HOTD part 4: STAND PROUD.

"talking"

[System]

<thoughts>

*actions*

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Akashi was floating in the gap watching John and his team lying on the ground.

Kevin had a deep bullet hole in his shoulder that almost reached his neck.

Akiko was putting her hands on Kevin as some light was healing him but it seemed something was making the recovery slow down.

Akio leaned on the wall as he held his sword while he was sweating.

Rebecca was lying on the ground as she looked very tried even Akashi felt her mental power is very weak now.

John was next to Akio as he was looking at the window above him as if he was trying to look for something.

Akashi started to observe the room trying to understand the situation.

"they have being attacked considering this the school and the apocalypse just started it must be the other team players" Akashi said before he looked at walls.

"bullets holes and from their shape and the reactions of this team the attacker must be a sniper or someone with a long-distance attack skill that resemble bullets" Akashi said.

"this probably my fault they got attacked ...should I feel happy for helping me here or angry for almost ruining my plans" Akashi frowned as he looked at Kevin.

"that guy almost died from the look on his face...he probably got saved by someone, but those wounds" Akashi said as he activated the energy manipulation skill to check on Kevin wounds.

"this energy it almost like poison. it stopping every attempt to recover his wounds except the physical way" Akashi said as he wanted to check more, but Rebecca raised her head in confusion so Akashi stopped his skill.

"that Rebecca...she must have a skill or talent in perception maybe she the one that saved him" Akashi said as they started talking.

"the wounds won't heal up" Akiko said as she started to get tired from healing Kevin.

"...it must be some kind of skill... or this is the weapon effect" Kevin said as he was feeling pain from his injuries.

"don't move too much... Akiko use items that don't waste a lot of energy" Akio said.

"yes" Akiko grabbed some bandages and healing points as she started to put them on Kevin wounds.

"are you okay there Rebecca" John asked as he was worried about, but she just turned her head away before talking.

"I am fine it just I can't use my danger prediction talent anymore more" Rebecca said with a weak voice.

"This put us in a big disadvantage" John said as Akio rolled his eyes.

"of course it will, but when did they know our location" Akio said.

"...they knew it from the start" John said after being silent for a while as his team even Akashi in gap looked at him.

"The attackers must have some kind of sonar skill and he was watching all our movements the whole time but he didn't plan to take action until that message arrived" John said as he opened his game interface.

"Hisashi Igou joined the protagonist team" John said as Kevin that started to get better looked at him.

"who is this Hisashi Igou?" Kevin asked John.

"according to the information we have he seems to be a friend of the protagonist, but he got killed very early" John said.

"This information is rarely mentioned because new players don't have means to meet the protagonist in the rooftop" John said Kevin was confused.

"why?" Kevin said as Akio looked at him.

"new players usually start the mission after the apocalypse hit so they can't just run through zombies directly and with a fast speed without wasting energy just to meet the protagonist in the rooftop" Akio said.

"without some special abilities like teleportation you can't just arrive in time" John said.

"enough with the lesson. who do you think caused this" Rebecca asked.

"This deviation in the plot can only be caused by a player that knows the destiny very well...it can't be the enemy team as from this attack they seem to be also surprised so that leave just one person" John said as he frowned.

"you mean him?" Kevin asked with a frown.

"who else could it be" John said as Akio nodded.

"that guy is smart and very good in playing with people emotions...he must have caused this to create another conflict" John said.

"although I really want to keep this discussion, but what are we going to do" Rebecca said as Akiko also nodded.

"you are right, but the problem is" John said as he moved his hand and threw his book into the air.

the book stayed for only a second in the air before it been shot by two bullets that came from nowhere.

the bullets were invisible and without any sound except when they hit there target.

"This kind of weapon or skill is very dangerous" John said.

"the bullets almost don't exist also the shooter must be able to control their directions during the flight even mental energy is hidden...almost a perfect assassination weapon" Akio said while clutching his katana.

"without Rebecca danger perception we were going to get killed without even knowing what happens to us" Akio looked at Rebecca and said.

"well I have a plan" John said as everyone looked at him.

"The enemy must have a heat sensor of some kind so I will use these two items" said John as he took something like a ball and a screen.

"This ball will create an illusion that the heat in the room still the same and this one will make images that nothing moved so we can move freely" John said as everyone nodded.

"can you move Kevin?" John said as Kevin nodded.

John put down the ball as he activated it before he used the screen.

John raised his hand near the window but no bullet came as he nodded before asking his team to move.

Akashi in the gap looked at John and his team escaping the classroom as he was lost in thoughts.

"hidden sniper...very skilled and almost never miss" Akashi thought as he looked at John team images in the room.

<those invisible bullets are really tricky...I can't even sense anything when they coming and with directions changing this take it to the hell level> Akashi thought as he rubbed his hair.

<even funny valentine with his D4C can't stop an invisible bullet that almost doesn't exist from killing him without love train> Akashi looked at the window as he frowned.

<it must be me affecting the story so much they decided to act now and kill this team and the protagonist with them> Akashi thought.

<the sniper is hidden so well making it very hard to track him down> Akashi thought while looking at John team running from the classroom.

<dammit...I planned so much about the protagonist and this team...*sigh*...it seems I have to give up th-> Akashi didn't finish his words as he felt his eyes starting to hurts.

Akashi stood in his place without any sound or movement for a while as his eyes were glowing.

suddenly Akashi moved as he punched himself directly in the face.

"I needed that" Akashi said as he raised his head with cold and stubborn eyes.

"I was just now telling a girl to be strong but here I am...acting this pathetically" Akashi started to laugh at himself.

"giving up...funny valentine D4C" Akashi smile disappeared at this moment.

"I can't even believe I thought about giving up or losing to them" Akashi said as his fists clutched almost starting to bleed.

"almost breaking a promise that I swore not just for myself but for the person I cared about the most" Akashi said with anger that was directed towards himself.

"giving up or losing aren't an option for me no matter what the situation" Akashi said as his eyes glowed more.

"I killed, stole, and even played with people minds and feeling just for what...giving up here and moving backward?" Akashi said.

"funny valentine D4C can't do it" Akashi said.

"well I am not valentine nor this D4C is his... this a part of my soul now...my D4C" Akashi said without noticing that the arrow tattoo in his hand started to glow.

"why I must limit myself by that guy" Akashi laughed at himself as his expression started to get serious.

"I will never accept to be second of anyone even compare myself to him because... I will surpass everything" Akashi said as he started to move inside the gap upwards.

"be it valentine or anybody out there" Akashi said as blue aura started to increase on his body and the arrow glowed more brightly.

"whoever oppose me...I will destroy him no matter who he is" Akashi said as he reached the rooftop.

"the same goes for this sniper" Akashi said as he closed his eyes.

"I know you can hear me" Akashi said as he was talking to the air.

"I don't know why you chose to protect me or even helping me sometimes" Akashi said as his blue aura and arrow glowed even more.

Akashi started to remember everything that happened after he got D4C.

"I know you have your own consciousness but you still chose to help me" Akashi said as he reached the edge of the roof.

Akashi remembered every time D4C acted on his own to protect him.

"I now order you...no, as a part of myself you can't be ordered...so I ask you" Akashi said as the arrow started to get very bright almost illuminating the place.

"to be my eyes" Akashi said as his aura started to transform with every word he said.

the aura around his head formed an unclear head as it shadowed Akashi head.

the head has long upright horns and it was baby blue color with pink spots.

"and to be my ears" Akashi said as the head became more visible as it has a masked mandible and it was stitched together like a baseball with eyes that emit a cold gaze.

"I will even give my body to you now" Akashi said as his whole body aura transformed into a baby blue color body that covered in armor and two pink spots in its shoulders.

"so if you chose to protect me and to be my stand" Akashi said as he created a flag and exited the gap.

"I will trust you" Akashi said some words he never dreamed of saying as his blue aura transformed completely into D4C shadowing his body.

"after all...we stand together don't we?...D4C" Akashi said as the arrow glowed even more while waiting for the bullet to arrive.

even if Akashi didn't feel or see the bullet, but he know that it was there. the invisible bullet resembled Akashi weakness at the moment completely invisible like the fate that forsaken him.

for Akashi this isn't just about winning or losing now. it about if he can overcome his weakness and move forward without any fear or hesitation.

after a moment Akashi felt pain in his forehead as he opened his eyes and saw his hand covered with D4C catching a bullet that almost touched his skin without causing a big injury except bleeding from scratch.

D4C moved Akashi hand at that moment on his own avoiding Akashi death and protecting him in the process.

Akashi felt at this moment as some limit or a barrier has been removed from himself and D4C as the arrow glowed to the maximum.

[the source arrow third effect is activated] the game sounded in Akashi head, but he didn't care.

instinctively Akashi sensed what left from the mental energy on the bullet before it disappeared locating the sniper as he connected D4C to the energy location.

"D4C!!!" with Akashi scream blue light flashed as he disappeared from the from the rooftop avoiding two other bullets without him even been... between two objects.

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