Chapter 28: Rooftop
Despite my rigorous routine, ascending the stairs proved to be a daunting challenge. Sweat dripped from my brow as I propelled myself upwards with determination. Time was of the essence; any delay could allow the enemy to slip away. I couldn't afford even the briefest pause, lest they gain precious moments to flee.
My clothes cling to me, soaked with sweat as I glance at the wall, marking the daunting climb ahead: five more floors to conquer. Even in pursuit of vengeance, challenges abound, and I hadn't anticipated the resilience of this seasoned CEO. Regret gnaws at me; perhaps I should have equipped myself with greater firepower, enabling a swift and decisive resolution to the task at hand.
The situation intensifies my frustration. Troy and the others have glimpsed my face, heightening the urgency to prevent their escape. Heart racing and sweat stinging my eyes, I halt on the eighth floor, desperate for a moment's respite. Glancing at my watch, I note the time: six in the evening, the day slipping away as swiftly as my chance to apprehend them.
I radioed Ludwig urgently, seeking an update on the situation: "What's the sitrep?"
"Ludwig reported grimly, "Not good, sir. Local SWAT teams are en route, and the building has been sealed from the outside."
As my body regained composure, I responded to him calmly, inquiring, "What's the status on the exfiltration?"
"Ludwig responded promptly, "The quadcopter is en route, ETA forty minutes!"
In frustration, I exclaimed, "Quadcopter?!" Shocked, I questioned further, "Why is my transport delayed?"
"Ludwig explained, "Sir, most of our transport fleet is undergoing maintenance, and we're barely managing with whatever is airworthy."
"Fantastic," I muttered in frustration before terminating the transmission.
Feeling refreshed after a brief rest, I resolved to resume my ascent. Inhaling deeply, I steadied my breath before picking up pace up the stairs. Five floors remained, and I was determined to close in on my prey.
As I reached the eighth floor, I was surprised when three automated combat robots appeared. The robots looked like they were on hunter mode. I evaded their attacks on time as they began to shoot their guns. Looks like these robots were not kidding. I guess it's time to use my summon! I concentrated my thoughts and yelled, "Summon!"
A towering armored troll, standing at an imposing seven feet tall, materialized before the robots. Despite the relentless barrage of gunfire, the troll's thick armor effortlessly deflected the bullets. With a ferocious roar, the troll unleashed its fury upon the robots, rendering them as helpless as paper in its path. The cacophony of clanking metal and tearing parts echoed through the floor as the troll asserted its dominance.
The system materialized and proceeded to tally the count,
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5 seconds until the cooldown starts!
FP to be released 200 points!
[200/450 FP total]
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After a five-second interval, I swiftly closed in on the last remaining robot near the ledge. Gripping its leg firmly, I hoisted it over the edge and released it from my grasp. Given the robot's weight of nearly 250 lbs, it posed little challenge for me to lift. The resounding clang of metal reverberated as the robot crashed to the ground level below.
As I ascended the stairs, my pace slowed, the anticipation of nearing my objective heightening with each step. Upon reaching the tenth floor, I retrieved my concealed weapon and meticulously loaded it with ammunition. Attempting to open the door, I found it stubbornly locked. Focusing my concentration on the door, I harnessed my magnetism to dislodge it.
As I pressed onward, the FP counter steadily increased from twenty focus points to one hundred. Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead as I concentrated intently. It required immense focus to dismantle the door's hinges, but eventually, it relented. Behind it, heavy boxes obstructed the passage, explaining why the metal door had proven so resistant.
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Magnetism level 4
Mastery 3
Focus Points Used: 150
Cool down: 50 seconds
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I took a moment to rest, patiently waiting for fifty seconds to pass. Sensing the residual weight in my head as the cooldown continued, I leaned against the wall and glanced outside. My eyes caught sight of a quadcopter on standby, while Troy and his team tended to the injured CEO. Despite his apparent serious condition, they diligently administered first aid, their actions reflecting their dedication to their leader.
"I cannot let them escape! Engage the enemies on the rooftop." I commanded my snipers.
"Negative sir, no clear view of the target!" the sniper replied.
"Do what you must! Disable the pilot, or anything to prevent their escape!" I shouted back.
As an enemy mercenary ascended, precise sniper fire swiftly neutralized him. A shot to the head brought him down instantly. Another round struck the cockpit, though I couldn't discern the outcome—whether the pilot was eliminated or merely injured.
Following the cooldown, my burdened mind felt refreshed, and the FP counter reset to zero. As I focused on utilizing my new skill, a warning prompt appeared.
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Are you sure you would like to use this new skill? [y/n]
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With a triumphant yell, electricity began to envelop my body, forming straight horizontal and vertical lines. Focusing intensely, I aligned both lines to converge at the center, forming a cross. Raising my left arm, I positioned it at the center of the cross.
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Railgun activation in...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
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The metal door collapsed, contorting into a spherical shape charged with electricity. Before me, the ground crackled with potent electric currents, causing my hair to stand on end from the static charge. Utilizing my magnetism skill, I manipulated the electricity to generate a magnetic field, stabilizing the spherical metal structure formed from the door.
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Railgun...
Activated!
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"I yelled, "Release!!!"
The metal sphere surged forward propelled by a potent magnetic force, tearing through the heavy boxes obstructing my path. My head throbbed as I heard the FP counter chime, 250/450 FP."
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Cooldown in 1 minute!
FP will be released afterwards!
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Cursing under my breath, I pressed against the wall. I couldn't afford to be slowed down by these side effects. Hastening was imperative; otherwise, the enemy might slip away!
Leaning on the wall for support, I cautiously moved forward, activating the harden skin ability despite the toll it took on my head. Ignoring the discomfort, I gradually emerged and spotted Troy, Trevor, and the others on the helipad. Catching sight of me, Trevor swiftly ushered the CEO into the quadcopter.
Troy seized his revolver and fired at my chest. Thanks to my hardened skin, the bullets bounced off harmlessly, the impact barely registering against my protected flesh. "Is that the best you can do?" I taunted Troy.
"You're quite something, aren't you?" Troy remarked.
"Indubitably." I boasted, revealing my concealed pistol.
"That little toy won't do much harm to me," Troy boasted, firing another shot.
"It's not about the size." I retorted, closing the distance between us.
Emerging from the quadcopter with the CEO's safety as his priority, Trevor's daughter remained outside, witnessing the unfolding events. Catching sight of me, Trevor flashed a smile and called out, "Long time no see, Dory!"
I taunted him, recalling our last encounter and sneered, "I still remember how you wet your pants!" A vivid memory of him peeing himself during our previous confrontation flashed through my mind.
"That was unfortunate, but no need to fret! I've got some company here to keep you busy," Trevor assured, as two figures clad in white gear resembling plastic armor appeared beside him.
They raised their weapons and positioned themselves in front of Trevor. "Looks like I'm not the only one with a trick up my sleeve!" Trevor remarked, diverting his attention and making his way towards the quadcopter.
I opened fire on Troy and Trevor as they made their way to their escape vehicle. Much to my astonishment, the two figures skillfully deflected the bullets, effortlessly slicing them through the air. Their swift reaction caught me off guard. Falling back, I gathered projectiles from my surroundings and launched them at my adversaries.
Once again, the enemy effortlessly sliced through my attacks and closed in on me. With my Focus Points replenished, I unleashed torrents of lightning at the advancing foe, only for them to effortlessly dodge my onslaught.
"Damn it!" I cursed, narrowly avoiding a slashing attack from one of my adversaries clad in white armor.
I leaped five meters back, only to realize I was trapped in a corner. The two wielded their bladed weapons, emanating a faint red glow. These weren't your average assassins.
As I grappled with the two assailants, the CEO's daughter hurried towards the quadcopter, with Troy close behind. Meanwhile, Trevor taunted me, jeering, "Is that the best you can muster, Dory!?" His laughter echoed loudly. "If you're proving a challenge for Cypher Ops, we should have called for backup sooner!" With a smirk, Trevor boarded the quadcopter, and the rotors whirred to life as the pilot revved the engines from within the cockpit.
In a desperate attempt to thwart their getaway, I urgently radioed my snipers, commanding, "TARGET THE PILOT!"
"Sir, we're experiencing visual interference in your vicinity. We're unable to obtain a clear line of sight on the target," the snipers replied.
Upon hearing this, frustration surged through me, and I clenched my teeth in aggravation. There had to be a solution to bring down that quadcopter! Yet, the two adversaries before me stood as my most formidable obstacle. I had to dispatch them swiftly before turning my attention to the quadcopter.