germany were coming closer and closer to their hiding spot.

Renji: "Are... are leader and Connor dead?"

Hikari: "No. Nothing of the sort. Shin will be fine. There's also been no notification from God. Shin, he's a useless otaku, but he's strong. He’ll come back once he is done with that giant. The enemy is also ignoring Connor for the moment, so he's okay as well. The problem is us. Any minute now the enemy will find us and there will be a battle. We have to prepare."

Kisara: "Then we'll follow Shin's advice. We'll protect you Hikari as best we can and try to put some distance between us and try to escape Masadora. We just have to buy some time for Shin to come back... I'll try to do something as well, so even if it means leaving me behind... please runaway."

Hikari and Renji couldn't believe what Kisara is asking of them, but she was resolute in her decision. Even though she was a Newbie, she held the greatest combat strength in the group. Hikari could use a handgun with proficiency and Renji had become somewhat able with the Chinese sword picked up from the first day of the mission, but if a battle broke against Team Germany's enhanced warriors only Kisara's Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu would allow her any hope of competing with them, or at the very least stall them. As the strongest member present and the duty to protect Team Japan's support member Kisara knew if it came down to it, her ability would be her give the time needed for Hikari and Renji to escape.

Kisara: "Renji, once the enemy breaks in take Hikari away. I'll hold off Team Germany."

Renji: "Wait, I wasn't raised to leave a girl to fight alone! I'll-"

Kisara: "Your job is to protect Hikari! You promised Shin, right? Then keep your promise."

Renji: "But-"

Hikari: "Sorry, but we're out of time. They're here!"

Just as Hikari gave that warning the wall of the building they were hiding in was smashed through. Debris and dust filled the store and once the dust began to thin Hikari, Renji, Kisara could see the enemy. One young girl and two men in the 20's.

Standing up front was a skinny white man with his fist extended. The man didn't look like anything special and had an underwhelming appearance... with the exception of two arms with green skin and arms thick as tree trunks. Behind him was an intelligent looking man with a metal helmet over his head looking over towards Hikari and her Persona Adrasteia with interest. Next to him was the young woman in her early teens and despite looking like the weakest person present having a sickly appearance... those with a high enough level of strength knew not to assume that she was weak. In fact, the girl who held a confident and prideful expression on her face was the strongest person in the room.

Abigail: "There they are. Took some time for Erwin to track them down. Also, Klaus, couldn't you have held back a little. It would be too boring if your punch caused the building collapsed on top on them. I want to capture them. That way we can distribute the points the and rewards however we want, or in case Webber can't finish off their leader and he comes running back... we can execute them right in front of him!"

Klaus: "Wow, that's just... you're far scarier than me. I shouldn't be the one called Team Germany's rage monster."

Abigail: "Shut it! Anyway... that's a Persona, huh? Pretty cool. Much flashier than your Psyche Force skills Erwin. Do you think that she can brainwash us?"

Erwin: "No need to worry. I'm properly protecting us. Also, I won't be outdone by her. As long as I'm wearing the Magneto's Helm I'm 100% immune to her mental attacks."

Abigail: "Good. Then Erwin. Klaus. Capture-"

Abigail was about to give the order to restrain the three seemingly helpless members of Team Japan in a corner of the store, but their carelessness lead to a counter attack. Kisara using Zetsu and showing no signs of moving disappeared from their sights and immediately reappeared by their side. The peerless beauty swiftly passed by Klaus before he could react and she drew her sword towards Team Germany's leader Abigail. Abigail saw Kisara at the last minute and readied herself, but Kisara's next action took her by surprise.

Kisara: "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Ryutsuisen (Dragon Hammer Flash)!"

Kisara jumped high towards the ceiling and jumped back down using the ceiling as a platform. With the momentum of the fall/jump Kisara with two hands slashed down her katana towards Abigail's head in a flash. If Shin had seen this he would have called doubt when Kisara said the real world Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu wasn't as ridiculous as the Manga version, but Kisara would argue that it wasn't that abnormal of a technique. Using bizarre movements while moving at high speed looked ridiculous from the outside, but for the person she's about to cut would be confused and wouldn't know how to react.

Abigail: "Wow!"

Abigail took a step back to avoid Kisara's downward slash, but she was off balance. Kisara landed and continued her attack with a sword slash towards Abigail's neck. Kisara felt that despite the feeling of danger Abugail wasn't that physically strong and would use this chance to take her head. Kisara was confident that she could do this before Abigail's allies could help her, yet-

- *CLINK*!

Kisara's katana met Abigail's hand unexpectedly and was repelled. This left Kisara speechless. Not just because Abigail's hand flash before it repelled her sword and that there was a metallic sound, but because Abigail reacted at all. Kisara was certain that her last two attacks should have cut Team Germany's leader with her level of fitness that was less than even Hikari's, yet the enemy still managed to avoid her attacks. Kisara could only come to the conclusion that despite her speed and irregular attacks Abigail held an extremely high Reaction Speed to react immediately like she did.

Abigail: "Bitch!"

Kisara: "!!!"

Abigail's right hand glowed with a deadly light and in a swing motion slashed at Kisara. Kisara didn't know what Abigail had planned, but her instincts as a swords forced her to the ground. A thin string of light was released from Abigail's hand. Kisara ducked down in time to avoid it and the string of light slashed through the walls of the store they were in. Abigail was then about to attack again, but-

Abigail: "Erwin! Below!"

Abigail warned Erwin who was Kisara's next target. Kisara felt that she couldn't defeat Abigail. Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu relied on speed, but more so than its ability to read the opponent's next action. Kisara felt that she was physically stronger than Abigail, yet her opponent held a much higher Reaction Speed and lost in observation skills. Add in that Abigail held a special ability and comrades present, Kisara accepted that she wouldn't make it out alive. That's why Kisara at the very least would take out the weakest enemy present Erwin. Low to the ground Kisara rolled forward towards Erwin and when she was right before him she slashed at him.

Kisara: "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Ryushosen (Dragon Soaring Flash)!"

Rising to the ground with her arm against the blade for additional force Kisarsa aimed her katana at the jaw of Erwin. Erwin as a pure support role member of Team Germany wasn't a fighter and was helpless against Kisara's ruthless sword slash, but unfortunately a comrade arrived in time and blocked the sword with his green arm.

Klaus: "Not so fast little girl! That's a dangerous weapon you know."

- *BREAK*!

The top half of Kisara's katana flew through the air as Klaus stepped in between Kisara and Erwin. Klaus, with eyes dyed in chaos and bloodlust had blocked Kisara sword slash with his exposed arm and the collision of the two broke the sword and the rebound almost made her almost drop what remained of the sword. Kisara began to finally despair as she couldn't believe how a living person's flesh could feel as if she was slashing at reinforced steel.

Kisara had confidence in her strength even as a girl, but what was it good for against someone with enhancements like Klaus. The sword can cut through all of creation is a belief that all swordsman including herself believe, yet even with godly techniques there is a minimal requirement of physical strength needed behind a sword swing to cut through flesh and bone, and much more for steal... Kisara didn't possess such strength, much less godly sword technique, so the result was-

Abigail: "What the hell do you think you're doing, bitch? Are you trying to kill us?!"

Kisara: "Kyaaa!"

Abigail, catching up to Kisara, kicked her hard in the back and sent her crashing into the floor and then sat on top of her and restrained her arms and feet with a shining white piece of string. Abigail just wanted to kill Kisara for the stunt she pulled, but she wanted her as a valuable hostage, a source of information, or maybe plaything depending on her mood. Still, Abigail looked clearly upset for some reason and Kisara looked satisfied despite her own situation.

Abigail: "Klaus, the other two ran away during the time it took to restrain her. Can you locate them?"

Klaus: "...Yes, but I can do more than that. It seems the girl Psyche Force user can't keep her support type Persona out while moving. Just wait a minute and they'll be back."

Abigail and Klaus didn't question Erwin and just patiently waited for something. Kisara was glad that her actions gave her comrades a chance to escape, but this eerie calm made her worried... and after a minute passed her heart sank. Hikari and Renji during the commotion Kisara made exited through the back door of the building and one minute later, like Erwin promised, the two of them had returned. Hikari had a shocked, confused, and betrayed look on her face as Renji with his sword pointed behind her back lead her back within the building. Kisara and Hikari herself couldn't believe what was happening.

Hikari: "Renji... Renji you bastard! Are you crazy? Do you think they will let you live if you kill me!? Impossible! They will just kill you. Hell, I'll kill you for this, or I'll have Shin kill you later. Your choice! Hey, I know that you can... Renji?”

Hikari kept calling out to Renji, but he didn't respond. Renji's eyes were filled with pain. His whole body was shivering, but that sword in his hands was fixed on Hikari's back and never wavered. Abigail smiled to herself and had everyone leave the store and into the open air. Klaus carried the restrained Kisara with one hand with ease and Abigail and Erwin walked alongside the captured Hikari and Renji without worry.

Erwin: "Now that her Persona isn't present it's easier take control of Team Japan's members, but we were lucky. The girl samurai here must have undergone mental training, so I can't control her. The Psyche Force girl seemed to have enhanced her mental capacity, so it’s not easy to control her either. So I can only control the youth next to him. Sorry leader, but if you want to keep them alive you'll have to restrain the girl there as well."

Abigail: "No, you did a good job, Erwin. Anyway, we can kill them now, but I'm worried about their leader not having shown up yet. There's been no notification of his death, or Webber's death. Their leader should have been turned into ground meat by now as Webber’s close combat is only second to Klaus here and they're in a confined space. I'm worried. There's also the gunner that fought Adam who has not appeared yet."

Klaus: "You worry too much leader. Team Japan is only so much. We can-"

Before he finished talking, they heard a huge impact and beastly shout from the distance. Abigail ordered Erwin to see what it was, but there was no need as several seconds later, two people appeared out on the street. One was Shin and the other was Webber. Shin's had entered the Second Stage of the Unlocked Mode by now. His face was full of blood, his muscles were all puffed up, and his hand was grabbing onto the giant Webber's neck and four blood red Kagune tentacles had dug into the four joints of his limbs as well.

Webber was still alive and attempted to struggle for freedom, but the sound of bones being snapped ended this last struggle. Webber's body lost all strength. Shin’s face was covered in blood and looked calm having just broken the giant's neck, yet his eyes, one black with a red pupil, told another story altogether. Shin spit blood in his mouth that did not belong to him and held a sword next to the giant’s neck to show that his life and death was for him to decide.

Shin: "I know you have a healer in your team. Your team can regrow an arm even after I cut his off once before and I've experienced his healing spells personally. I only snapped his neck... he’s still alive, but can’t last much longer. Let go of Renji, Hikari, and Kisara, and let them leave! Then the four of us can battle it out on your terms, take him away so your healer can save him... or we'll trade losses! Choose!

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Authors Note:

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Proofread by Hoebagger