Chapter 6

"Now!", Martin yelled at the chief.

"Alright! Come on hit the heart.", the chief aimed carefully into The Destroyer's heart. He shot a fully powered S-Tier gun directly aimed at the enemy's heart. The entire group of law enforcement officers peered into the attack hoping for a likeable outcome. Unfortunately, The Destroyer's fast reflexes kicked in, and he swiftly swatted the bullet. Their hope completely vanished as the bullet bounced on the ground.

"That's it? That's your plan?", The Destroyer laughed and ridiculed his enemy.

"I have been holding back this entire time, I'm just trying to give you a chance before my ride comes. But it looks like hope is not on your side", he added.

"No, way.", Martin uttered as his exhausted body plunged onto the ground.

"We have given it our all but it appears that this is our limit.", Chief Jackson accepted their fate.

"I hate to say it but that's it, looks like we just have to accept defeat.", the chief was crestfallen as he dropped his weapon to the ground. The law enforcement officers had no choice but to follow his lead and surrender except for one.

"What do you mean accept defeat? You were just willing to risk it all earlier.", Jess broke the silence.

"And we did risk it all, but all our efforts were futile.", the chief replied.

"Jess, we already lost.", Axel, tried to convince his friend in a comforting way.

"But, what about Martin?", Jess pleaded.

"We can't help him anymore. There's nothing we can do.", Axel responded.

"Finally, now back to this guy.", The Destroyer grabbed Martin by his shirt.

"How was your side hustle?", The Destroyer tilted his head as he locked eyes with him.

"Don't you tell anyone that.", Martin appealed as he struggled to speak due to fatigue.

"Oh, I won't tell anyone that you were selling drugs these past weeks.", The Destroyer looked at the police officers.

"A law enforcement officer who doesn't even follow the laws he is supposed to enforce, what a shame.", The Destroyer added as he glowered at Martin.

"Is he telling the truth, Martin?", the chief asked.

"I-I really was just in a tight situation, financially.", Martin answered as he stared into the sky, trying to distract himself from the shame he was feeling.

"But why? You had a clean track record.", the chief questioned.

"Is it-", Axel tried to speak but was interrupted.

"It's for Synthia.", Jess cut in. Martin did not utter a word.

"I see.", The Destroyer read Martin's rage energy.

"You are planning on using the money for your daughter's birthday.", The Destroyer dropped him to the ground.

"Over a birthday? That's your only reason?", the assistant chief questioned.

"Hey, let's not judge quickly.", Jess defended.

"There's got to be other reasons, right?", the chief questioned.

"It must be shameful for your colleagues to know that you committed a crime for such a pointless reason. But I can help you end that shame.", The Destroyer started preparing a condensed rage energy finger attack. Rage energy formed and pulsated at the tip of his index finger. He gazed at Martin and aimed the attack at him. Martin was too defeated to do and react to anything, Jess was feeling a gamut of emotions, Axel was silently tearing up, while the rest just stood there knowing that there was nothing else they could do.

"I won't let this end this way, leaving my partner behind is a true act of betrayal.", Jess whispered to herself. The rage energy at the tip of The Destroyer's index finger was getting more massive. As the rage energy was accruing its size, The Destroyer was conflicted on whether he would shoot his head or heart. He wanted to shoot the head, because the head is capable of thinking evil, yet at the same time he wanted to shoot the heart to mock their failed plan of executing him with an S-Tier gun. As he was thinking, Jess was planning on doing something outrageous.

"It's gonna be fine.", Jess mouthed as she tried her best to smile at Martin when they locked eyes.

"Jess, no. You don't have to do this.", Martin mouthed back at her. The instant she said those words, he knew what was going to happen. He realized that their relationship as partners had transcended into something deeper than just typical coworkers because, at the last moment of their lives, they chose to live or die together.

"Martin, I'm sorry but I might not be able to come to your daughter's birthday!", Jess screamed at his old friend. He slowly treaded forward as Martin was too stunned to speak, his mind was full of regret, thinking it was going to be his fault that he dragged his friend into the mess he had created.

"What are you doing?", Jess broke The Destroyer's concentration with her actions.

"Bloodline Technique: Ancestral Grounds.", Jess uttered as she closed her eyes and placed her hands in a prayer position.

"No!", Martin used all of his strength left to let out a scream to try to stop her, but it was too late. All of a sudden, the ground started shaking, and the tremors radiated through everyone's bodies as specters of humanoid figures started to emerge from the cracks.

"What in the hell is this?", The Destroyer was perplexed by the ability's effect.

"What exactly is happening? Everyone back down and avoid the cracks!", the chief ordered.

"I'll help us move.", the assistant chief said.

"So this is your signature ability, Jess.". Axel muttered in astonishment as he looked at her one more time before moving away from them.

"Incredible, so this is an ancestral ability, interesting…", The Destroyer observed Jess as her body was covered in ominous dark red rage energy.