Betrayal

Hikaru couldn't escape from the hold and could not absorb Botan as the black shell holding him was breaking down at an extremely slow pace.

Suddenly the pressure disappeared. Surprised, Hikaru looked at him.

Botan was still glaring at him with wide eyes but he seemed to have frozen.

He was dead.

Hikaru was still held in the air in Botan's grip. For the first time, he held respect for his opponent. Botan had fought until his last breath, not even realising his death. If it wasn't for the fact that Botan's body contained a powerful ability, he would have left it alone.

Before Hikaru slipped out, a bullet flew into the side of his head before he could react in time. Hikaru's head rattled from the knockback of the bullet and at the same time, Botan's body collapsed with his hands still wrapped around Hikaru.

From atop a roof 100 metres away, a cyborg flew with jet flames coming out of his feet and hands and then landed nearby.

As Hikaru was in Botan's dead grasp, his body stayed vertical with his head hanging down and his long hair covering his face.

Earlier the cyborg had bright blue rings separating the black pupils from the whites in his eyes. Now they were replaced with yellow rings. His glowing yellow eyes gazed at Hikaru's neck.

Although he was watching the finale of their fight from afar and was sure that it was Hikaru, to be certain, his forefinger opened and tilted itself at a 90-degree angle.

A sharp silver metallic micro scoop protruded from the opening in the finger and with it, he scratched Hikaru's neck.

The micro scoop retracted and his forefinger returned to its original position.

After running the DNA test, it came back positive. There was no doubt that it was Hikaru Suteki. This was the target. If Hikaru is erased now, many lives would be saved.

The time machine sent him back 180 days into the past, which was the current limit of the prototype.

The cyborg noticed that the scratch he made on Hikaru's neck was healing.

*Ding*

A copper coloured bullet fell and rolled on the ground to the cyborg's feet.

When he looked up, Hikaru was gone.

When he started looking around, Hikaru landed on the ground some distance away from him. The bullet hole in Hikaru's head was gone as if it never existed.

The cyborg wasn't surprised as he already has data on Hikaru and knew about his regenerative powers. Hikaru on the other hand was wary and narrowed his eyes.

At first, he thought that the young adult with the blond pompadour hairstyle was a parasite because of his glowing yellow eyes and black arms, but on a closer inspection, the black arms were made of metal and not of the same rocky substance found on Botan's arms.

Also, the guy in front of him radiated an inhuman aura but not like a predator, more like a destructive weapon.

Yes, like a nuclear bomb.

"You're a cyborg?"

"... Yes." There was some metallic echo in his voice that made it sound a bit robotic, but it was in the background so he still sounded mostly human.

A cyborg is part human and robot. Hikaru figured that even if secret military technology was a century ahead, it would still take centuries more to create a fully autonomous AI as that was very difficult. It was easier to make a cyborg.

"You look like a robot to me."

The cyborg didn't reply.

"Then what makes you human?"

The cyborg was quiet for a moment and then answered.

"If you're trying to bait information out of me. That won't work."

"Hoh," Hikaru grunted in a slightly amused tone.

Hikaru was trying to find his weak points through this conversation. He tried provoking his humanity but that didn't work.

"When a cunning opponent meets a much stronger adversary, it will use such tactics to find an advantage to win. However, that won't work on me."

"Why's that?"

"Because not only am I stronger, I'm also smarter than you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is." He replied with no hesitation whatsoever.

It was starting to get on Hikaru's nerves but he remained calm. Although confidence wasn't the most accurate indicator of strength, there must be a reason for it. The cyborg in front of him acted as if it knew him.

Hikaru smiled to which the cyborg stared back expressionlessly as if its' face was a Noh mask. Perhaps its face wasn't capable of making expressions.

"What's your name?"

"Mega."

"Then, Mega,"

Mega's expression twisted in disgust.

'Hm? A negative reaction to me calling his name, is it because I'm a parasite or is it personal? I wouldn't forget someone as distinctive as him. Did I kill someone related to him?'

"What was your reason for attacking me?"

Mega remained silent. After a while, he spoke.

"I'm from the future."

Hikaru didn't say anything.

"In the future, we fought alongside the rebel faction of the parasites, the liberated they called themselves. You were the leader. 180 days from now, after we took down the enemy's mothership, you betrayed us. At the same time, we uncovered the truth about you, that many lives were taken by your hands.

"Using Doctor Keno's prototype time machine, I was sent here to destroy you. It isn't personal."

"There's a possibility that I was brainwashed by the enemy. Perhaps the enemy leader faked their death and used me as a distraction. Why don't you watch over me to make sure that doesn't happen? If you're really from the future then a lot of lives can be saved if we work together."

"It is impossible for us to work together. You've killed innocent people before infiltrating the mothership."

"It's possible that the brainwashing occurred before the raid. To plant a spy in your ranks."

"I rather die than work with you."

Hints of anger radiated from his tone of voice.

Hikaru disappeared from his spot.

Mega's eyes scanned the area.

Then Hikaru appeared behind Mega with his fist curled up in the air.

"Then die." He said solemnly.

Mega disappeared in front of Hikaru and then he heard a voice from behind.

"Too slow."

Mega stood behind him with his palm outstretched pointing at Hikaru's back. His arm power up and flames erupted from the incinerator hole in his palm.