165 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]