Flatlining Deadlock

The grassy plain swayed gently in the wind as it stretched beyond the horizon like a sea of green. The surroundings were dotted with spots of gold as sunlight peeked through the clouds. In sharp contrast to the ominous gloom of the woodland they had just left behind, the air here was filled with nothing but the aroma of dirt and wildflowers. 

Standing at the front of the group, Kazami looked out over the horizon. Tang-ji stood next to him; her blue, inquisitive eyes revealed a mixture of curiosity and caution.

The two individuals, Junyo and Decker, appeared from behind a large boulder, closing the distance between themselves and the strangers. There was something mysterious about Junyo; his face appeared to lack emotion. Conversely, Decker emanated an air of strong self-confidence and a wise-cracking personality that suggested a life spent on the brink and precise knowledge of his capabilities.

"Hey there," Decker called out, his brutish Australian accent cutting through the calm. "You folks seem like you could use some company. Mind if we tag along?"

Junyo nudged at Decker's elbow just as he finished his sentence before pulling his head down into a tight headlock. "I told you to behave, not embarrass the both of us," he whispered. Junyo freed his partner from the headlock, causing Decker to gasp sharply.

"Fine then, whatever," he said, rubbing his neck softly, failing to appease Junyo. He instinctively shoved his partner to the side before walking up to everyone. 

"Okay, listen, all of you," he shouted. "To be honest with you all, I don't really trust any of you, and to be perfectly clear, I'm only doing this because my friend is too much of a pussy to play alone." Decker gave a disappointed yet playful look back at his partner. 

Junyo frowned, "I'm still here, asshat," he muttered. "Without me, your dumbass wouldn't have made it this far." Junyo riposted. 

"If we team up and you guys end up being dead weight, I ain't hesitating, not even for a second, to leave all of you behind. You got that?" Decker continued, ignoring his partner's retort. 

"Ugh! This dumb blondie is so annoying." Emiko waved her hand dismissively, flicking her wrist. "I thought white guys were supposed to be hot and smart. This guy looks and talks like some street punk. Giving me the ick." 

"Heh!" Decker smirked, irritated. "Funny coming from the local whore. Girls like you can be found pretty much anywhere. Acting all high and mighty just because you think your looks are 'cut above' the rest of us. I mean, look at what you're wearing," he said, pointing towards her kimono. "Your breasts are practically falling out."

Emiko quickly covered herself as she shot a murderous glare at him.

Decker continued to deride her: "I absolutely despise girls like you. Ones who would call guys perverts for even looking in their general direction. Girls who'd say stuff like, 'We aren't tools or meat for men', while their actions contradict that said statement." He sighed as if explaining his point for the hundredth time. "Don't act like a tool, and we won't treat you like one. We have eyes for a reason, no? It's true what they say about how men are wild beasts, knowing that some girls still continue to lay the bait in front of them. I mean, have you ever seen a wild beast you were absolutely sure wouldn't bite? Because I definitely haven't." Junyo cringed and shielded his eyes from the ensuing chaos Decker had brought on himself.

"What the fuck did you just say, asshole?" Emiko clenched her fists and glared at Decker. However, just as she was ready to approach him, Ji-Soon intervened, grabbing her arm. He could feel the heat coming from her, a side effect of the rage that was flowing through her. Ji-Soon explained in a comforting voice. "Hey, just relax. He's just goading you into a fight. I'm sure he's a decent person…. Deep down."

Gritting her teeth, Emiko flicked Ji-Soon's hands away. "Fine." She murmured before walking away.

"Hmph. Coward, letting someone else fight your battle. I guess I mistook you for an independent type of girl; it looks like you're nothing without a man's help." Decker continued his provocation; however, she did not get a response. 

'Jesus fucking Christ! Who the hell am I partnered up with?' Junyo thought, sighing deeply. "Are you done with your pointless argument, Decker? There are more important things to do than trying to pick a fight with our new alliance." He turned to Ji-Soon and Emiko. "Terribly sorry for my friend's lack of social awareness."

"We aren't the problem here. It's your loud-mouthed friend over there who won't mind his own business," Kompto added, expressing his distaste for the group's new addition. 

"What's your deal, diversity hire?" Decker scoffed. "I wasn't even talking to you. I was having a nice conversation with the whiny 'pick-me' girl over there." Ji-Soon felt his brow shift in concern.

"I don't need to be a part of the conversation to defend a teammate," Kompto replied. "Plus, I'm not a diversity hire and definitely not as huge a prick as you." Again, Decker appeared to feel personally attacked.

"Shaddup you. I don't wanna hear backtalk from a dude who's probably weaker than me," Decker grunted. "I'll bet my Leere is way stronger than whatever you have, diversity hire." He said this while smirking. 

"Hey, let's not do that right now." Junyo said, performing a sort of 'breaking up' motion from between the two. "There's no need to argue right now, alright. Especially since–" 

Junyo was sharply cut off by Kompto, who had jumped in. "No. I think showing off each other's Leere is a great idea." Kompto's face shifted to one of extreme annoyance. He had fallen for Decker's provocation. "Go on then, pretty boy. Show us what you've got."

"Fine, I'll go ahead and start if everyone is still too much of a pussy to talk." Decker grinned as he pointed his thumb towards himself. "My Leere is called Coiling Devastate. It's a cross between a defensive and offensive type. All you need to know about my Leere is that it's an impenetrable defence that cannot be destroyed." Decker shot a glance at his partner.

"As his partner, I guess I'll share the details of mine next." Junyo took a breath before starting. "My Leere's name is Ethereum Hacker, and it's essentially a support weapon that takes the form of a power glove. I can use it to help buff you guys or debuff enemies."

"Alright," Decker chimed. "Since we've essentially revealed our lifelines to you, randos, it's your turn, big man." Decker motioned towards Kompto. "What type of Leere have you got?"

"My monotype utility, Leere, Kaleido Pulse, gives me the ability to go invisible and detonate bombs on contact."

"Hahahaha!" Decker laughed obnoxiously, cutting off Kompto from continuing. "Of course you use bombs. suitable for a man who lives life on edge like yourself. Plus, who knows when you will need some quick cash? You know, with those skills of yours, you could do more than just play with fireworks. I heard that you people got crazy nacks for lockpicking and bombs. You do know explosives are said to be very effective against vults, right?" He gave a devious smirk, casting the obvious racist comment that he made.

"Watch your tongue." Ji-Soon snapped at Decker's comment, and his face began to tighten. 

Decker glanced at Ji-Soon with a wicked glint in his eyes.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve? Just speaking the truth," he mockingly replied, trying his best to taunt the both of them.

Kompto exhaled slowly, choosing to ignore the provocation. He knew that stooping to Decker's level wouldn't solve anything. 

Ji-Soon took a step forward, ready to confront Decker, but Kazami, the voice of reason, intervened in an unexpected way. "Hey, its my turn to tell you guys about my Leere," he said enthusiastically, trying to break the tension in the air.

Reacting to his friend's unnatural way of speaking, Ji-Soon chuckled at Kazami's comment, "C'mon, dude, you sound like a kid trying to show off his new toy." Ji-Soon shot Decker a warning glare before turning his focus back to Kazami, who is now turning slightly red. 

"It's fine, dude. I get these types of people all the time; it doesn't even bother me anymore. But thanks for standing up for me," Kompto said, pulling Ji-Soon away from Decker.

Decker continued to smile, sensing he'd dodged a confrontation for now.

Raising his hand to eye level, Kazami swiftly clicked his fingers multiple times to get the attention of everyone before conjuring a floating hilt. "My Leere's name is called Matrix Shifter," he said as he simultaneously altered the shade of his hilt seamlessly, bending the patterns of the handle and the guard with his finger tips, "a monotype that specialises in offensive capabilities. I can basically conjure any type of sword I can imagine. However, there are two requirements for activating my Leere: first, I need to know the basic structure of the blade, meaning I need to have seen the blade multiple times, and second, I must already know the majority of its abilities."

"Hey Kazami," Tang-Ji whispered, "what do you mean by monotype?" 

However, before Kazami could answer her, she was called out by Decker.

"Hey you, quiet girl!" Decker shouted, causing her to slightly flinch. "If you have something to say, speak up," Decker demanded. 

"Hey, lay off, fucker! Let the girl be. Ever consider the fact that she doesn't want to speak to someone who only spews out verbal diarrhoea with every sentence?" Ji-Soon muttered after hesitating to start another fight. 

"Jesus Christ! Ji-Soon, just ignore the bastard. You were the one that told me to calm down, so quit getting tempted by this incel." Emiko spoke out from the back but was ignored completely by Ji-Soon, who looked as if he was about to pop a blood vessel.

"Can we please just get on with the important stuff now?" Junyo continued to try and get everyone on the same track; however, his partner had other plans in mind. 

"Yeah, and I'm the fucker that's going to rearrange your face if you keep talking to me with that attitude. You, your bitchy girlfriend, and this potential hoodlum over here are slowly getting on my nerve. Honestly, you guys need to learn not to talk back and simply accept the truth." 

"I am not his girlfriend," she retaliated, but was cut off by Kazami as he swiftly waved his hand in front of her. "Stay out of this, unless you want the situation to get messier." 

"Yeah, girly; stay out of this. Unless you want in on the action," Decker gave another one of his taunts as he stuck out his tongue.

"You're crossing the line, bastard." Ji-Soon was now seething. 

Decker, however, did not back down as he resumed smirking defiantly.

The atmosphere thickened, charged with hostility. Kazami sensed the mounting tension and continued to try and diffuse the situation. He persisted in his attempts to step into the middle of the tumultuous scene. However, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his gut. He knew Ji-Soon well enough to understand that, once he was provoked, there was no turning back. His best friend had a strong sense of justice and devotion that was almost hard to put out once it was kindled.

"What are you gonna do about it? You're gonna defend your 'precious' friends, right? A slutty whore and a literal monkey. And hey, maybe this black fuck and me can have a threesome with slut when we get outta here. I know bitches like you would love this type of play. Ji-Soon was it? What do you say? Would you come join us too? " Decker giggled, laughing hysterically at his own joke like a maniac. 

Emiko slowly lowered her head with her hair, hiding her twisted expression. Between the gaps in her long, brown hair was a mixture of sorrow and exposedness, as if the disparaging words sliced through her. Her pupils were constricted, and she stood tall, refusing to let this go without a fight. 

"I'm going to fucking kill you!" Emiko screeched before charging angrily towards Decker.

However, Ji-Soon reacted before her and bolted towards Decker, becoming a blur of colour. Decker's comments were the last straw. As his temper flared up, Ji-Soon lunged at Decker, aiming his fist at the boy's jaw. In the split second, it almost seemed like he had teleported, and with surgical precision, the punch connected. 

Surprised by this, Decker's body recoiled violently, teetering on the brink of collapse as his legs strained to maintain their balance. His jaw was misaligned and burned with a sharp, coursing pain. "Not cool, man. Sucker punching me like that. Only pussies would do that," he said calmly, as if not feeling anything.

Decker took a deep breath and forcefully adjusted his jaw back into place with a sharp, sickening crack. The pain was excruciating, but he suppressed it, his face contorting in a twisted mixture of agony and joy. "Oh boy, this feeling has got me all excited now," he said, unclenching his teeth. "I love this game; you could never experience something like this in any other game."

The boy shook himself off, adjusting himself into a fighting stance. "If you're that weak, then you'll die sooner than later. How about I do you a little favour?" He paused momentarily before taking a breath. "As your new guildmate, I'm going to bury you six feet under before the game does." Decker declared, shooting a bright wave of aura from his body, causing everyone to stumble back onto their feet. 

"No! You're the one that's going to get flatlined." Ji-Soon spat before entering a fighting stance.

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As the match commenced, Decker summoned his Leere with a commanding presence.

"Come forth, Coiling Devastate." 

A flash of light temporarily blinded everyone before revealing a black Oni mask. Before Ji-Soon could make his move, Decker donned the mask, initiating the first of his unique skills. 

"Level 1 deployment, amplification technique: Galvanise." He commanded with all his might. 

As if responding to his words, Decker's body began to quiver and spasm violently, as if he had been struck by lightning. His skin took on a pallid grey hue, and his limbs swelled in size.

Ji-Soon was standing a fair distance away, observing his opponent's movements as he broke into a cold sweat. He was unsure of what Decker's ability was and remained in a defensive stance. However, he was determined to uphold his beliefs and was not planning on backing down. He never hated anything more than discrimination and prejudice towards others; he clung to that unwavering resolve. Defensive play was foreign to him; he was poised for an all-out assault, eager to glean insights into his opponent's Leere. 

"Spin wildly, spin eternally, Slot Burst." Ji-Soon intoned, conjuring a floating slot machine from a radiant beam of light. The elaborate frame of the floating contraption shimmered with an unearthly iridescence, covered with complex designs that seemed to change and swirl as its edges caught the fading sunlight. A flimsy, ethereal glimmer flowed from ancient sigils carved onto its surface.

"Hey, man. Are you serious? What the fuck is that supposed to be?" Decker gave a hideous chuckle, trying his best to piss off Ji-Soon as if he had already won. "I was hoping for a more serious battle, but instead I got a floating slot machine. What are you going to do with that dumb-looking contraption? Spin your way to victory." Decker let out another arrogant laugh. His laughter rang out, brimming with mockery.

Ji-Soon stood in stillness, ignoring Decker's provocation. He knew that his opponent was not a simple, brutish idiot; therefore, he chose to keep his mind focused.

"Level 1 deployment, amplification technique: Outburst," Ji-Soon called, causing the slot machine to begin spinning. 

Then, as if he could sense Ji-Soon's hesitation, Decker turned his whole body away from his opponent, feigning nonchalance.

"You know, I'm starting to pity you now. There's no way I'm going against some puny punk with a floating slot machine," Decker called over his shoulder. "What a joke. Okay, how about this? I'll let you take the first attack. Go ahead, little man, I'm all yours." Decker raised both his arms into the air as if he were surrendering. 

Ji-Soon saw through the ruse; he wouldn't fall for such an obvious trap. However, a daring idea formed in his mind. 'Even if it was just a taunt, this is the perfect chance for me to learn more about his abilities. Attacking would mean I fall right into his trap, and staying on the defensive would weaken my momentum. My Leere won't be able to reach its full potential if I start fighting passively now.' He had a long train of thought, but let out a heavy sigh before he finally dashed towards Decker. 

'He's fast!' Decker's thoughts raced, caught off guard as Ji-Soon's fist closed the distance with uncanny speed.

In an instant, Ji-Soon traversed over 20 metres without employing an active skill, closing the gap. 

"Shit, he's going for my chin again," Decker responded; instinctively, he raised his left arm to block the incoming strike. 

However, in a sudden twist, Ji-Soon retracted the punch before rotating his whole body fully to the left side to initiate a spinning roundhouse kick.

'A feint attack? This bastard!' Decker monologued internally, but it was already too late for him to react as the blow connected to his virtual ribs.

A loud clanking sound reverberated throughout the forest, which caused the onlookers around them to stumble backwards. Soil and stones flew as the environment reshaped itself.

"Did he get him?" Tang-Ji asked, standing at the edge of the forest. 

Kazami stood with his arms crossed, leaning against one of the tree stumps. He gave a stern expression before replying to Tang-Ji with a serious tone. 

"No, not even close." 

"Wha-" Ji-Soon was flabbergasted as his foot stopped right on his opponent's side. It was as if he kicked a metal wall; he could feel the blunt, excruciating pain circulate throughout his left leg. Decker's body did not feel like normal flesh; it was more like it was completely made out of steel. 

"Hahahah! Dumbass, that is the power of my Leere. I'm an impenetrable wall. Physical attacks like those will do nothing against me. You'd need to shoot me with a tank or something to make me feel an itch." Decker let out another cackle to taunt the confused Ji-Soon. 

"Hmph, explosives, you say?" Ji-Soon's face darkened, shadowed with a devious smirk. He'd anticipated this outcome, taking a calculated risk. The dice were already set when he decided to charge into unknown territory. He took a gamble, spun the wheel, and won the trade. 

"Spin! Slot Bursts." The slot machine floating besides him materialised an item, its form obscured by light. The item's light faded before it attached itself to his shin, the same one that was currently trying to force its way through Decker's iron-like body. 'Tick, tick, tick,' a rhythmic cadence could be heard subtly, each metallic click resonating with an ominous weight behind it.

"Level 2 deployment, rush technique: Ballistic-Nade." 

"Woah! Woah! Hey man. Are you crazy? Letting out an explosion that close will kill both of us." Decker pleaded, worry heavy in his voice.

"What happened to that smug expression from before? I guess we'll find out if it really will kill us or just you." Ji-Soon grinned before a brilliant light engulfed his face.

An explosion erupted, shaking the ground and sending rocks and dirt skyward.

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The wind roared violently as the trees around the forest's edges were blown apart. 

As the dust around the battleground began to settle, a massive steel dome could be seen sitting in the crater that Ji-Soon's explosion had created.

"Level 1 deployment, guard technique: Warden's Emblem." 

Ji-Soon released his technique, allowing the solid walls to crumble into tiny rainbow shards.

"What an outrageous attack!" came a voice from behind the dust. "You could have killed the both of us if you were just a little quicker. I guess you were fooling around the whole time." 

Ji-Soon peered through the fading cloud of particles; his senses were sharpened and his focus narrowed. In the aftermath of the explosion, the outline of Decker's body became visible. But in an instant, Decker vanished.

"Huh? I thought he was a defensive type; how did he move that fast?" He thought to himself. Ji-Soon quickly surveyed the environment, scanning every slight movement that could hint at Decker's position; however, his eyes widened as he began to see multiple silhouettes dancing behind the blanket of dust. Decker was mirage-like as he moved, leaving only a remnant of his whereabouts. 

Using the dust cloud as a cover, Decker left shadows of himself behind nature's curtains of dirt. 

Ji-Soon felt as though his surroundings became weightless and gossamer-fragile, its ghostly scarves wrapping around him with anticipation, pumping adrenaline into his scattered mind. 

"Afterimages? That can't be." Then suddenly, it occurred to him—the reason why Decker kept babbling about his impenetrable defence. 'It wasn't only to show off, but it was also to deceive people, making them think he's just a stereotypical meathead jock with only brawls but no brains.' Ji-Soon's monologue was cut short as he noticed a shadow appearing from above. 

"Up here, asshole!" Decker shouted as he dove straight down towards Ji-Soon, catching him completely off guard. 

Reacting with lightning reflexes, Ji-Soon summoned a small shield just in time to block Decker's attack, which resulted in a loud collision. Sweat began streaming down Ji-Soon's face, as did sparks, bursting out like fireworks. Their standoff held, a testament to the raw strength each possessed.

"Let me pay you back for what you did just then. Since you're in a hurry to your death, allow me to send you there myself." Decker jeered as his fist was slowly pried further into the dented shield. 

The impact of Decker's presence above Ji-Soon increased as seconds passed, and his feet began to sink into the earth; he could feel the weight behind Decker's strike beginning to crush his virtual body. At the last second, he altered the angle of his shield with gritted teeth, causing Decker's gauntlet to slip off before Ji-Soon returned a powerful upward slam to his opponent's head. The strike sent the armoured adversary stumbling back, though Ji-Soon knew it had done little damage. He could see Decker's health bar above his username; he'd only lost a pixel of health.

Decker hunched down in front of Ji-Soon, dropping both of his arms to the side before unleashing a roaring aura and changing the shape of his body. "Did you think you could beat me when it comes to speed? Thinking that I'm just a pile of rocks and an easy target to hit is your greatest mistake." Decker spat as his body continued a frightening transformation. 

A protective shell made of azure armour snaked over his body, covering him like a second skin. It writhed and coiled as if it were a living thing; like it was trying to possess its owner. His back sprouted a terrifying metallic spinal protrusion that blended in with his body. The mask that he first daunted changed its appearance, altering its shape to resemble a demon of sorts with fangs and horns piercing through the shell. He stood as a symbol of unrelenting force and an unstoppable juggernaut.

"Level 1 deployment, amplification technique, Weeping Path: blue."

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"Hey! What the hell are you doing? You're going to kill the guy if you do that!" Junyo yelled from the forest's edge.

"Shut up and stay out of this!" Decker retaliated before getting ready to launch an attack. His arm let out an eerie, metallic clank as it continued to coil before pulsing violently out of his frame. His blue-armored form melded seamlessly with his body. 

'Tick, tick, tick.' The intricate machine besides Ji-Soon let out a clicking sound, like turning gears and picking up speed slowly. A discrete whirr could be heard as the gears smoothly interlocked, their teeth gliding across one another with deliberate ease.

"Level 4 deployment, rush technique: Twin Corba!" Ji-Soon whispered before conjuring two dual uzis in his hand. He pointed the barrels at Decker's iron throat. "Last chance, asshole. Take those words back and apologise to everyone right now. Before I put some holes in your body." 

"Woah! Hey, Kang, calm down! If you use a skill with a high level of deployment, it will hit all of us." Kazami warned him from afar. However, Ji-Soon stood firm without any response, refusing to take his sights away from Decker.

"Stop yapping, you punks. You think you can flatline me? Well, think again, dumbass! You'll pay for that condescending attitude of yours." Decker persisted, not giving in to his opponent's threats. 

"Fine, have it your way," Ji-Soon muttered, beginning his attack. 

"Wait! Stop! You'll hit everyone." Junyo panicked as he grabbed hold of his right arm to activate his Leere. 

"AHHH! Fucking hell! We're going to die because of these idiots!" Emiko screamed as she dropped and rolled to the ground.

Tang-Ji and Emiko were swiftly picked up by Kazami, who put both of them on his shoulders. Just before the bullets could reach them, Kazami launched their bodies into the air while simultaneously grabbing hold of them to catapult himself away from the crossfire. At the same time, Kompto quickly took hold of Ukiyo's hand and sprang up onto a tree branch using a small explosion, bringing Ukiyo up with him.

As the gunfire tore through the air and reverberated across the area, bullets started to reach the boundaries of the woodland. Ji-Soon was flabbergasted to see Decker dancing between the barrage of bullets with such fluidity and accuracy. Not a single shot connected with its target, despite the persistent attack. 

Ji-Soon continued to mow down the once-peaceful forest as he directed his crosshairs at his intended target. Branches from shattered and crushed trees were scattered throughout the landscape like twisted corpses. The heated encounter left its marks on the woodland's edge, which had previously been a colourful tapestry of life.

"It looks like a skill issue here. You ain't ever hitting me with your shitty aim." Decker continued, provoking Ji-Soon while simultaneously avoiding the raging shot.

Bullet-riddled trunks bore witness to the ferocity of Ji-Soon's initial onslaught. The bark had been stripped away, leaving the wood raw and exposed. Leaves and twigs lay scattered, torn from their rightful place by the sheer force of the bullets. Even the earth itself was pockmarked, bearing the scar of impact from the hailstorm of lead. The stench of gunpowder has now completely filled the air. 

Decker's fast movements shook the surface of the ground, bringing him closer as he left behind small imprints with each step. The grass under his feet was flattened and wilted with every gunshot he managed to avoid. The very air appeared to tremble due to the two overwhelming strengths clashing against each other as they continued their intense struggle.

Ji-Soon was becoming aware that his assault had been ineffective thus far. Whenever the dust vaguely cleared with each bullet lining, he could momentarily catch a glimpse of a blue trail—an afterimage created by Decker due to his incredible speed. Even worse, Decker was unharmed, displaying a still-fresh, green health gauge above Ji-Soon's vision. Not only that, he was slowly closing the gap at an alarming rate, which gave Ji-Soon no other choice but to ramp up the intensity of his attacks.

"Level 5 deployment, amplification technique: Tempest Fury Act II" 

"Level 5 deployment, rush technique: Vorpal Sentinel"

Ji-Soon muttered under his breath, simultaneously casting two skills. 

As time went on, the clicking from Ji-Soon's Leere quickened in pace, and the tempo of Slot Bursts accelerated with an almost anticipatory urgency. The machine's gear-turning sounds began sounding more like a rhythmic symphony of mechanical perfection than a war machine. Each revolution produced a staccato rhythm that pierced the air while puncturing the battlefield with piercings, metallic clangs, and shrieks. 

Small turrets began emerging from the intricate contraption's sides, blooming like the petals of a mystical flower. These turrets bore an enchanting glow, their surfaces etched with swirling patterns that seemed to ripple with magical energy. He momentarily stopped to reload the chamber on both of his guns as he threw away all rationality. Without a second of hesitation, a lethal hailstorm of bullets was unleashed by Ji-Soon, spraying out in all directions as he disregarded everyone around him. 

'This bastard! He increased the fire rate; what kind of Leere is that?' Decker thought with a hint of panic. "It seems like a defensive type from how he was able to block all my enhanced blows. Yet it feels like I'm facing an offensive Leere." Decker was becoming hesitant to get any closer; however, he knew he had no other choice. 'Shit! My armour plating's getting torn apart! I have to finish him with my next attack.' Decker thought to himself while throwing glances to the upper left side of his vision, noticing that his health bar was slowly going into the yellow zone 

The limit of Decker's evasive abilities had been reached. His armoured body was slowly beginning to be riddled with holes, while others barely missed him as he continued to swirl and dove away from the hail storm. He kept moving forward, unfazed by the assault, as his health finally fell into the yellow zone. 

"Level 5 deployment, rush technique: Blue Nova Surge!" The gauntlet on Decker's right arm began to glow intensely with a deep blue light. With only a few metres away, Decker plunged forward into Ji-Soon's relentless stream of bullets. 

However, before the blow could connect, a blinding flash of light erupted behind them. A chaotic dance of jagged tendrils honed in, each one tinged with a vivid azure hue. Waves of electricity manifested as a volatile, crackling maelstrom of bluish-white arcs enclosed Decker's armoured body. His Leere became undone as a result of the surprise attack, forcing his blue armour to break into cystaline fragments as his body crashed down onto the ground

"Level 3 deployment, deconstruction technique: Voltarian Pulse." 

At the same time, another skill was also called forth. 

"Level 2 deployment, guard technique: Zephyr Veil."

Swiftly after the skill was used, a howling gale wall appeared right between Ji-Soon and Decker. Bullets rushed towards the barrier, only to be met by an impenetrable force. They shattered into a spray of hot sparks upon impact, and their speed was brutally stopped.

Ji-Soon fell onto his knees due to exhaustion, and Decker was now paralysed by an unknown force.

"Are you two done bickering at each other's throat?" An angry voice suddenly came from behind them.