OLD-WORLD EXTRA

"Luck is the only thing you have, boy."

With that, Album struck Arthur with the blunt end of his staff.

The force of the blow sent him crashing into a nearby wall, the impact reverberating through the stone.

No amount of luck could save him from that.

Or if it could, it would require massive quantities-quantities that, unfortunately for Arthur, were nowhere to be found.

Fortune, it seemed, did not favor the brave this time.

Arthur crumpled to the ground, blood pouring from his head, his vision spinning.

He was undoubtedly delirious, staring in horror as Album advanced toward him with a slow- moving step.

But then, out of nowhere, a blur shot past, and with a burst of speed that caught everyone off guard, Max appeared behind Album, fists blazing brighter than ever.

"I'm not done yet!"

He drove both hands at Album's kidney, using his Iron Fist.

The man was cleanly hit, and a large chunk of his body had essentially exploded.

His insides flew everywhere as the heat went in, sizzling what remained.

Album calmly looked down at his waist, and after a moment, he eyed Max, the one who

inflicted such a seemingly annoying injury.

Without saying anything, his right hand shot out, and his staff descended with the bladed end pointing down.

Max barely had time to react.

There was no way he could back off in time; he needed to defend himself.

"RAAAAH!"

At the last moment, he raised his flaming arms, his scream, and Aether fueling what appeared to be his final stand.

The staff moved half an inch down and CLANG!

Like metal hitting another, sparks flew, as did Max's arms, flung apart.

His feet dug into the ground, creating deep cracks beneath him, but something was off.

The impact wasn't as devastating as it should have been.

Max was the reason.

He had channeled the remaining force backward, using it to propel himself into a semi- controlled skid.

It was a smart move, an attempt to deflect as much of the attack's force as he could but still.

The vibrations that traveled up his arms threatened to shatter his bones.

Max needed a moment to breathe, organise himself, but Album didn't let up.

He swung again, this time aiming for Max's side.

Max countered with Dragon's Roar, a powerful scream that slowed Album's attack, but he had anticipated it.

As the Brawler barely dodged the strike, Album continued the swing, spinning on his heel and throwing his staff at Max like an axe with bone-crushing force.

Max had just dodged an attack.

He wasn't ready for another.

Barely able to move his left hand to protect his head in time.

CRACK!

"FUCK!"

Max cried out in pain as his arm crumpled under the blow.

His entire body staggered back while his functioning hand clutched his broken arm, which now hung limply at his side.

Yet again, Album didn't stop there.

He grabbed Max's remaining arm and used his momentum to slam him into the ground.

The impact created an even bigger crater beneath Max's body, the ground splintering from the sheer force.

"GAH!"

Max gasped in pain, but before he could recover, Album brought his feet down on his chest.

CRACK!

A cringe-inducing sound resounded as Max's ribs shattered under the blow.

He coughed up blood, his vision blurring.

Scoffing, Album paused his attacks.

He scanned the ground, his eyes zeroing in on his staff, which laid at the edge of the crater.

Calmly, he went and picked it up from the ground, ready to deliver the final strike.

But suddenly and finally, Sofia saw her chance-her best and only chance at survival. She reappeared just behind Album, aiming her pistol at the back of his head.

BANG! Bang! Bang!

Starting with a Longshot, three bullets were fired in quick succession, each one aimed at his head.

The bullets hit true, tearing through his skull and reaching his brain, turning it into mush.

His body staggered for a moment and then fell to the ground, landing just beside the fallen barely conscious Max.

"Kids these days... always so eager to prove themselves."

But again, Album's incredible regeneration kicked in.

His wounds began to knit together, brain and skull reforming back to their previously

unscathed state.

Sofia wasn't about to let that happen.

Bang! Bang!

She unleashed another volley of shots, the constant roar of her pistol keeping the unnaturally monstrous Zenith Warden pinned down.

At the same time, her gaze darted to Ava, who had just finished patching up Arthur.

With a quick gesture, she silently urged her to move.

Ava didn't hesitate, rushing toward Max, her voice erupting in a scream she'd been holding

back since the start:

"DON'T DIE YOU MONKEY!"

Those two shared a bond that ran deep, as unusual as it might seem to outsiders.

Their friendship was forged over years, and by now, life without each other felt

unimaginable.

They had simply known each other for that long.

"Aetheric Heal!" Dropping to her knees, Ava quickly shoved the old-world medicine down Max's throat,

straightening his body and arms to aid his recovery.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them away, focusing all her remaining Aether into

him.

Thankfully, no vital organ was completely dead; he wasn't going to wake up any more

disabled than he already was.

By the time Sofia reloaded for the third time, Max was almost fully healed and back on his

feet, glaring down at the man who had brought him to the brink.

"Fucking bastard..."

Max seethed, a deep desire to return the favor burning within him.

He wanted nothing more than to kill Album multiple times, but he knew that doing so would

disrupt Sofia's rhythm.

The last thing he wanted was to annoy his crush, so he swallowed his rage and turned his gaze

to Ava.

"At least you're useful for something."

Though he wanted to thank her, he was too embarrassed to do so; instead, he did the next best thing, at least in his mind, which was to acknowledge her efforts.

"Whatever monkey- I wouldn't have healed you if Sofia didn't tell me to."

Acting like she wasn't the least bit worried, she played along with their usual banter, hiding

the pain she felt from him so roughed up, close to death. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Max chuckled and shot her a grateful look before quickly looking away.

Ava, ever the performer, pretended not to notice and turned her attention to Arthur, who remained near the wall in the distance, staring blankly into empty space.

Thinking that he dropped a few chromosomes, she got closer and waved her hand in front of

his face.

But just then, she saw his pupils constrict as he suddenly focused on something behind her,

his expression shifting to alarm.

She didn't need to look to know that his eyes were on Sofia and Max.

Ava was about to ask him what was wrong when a flash of golden light illuminated the

darkness behind her.

Confused, she finally turned back and...

"NO!"

Her heart sank at the sight.

Both Sofia and Max were gripped by the neck, held up to match Album's eye level as if they

were no more than little playthings, dolls.

The monster of a man was completely healed, his appearance no different than when he first

showed up, making it seem like their efforts had never touched him.

"You first boy."

Album clutched his right hand, snapping Max's neck like a twig, and threw him to the ground.

Turning his attention to Sofia, he seized her wrist with his free hand, twisting it until a crack echoed through the tunnel.

Pain surged through her, but it was nothing compared to the desperation clawing at her chest.

She struggled, desperately trying to activate Rapid Retreat, but wasn't allowed to.

His grip was unyielding, and with her feet suspended above the ground, she was rendered powerless, unable to do a single thing but choke.

Smiling with cruel satisfaction, he felt the need to inflict more pain on her as she did him.

What happened next unfolded in a blur-too fast for any of them to comprehend.

In a heartbeat, Album threw her up and shattered every major bone in her body.

"АНННННННННН!"

As she screamed in pain, he stepped forward and slammed her to the ground.

The impact silenced her cries and created a small crater where she landed. Sofia grunted and twisted her body, face stuck to the ground.

She, without letting out another whimper, tried to crawl away with her broken limbs.

Each movement sent fresh waves of agony coursing through her, causing her to shudder

uncontrollably.

Tears welled up in her eyes, the intensity of her suffering almost overwhelming.

And just as she neared the approaching Ava, Album's right foot came crashing down onto her

back, pinning her to the ground.

"You're strong."

His voice resounded with apparent delight.

"But not strong enough."

With that, he raised his foot, ready to deliver the final, crushing blow.

At that moment, Ava was a mere step away from reaching Sofia, her heart pounding as time

stretched into an agonizing eternity.

Arthur, who was running directly behind her, felt the same.

In that slow world of theirs, they could do nothing but watch as Album's foot descended

towards Sofia's neck, a dark shadow looming over her. Then... just before her death, that shadow had twitched.