How about a rematch?

The disharmony of the blaring car horns gave Anthony a headache as he tried to maneuver his way past the traffic on the bridge.

It looked like the evacuation wasn't going as smoothly as planned.

His destination now was to get to the other side of the bridge where his fellow agents of higher standings were stationed.

He looked back at the pillar of light and couldn't help but kiss his teeth in annoyance. Laura had tasked him to keep an eye on Harry while she was away, but he had managed to slip out of his hands.

While he suspected that the reason he ran off was because he had a plan, he couldn't help but worry. If anything happened to him, then he would have to answer to his superiors.

"I better not get in trouble for this," Anthony gritted his teeth.

.....

"Ok, I'm here," Harry said to the system as he stopped when he could fully see the pillar of light.

It looked more imposing upfront. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief that the system was going to take care of this.

Harry waited a few seconds, but he didn't get a reply from the system.

"Uhm... System?"

[I'm here.]

"Whew, thank goodness. You can activate the emergency protocol whenever you're ready," Harry closed his eyes and waited.

[Sorry. I can't.]

"Excuse me?" Harry asked in confusion.

[Conditions have not been met. A recent assessment shows that you can handle this.]

"Recent assessment? What the fuck do you mean?"

[It seems you're becoming too reliant.]

"I'm—"

Harry immediately held his tongue. Judging from the system's character, Harry could guess that the system might choose to not help him if he kept asking for its aid.

"Wait, isn't the emergency protocol supposed to help me when I'm in danger?" Harry asked.

[Exactly.]

"I feel I'm in danger right now. I can't defeat that thing," Harry pointed at the pillar.

[Conditions for emergency protocol have not been met.]

"Fuck." Harry rubbed his eyes before releasing a sigh. "I should get myself together. I can't be relying on the system."

[I encourage that line of thought.]

"So..." Harry looked up at the pillar. "how do we handle this?"

[I have a few ideas, but I suggest you look behind you.]

Harry turned and he saw a whole ass wall on a flight path toward him!

He stretched his hand to it and it shattered into dust the moment it made contact.

Behind the flurry of dust were Devastation and the messenger!

"It's the big guy again," Harry clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Oh, you're a mutant as well. Good, very good." The messenger smiled.

"Who are you?" Harry asked.

"I am simply a messenger. I'm here to deliver a message," she smiled.

"That's nice and all, but it doesn't exactly tell me what I want to know," Harry replied.

"Do you want another answer?" She asked with a raised brow.

"One that would clarify me would be much appreciated," Harry said with a serious expression.

[Where's this confidence coming from?]

'Can you keep your questions to yourself? I don't need your mockery right now,' Harry responded to the system mentally.

Harry brought his attention back to the people in front of him. Just the fact that the woman was with that big guy made him go on guard.

This could become a problem pretty soon.

It was also clear that the system might not help him so he had to take this seriously. So far, he has been acting laid back because of the system's capability to handle his problems.

But now, it was seeming like the emergency protocol was the system's way of holding his hand until he was able to walk by himself.

Now that it thought he could, he was on his own.

At least until there was a good reason for it to help him.

"I don't have the answer you want," the messenger said. "Now move, I need to talk to that," she pointed at the pillar of light.

"Hmm, I see. Unfortunately, I'm here to kill THAT. Our goals conflict," Harry stated.

"Oh. That's truly unfortunate. I was almost starting to like you," the messenger gestured and Devastation rushed towards Harry!

Devastation reached him quickly and threw out a punch. Harry stood there calmly and stretched his hand to meet the incoming fist.

"...rot," Harry said when his palm made contact, but instead of the expected outcome, Harry was sent flying from the force of the punch!

He flew through a house and crashed hard on the ground!

Harry groaned as he stood up. He looked at his arm and saw wisps of flames disappearing. He also noticed that he was unharmed!

"How...?" Harry asked as he scanned his body for injuries but could see none.

[Did I mention that you got a new ability when the emergency protocol was activated?]

"I got a new ability?" Harry was surprised.

[Damage reduction is one of its perks]

"System, give me a quick rundown of it," Harry said as he got up.

.....

Devastation burst through the house that Harry crashed through in his quest to find him and pummel him to death.

He looked around and couldn't find Harry.

"Hey!" A voice called out.

He looked up and there he was. Harry's whole body was aflame and he was floating above him.

"How about a rematch?" Harry stretched his hands forward and a stream of flames rushed out and pushed Devastation back through the building!