Chapter 37 - Psionic

Matteo and Ludovica jumped into Ludovica's car and Ludovica revved the engine, her eyes fixed on Leandro's car as they pulled out onto the street.

As they sped at a steady pace down the road following Leandro's car, Ludovica couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Matteo, how did you manage to kill Hoffman and his partner without anyone noticing?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Matteo shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Trade secret, darling," he replied with a smirk. "Let's just say, I have my ways."

Ludovica rolled her eyes at Matteo's evasiveness but didn't press the issue further. She focused on the task at hand.

Suddenly, Leandro's car accelerated, and Ludovica instinctively knew he had spotted them and was trying to flee. "He's trying to flee!" Ludovica exclaimed, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Hold tight, Matteo!"

With a burst of speed, Ludovica's car surged forward, weaving in and out of traffic as she pursued Leandro with unwavering determination. The chase was on, and Ludovica was in her element.

Matteo, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up. "Wait a minute, Ludovica, let me put on my seat belt at least," he exclaimed, fumbling with the seat belt as Ludovica accelerated.

"Leandro won't wait for you to put on your seat belt," Ludovica retorted, her eyes focused on the road ahead. "And what's wrong with you? Seat belt should be the first thing you do when you enter a vehicle."

Before Matteo could respond, Ludovica suddenly braked sharply and drifted to the right, causing Matteo's nose to slam into and dragged across the dashboard. "Arghh! My nose!"

Ludovica couldn't help but laugh at Matteo's misfortune. It was rare to see the usually confident and composed Matteo in such a state of disarray. "Hold on for dear life, Matteo," she shouted while laughing loud over the roar of the engine, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's going to be a wild ride."

As Ludovica continued to push the limits of the car's speed and agility, Matteo found himself crashing into the door window and dashboard with each sharp turn and sudden stop. Despite his discomfort, he couldn't help but admire Ludovica's superior driving skills.

Suddenly, Matteo was struck with an idea 'Well, now is as good a time to test it I guess!'

[ Enhanced Reflexes : Active ]

his movements became fluid and instinctual as he countered every shock and sway of the car with ease, reflexively. 

Ludovica watched through the corner of her eye in awe as Matteo seamlessly adjusted to the car's movements, his reflexes bordering on superhuman. "How are you doing that?" Ludovica asked, her voice tinged with disbelief but eyes still on the road.

Matteo chuckled, his smirk widening. "Ah, Ludovica, it's simple physics, Newton's Third Law of Motion" he replied jokingly. "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

Ludovica shook her head in disbelief, unsure whether to be impressed or amused by Matteo's ridiculous explanation and the ability to actually act on it.

But before she could ponder it further, Leandro's car screeched to a halt in an abandoned parking lot on the outskirts of the city, perhaps now realizing that he couldn't outrun Ludovica's superior driving skills.

Ludovica pulled up behind him, her expression determined as she prepared to confront their target.

Both Matteo and Ludovica got out of the car as Leandro too, emerged from his vehicle, his expression a mixture of frustration and resignation as Ludovica and Matteo approached him.

Leandro stood before them, a towering figure with an imposing presence. His tall frame loomed menacingly in the moonlight, accentuated by his pale skin and striking red eyes, a result of albinism. He was dressed in a pristine white suit that seemed to glow in the dim light, adding to his eerie aura. (character art here)

"Let's get the weakling out of the way first, shall we?" Leandro's voice was cold and calculating as he addressed Ludovica, his eyes glinting with malice.

Suddenly, Leandro flicked his wrist towards Matteo. Matteo felt all the hairs on his arm rise into goosebumps as his eyes widened and his pupils dilated. The next moment he was staring at a long needle mere inches away from his eye as he held it in his pinch. The 'Enhanced Reflexes' had saved him.

Beside him, Ludovica's eyes widened in disbelief 'He caught it?!?!!'

Matteo's heart raced as he stared at the needle, sweat beading on his forehead. Leandro, too, looked shocked by Matteo's narrow save.

"How did you do that?" Leandro demanded in disbelief.

Matteo, still reeling from the close call, couldn't resist a smirk as he recited Newton's first law of motion. "An object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Ludovica sighed at Matteo's cavalier attitude. "You almost died, and you're still in a joking mood. Unbelievable," she muttered as she got into her initial fight stance her eyes piercing through Leandro.

Meanwhile, Leandro, undeterred by Matteo's snide remark, focused his attention on the task at hand. With a menacing glare, he summoned two more needles, which hovered ominously above the back of his palm as he assumed a defensive stance.

"He's a Psionic!" Matteo exclaimed as he voiced his observations out loud.

Leandro's red eyes shined with killing intent, and his pale features twisted into a menacing scowl. Ludovica's gaze was steely, her stance poised and ready for battle. Matteo, despite his usual bravado, couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear.

Without warning, Leandro lunged forward, his movements swift and precise. Ludovica met his attack head-on. Their battle unfolded in a whirlwind of motion, the sound of their strikes echoing through the night air.

Ludovica's fists blurred as she delivered a rapid succession of blows, aiming to overwhelm her opponent. Leandro, undeterred, countered with a series of swift strikes of his own, each one aimed with deadly accuracy.

In the blink of an eye, Ludovica and Leandro engaged in a breathtaking display of combat prowess. Leandro's needles whizzed through the air with deadly precision, aiming for Ludovica's vulnerable spots.

But Ludovica was no ordinary opponent. She countered each attack with grace and finesse. Her movements a blur of speed and agility as she parried and flung around Leandro's needles with her bracelets.

Despite the intensity of their exchange, neither Ludovica nor Leandro showed any signs of slowing down.

Matteo, meanwhile, hung back slightly, assessing the situation with a calculating eye. He was looking for an opening, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. 'So this is a battle between Viables. Its...…..BEAUTIFUL.' he smiled, mesmerized.