Intoxicating

“He doesn’t seem particularly restricted to the amount of times he can snap yet.” — Vitrolica regenerates instantly. — “But rather is physically limited to his human body. An average person can snap their fingers three times a second. Six times considering both hands. But this last move showed me that he is not an average person. If he can snap his fingers 6 or 7 times per second, then I have to worry about 12 to 15 attacks for every second I approach him.”

Dashing through the village, Vitrolica hides between some buildings and dodges certain blasts. On the 9th snap, Vitrolica’s leg twists until it bursts, causing her to fall. And a tenth snap destroys her torso and explodes her back. Giving Imperium more time to breath.

“It is no coincidence that his power is linked to a motion he is particularly fast at it. My first though is that he trained to be this fast. No one would bet their life on this type of action, especially during combat, except if you had no option. I guess this was the only method he had to conjure his VSS once he became a Searcher.”

Still with her body reforming, with her guts dragging out and exposed skull, Vitrolica faces Imperium once again. With the sounds of the snapping fingers, followed by an even louder and crushing sounds of the accelerated spins destroying the dirt and the buildings. Coming from the left, Vitrolica gets caught in 10th snap.

“Regardless, this impractical method is what gave him enough power to kill my brothers and what maybe even be his method of destroying me. Unfortunately for you, little searcher, I cannot be taken down so easily!

On another rush, Vitrolica gets caught in the 11th snap. Due to the stress, Imperium’s power become more violent, twisting her entire head like a balloon until it explodes.

“I admit this might be easier said then done. Although I don’t have to worry about being killed by one or two snaps, if he unleashes more and more power, I worry about how my body will react to a near infinite level of centrifugal force, or something beyond that even…”

Grabbing her cross on the path to Imperium, she dodges twelve snaps and swings against Imperium. Caught in the 13th, she gets exploded into a crater, some twenty meters deep below ground.

“My condition of victory is to hit him before he can kill me momentarily. Through might or venom, I only need one attack to land while he needs to keep his focus game up indefinitely. Here, my mistakes don’t matter. But his does!!! AND HE WILL FALTER!!! SOONER OR LATER!!! I can overcome your plague!!!”

From within the crater Imperium hears Vitrolica laugh. The boy takes a step back and falls, feeling his legs go limp. His pink and blue hair was so sweaty it heavily stuck to his forehead and sides. His lips were chapped, and his fingers were getting ragged and crusted. The constant snapping was one thing that made his hands sore but the flow of power that came through his forearms and out his fingers with every use of his VSS was staggering him.

His only thought was that his friend, Vitrolica, must be defeated. He had no plan as to how but knew it would be of enormous difficulty. His only imminent action was to keep the Guugs safe and Vitrolica away. Maybe someone would come in and cleanse him of his burdens.

Trying to cool off his heating body, Atticus feels great difficulty in just clenching his trembling hands. Some relief comes to him, as no Guugs are seen or even heard near that suddenly and extremely desolate area. But that relief is short lived as Vitrolica is seen walking towards him. Fully regenerated.

— Vitrolica…

— Atticus.

Starring at one another.

— Don’t —

— METHOD DEVELOPMENT!!!

Vitrolica swings down her demon cross. The sheer impact of her mighty arms against the dirt causes and earthquake tremor that causes Imperium lose the aim of his VSS.

— WITHERING RITUAL PALACE!!!

A cloud-like tumor flows from her into the dirt and swells, infecting the mountain side like a giant living cancer. The ground waves and swells around him before exploding, creating massive pillars of poison and energized death that destroyed and wiped out an entire region in Depth Two. Thankfully, the Guugs were already by the border to Depth One.

But Imperium was caught in the blast and sent to heaven. He then later dropped unto the ground, breaking a few bones in his arm and shoulder. The boy was bloody and mangled. His hair was stained, and his skin was ragged and blistered, much like his Searcher uniform.

The scenery of doomsday around Atticus was of pink flames and blackened smoky sky. Vitrolica, surrounded by yellow energy, walked through the ruins and rubble, resting the cross on her shoulder.

— Tough, tough luck, Atticus.

His nostrils were also filled with blood, prohibiting him from breathing normally. With half closed eyes and wavering conscience he sees that slender and creeping figure approach him. There was no hope of defeating her. Franchise and Evangelist defeated Green because of their experience, wits, and planning. Ragnarok and Juice defeated Kruger because of their resilience, strength, and teamwork. But Imperium not only had nobody, he was nobody.

— Hehehe… I can sense Ejo’s presence… He’s here!! He finally arrived in this forsaken continent. You’re done! You and you’re buddies are DONE!

Vitrolica laughs, while Imperium squirms on the floor.

— I can see your innards, Atticus… — She inhales his scent deeply. — Your muscles are so worn out you can even lift a finger against me!

The boy’s consciousness fades between the smell of burn dirt and pungent blood. His only option was to face the earth in which he laid in. Vitrolica plants the cross on the dirt next to her and kneels in front of her friend.

— But I am surprised you made it out of that one. How do you feel right now? Tired huh? It’s because you’re poisoned. Did you know that? That you’re dying from poison? Yeah, hehehe… all the energy I harvest is poisonous.

Imperium coughed, trying to clear his throat somewhat. Vitrolica grabs him by the hair and lifts him up, to get a clear look at his face and exhausted expression. His right eye was swell closed, but tears could still be seen flowing down and mixing with the bloody crust and septic injuries.

— Aww… don’t cry Atticus. Listen, it’s just the way things are. You were born like this, so you have to die. Is what Ejo wanted for you people. You and your disgusting race.

Vitrolica tightens her hold on his hair, aggressively swaying his head back and forth.

— You miserable, weak, sad, worthless, stupid, waste of space, worm, good for nothing rat, degenerate, UNWANTED HUMAN BEING!!

Vitrolica slams his head against the floor breaking his nose in the process.

— YOU’RE SO SAD!!

Vitrolica smears his head on the dirt.

— YOU’RE PROBABLY WAITING TO BE RESCUED BECAUSE YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING ON YOUR OWN!! YOU’RE THE WORST ATTICUS!! YOU’RE THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT MAKES EVERYONE TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROBLEMS, RIGHT?! YOU’RE ONE OF THOSE PARASITES, RIGHT?!

She spits on him and lifts him up, his face was getting worse by the second, but he was still awake to be punished by the Anti-Human’s words.

— But I still like you. You’re gross like me. That’s why we’re such good friends.

Atticus was incapable of answering back, only muttering and groaning incoherently.

— What if me and Ejo kill everyone else but you? You can be our new little brother, and everything would be great! I’m sure he would let it happen!!

With her left hand, Vitrolica puts her thumb in the boys mouth.

— What do you say? Doesn’t that just make you wanna smile?

Pulling his cheek to the side, her excessive force tears the right corner of his mouth. And like ripping a line through a plastic case, her thumb comes off the other side of his face, near the boy’s ear and jawline.

— Anti-Human Vitrolica!!

Looking around the desolated area, Vitrolica finds a new enemy Searcher. With regular black uniform and some strange blue bandages all over her body. Captain of The Ballada, her name was Brenda Summers, also known as, Killerkill. And her emerald glare was a furious one. She also had a blue flask on her hip.