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Chapter 553: Fell Gibson

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Gibson felt a cold hand touch his nape.

He was about to make a jump towards an open area but decided to stop and look around.

True enough, his years of experience made him aware that he was being watched and just as he turned his head towards the third three on his left side, he saw a SpyCam looking at him from a gap between two thick branches.

His face turned into a smile, “Genius indeed.”

One second later, he pulled out his handgun and shot the SpyCam, destroying it, and then running off to where he calculated Rex Kingsley would be at about 300 meters or so away.

*****

“He’s good.” Rex said and tucked away the pen-tablet console back to his thigh pocket.

Rex looked around him and finished setting up his trap. Unlike his earlier hidden traps, this was a controlled trap that could be activated by his own hands once the target was closer.

He ran behind a boulder with the Garrote Wire in his hand then placed the rifle in a waiting position, ready to pull the trigger as soon as the target was in sight.

The boulder itself wasn’t even in a proper sniping location and a sniper would even say that it was a place too low in elevation to be advantageous and too large to be an actual cover that it hinders any beneficial position for sniping targets in any side.

In short, the boulder was more of a hindrance as it was a strategic shelter.

But Rex chose this place not because it can be used as a cover but because it hinders eye sight.

The direction of the target was coming from the east and the setting sun was behind him. Rex is given a shadow cover in addition to the blinding sun that could hinder his target’s eyes.

[200 meters.]

The warning rung in his ears alone.

Unfortunately, as advantageous this angle was, it was on the edge of the mountain side and the big boulder was a piece of large rock that fell from a landside from long ago, thus its awkward position and location at the slope-side.

The direction the target is coming from is covered by the slop like an arc. The slop inclines towards the south and the valley was below to the north.

Rex checked the clip, six bullets, one at the chamber, ready and locked.

[150.]

He breathed in. He breathed out.

Rex had to time his attack accurately or he would miss this chance to ambush the assassin.

The forest stretches to the east, the trees slowly becoming scarcer the further down the valley you go as it was flat lands with a shallow river and the nearest Resource Hotspot the further below.

He only needed the target to enter the nearest 90m and even if there was still the soil and the land between him and the target, the Anti-Tank’s large caliber would still have enough power left in it to penetrate through the soil and go straight to the unsuspecting target straight on the other side.

[120.]

The target was still running. There was a footpath at the side of the steep slope and although it was the proper way to go down the mountain, such a path was a huge no-no for seasoned veterans like Gibson and his peers.

Rex understood this as well.

That’s why Rex didn’t expect Gibson to use the footpath and instead cross the mountain the same way he did —directly straight from the forest and down that slope in a diagonal route.

[100…]

[95…………]

Rex inhaled deep and held his breath, three seconds later, at the same time that he pulled the trigger, he heard a buzzing noise before the gunshot he released deafened his hearing.

BANG!!!

The soil between him and the target exploded far away from him but instead of someone falling, he heard something metallic was hit followed by loud crashing as well as a curse —no he didn’t physically hear it, he felt it happen. Rex knew instantly he had missed. He knew it by instincts.

“Shit! That’s a drone!” Rex cursed. Unfortunately, drones and other items do not reflect well on the video feed Cortana hacked from the Office. This is also the case with the people watching inside.

He heard gunshots fired towards his direction and Rex ducked his head, hiding behind the boulder, just in time where tens of bullets rained on him as they scattered rocks and soil on his face.

Rex clicked his tongue, pulled the rifle back into him, and then pulled the Garrote Wire he held, detonating the last few grenades he had in his arsenal; courtesy of the last squad he erased.

One flash bang and three frag grenades, there’s a bright flash of light followed by three simultaneous explosions.

Dust and stones flew, he saw from Cortana’s live video feed that his target was safe as he ducked into a tree who received the full brunt of the last explosive attack.

Seeing this as a chance, Rex didn’t hesitate. He pulled the bolt, reloading the rifle, locking the chamber, and took aim —but his target was gone.

[Grenade, five meters on your three!]

The thought-link was fast and half a beat later, his body moved. He jumped and used the boulder as cover while turning his back towards the grenade and using the heavy rifle as a balancer with the backpack as a shield.

Rex tucked his head low, bent his legs forward, just in time for the grenade to explode and sent him a shockwave strong enough to jolt his position in midair.

He was pushed forward and he landed on his feet like a circus acrobat.

The old men in the Office watched on with abated breaths; in just five seconds, the two combatants exchanged an unbelievable display of attack and counterattack. This was world-level fighting skills and instincts!

Rex didn’t linger and took a run. He put his rifle on his shoulders and pulled the assault rifle on his left, pointing blindly behind him, and fired.

*****

Gibson was grinning. He felt his blood wash his body with burning exhilaration.

This guy’s not your average teenager… his skills were enough to put most mercenaries to shame!

From the moment they lost Chix and Sydney, he knew Rex Kingsley was going to be an oddball as well as an entertainment.

His trainees underestimated him but he didn’t. His years of experience told him that Rex was on the same level as him from that moment on.

T-T-T-T-T-T-T-Thud….!!

He was trying to circle Rex Kingsley’s blindside but before he could run to his right side, the hail of bullets was already bellowing past his ears and hitting the area where he had just been into.

There was still the dust clouds separating the two but it were as if they could see each other’s exact location, they knew what the other was going to do and so prevented them on doing what would put advantage in their deadlocked situation.

Gibson threw another grenade, a Flash Grenade, towards Rex as he took cover. By now, they were just 50 or so meters away with each other but it’s as if they were just breathing at each other’s 1m personal space.

A beat of a pause and a bright flash of light; there was a grunt, Gibson moved. But just after his first step, he jumped to the left and a loud BANG was heard as the tree he was hiding before rendered into countless barks by Optimus Prime.

“Cheeky!” Gibson laughed as he realized he had almost fallen to the kid’s trap. So he kept jumping and running until he found a boulder —the same boulder Rex was hiding from just now.

He chased his breath, reloaded his gun. Then he peaked at the ‘sensed’ location of the last duelist.

Gibson was positive that Rex was still blind. This was his chance. He pulled the last grenade on his arsenal and threw it towards him, the exoskeleton multiplying his force, the grenade landing 20m away behind the boulder’s edge.

The grenade exploded, Gibson jumped in for the killing move while the rocks and small debris were still yet to land.

With ten leaps, he reached the other end. Gibson had his finger on the trigger ready to kill but when he reached the other side… no one was there but an abandoned anti-tank sniper rifle amidst the still flying dust and falling stone debris.

“Shit.”

His instincts cried. He used his rifle to shield his face just in time for a bang and something hit the body of the rifle, destroying the latch pin and also putting a dent on the chamber area. The gun was now a useless piece of metal in this fight.

But Gibson had experience. He didn’t let go of his rifle as he jumped back throwing the gun at the opponent, pulling the handguns on his thighs and fired back as he met Rex Kingsley’s eyes.

*****

His backpack was a goner. His ammos limited. His Assault Rifle got destroyed by the first grenade in their meeting while his body armor was shredded by that last grenade he barely dodged.

—he’s a true expert!

Rex knew the man was extra-special. He looked, moves, and think like a veteran Kill Specialist. The way he held his guns, the way he met his eyes, the way he charged towards him, everything the man did radiated experience, confidence, and his unyielding spirit.

This was someone who had been in a battlefield, a man who shared stories with death as his equal.

But Rex didn’t relent. In fact, he rejoiced. This is exactly the man he wanted to work for him. What he had to do now was to make an impression.

—I wanted to hide my fighting skills but if getting a reliably skilled minion is the trade-off, then it’s worth the little show…

Four hands, four guns; both of them pointed their guns at each other’s faces and pulled the triggers which were followed by the gunshot. But there’s no thud of falling bodies nor was there the sound of someone grunting from any wound.

Rex bent his face sideways. The man ducked his head as he was fully bent on the charge.

Two leaps and the ten meter distance between them shortened into two. This was CQC distance!

Before Rex could even pull the trigger for the second volley, he was already dodging the bullet path the man had for his thigh.

In the end, they both fired one bullet each; Rex his left handgun and the man his right.

Both bullets went past their heads but they didn’t care one bit. Rex kicked the man kneed. The two of them knew what the other was thinking and so stopped their attacks before they could even get a slight positional advantage.

Rex used his left gun to shoot the other’s let handgun but the man also had the same idea and used his right handgun to deal with Rex’s right; they also fired at the same time.

BANG!

—BANG!!

Rex let go of his right handgun and the man let go of his left to avoid any damage to their hands.

They still had one other hand gun.

Pushing forth with half a step rex invaded the man’s space but the man did the same and the two of them launched a punch —no a feint— and in the end pointed their guns at each other’s faces instead.

The intense CQC was halted and the two stared at their opponent’s eyes.

“You’re good, kid.”

“I should be saying that to you, old man.”

The two chased their breaths. They didn’t even realize that they were holding their breaths as all they thought of was how to take advantage of the moment and deal the decisive blow to the enemy.

But who would have thought that not only the two of them had the same thoughts, they also had the same tactic in mind on how to do it?

“Those are Kanzu’s moves. Are you a deserter of the Tang Sect?”

“Nope.” Rex said with a straight face. None of the two lowered their guns nor took their eyes, nor even blink as they stared at each other. “I was just a teenager taught by a wandering expert in that virtual game.”

Of course this was lip service for Chronos to hear and solidify his alibi of the Mitra being an insider organization in the World Nobles’ circles.

He added, “But I did hear that this was a Martial Arts taught only in the Eastern Alliance. In a way, I am also part of it, although not official. It’s actually my second time hearing this Tang Sect.”

Gibson was surprised but he hid it.

He chortled, “If they hear you say that, you and your friends will be hunted just so they could to protect their secret legacy.”

“They could only try. I have backers you know.”

“Heh.” After the man scoffed, he said, “Gibson.”

“Rex Kingsley. But I think you already know that.”

Gibson nodded, “Do you know why I’m here?”

“You’re the challenge. After all, these kids aren’t my match and this is still an assessment event so I needed obstacles. You’re that obstacle.”

“Smart.”

“At least I’m not stupid. Well then, no guns?”

“On three.”

“Three.”

Both of them tossed their guns behind them and then launched a punch. Fist to fist, they backed a step away and caught the guns before it actually fell on the ground, pointing their barrel and shot.

No bullets hit anything.

Rex clicked his tongue and charged. If he wanted to stop the man from firing, he had to gear up his movements and pull up more resources to attack.

If he pulls out another gun, the opening will be used against him. If he blinks, he’d be shot. If he hesitates, he’d be pinned.

CQC was his only choice but that doesn’t mean he would allow himself to waste the advantage of a gun and a fatal bullet. Aside from that, he also had to invite the guy for a manly drink.

‘Cortana…’

[Analyzing battle sequence… countermeasures ready… uploading battle plans.]

Since the “necessary skills” has been uploaded in his brain long before this day, the uploaded battle plans using those battle skills as foundation were but a weak pinch in his skin compared to when he uses [Focus] that directly, and in real-time, fed all the information around him straight to his brain to boost his movements and thinking capacity.

After the slight headache, the pain was gone. He looked at the man and fired off his gun. The man also did the same and their bullets slightly grazed each other in midair, hitting their guns at the same time, destroying the casing, sprinkling the metal debris and knocking their hands away.

But the two gritted their teeth and they charged at each other. Rex’s bleeding left fist met the guy’s bleeding right straight and the thud of fist against fist echoes. While the two differed in their facial reactions, Gibson realized his folly a little late.

The two of them were both right handed but Rex sacrificed his left hand whereas his dominant right was rendered useless.

One was smiling the other wincing in pain.

Kicks, punches, head-butts, knees, elbows, even shoulders… it was a showdown of who’s better at CQC and although the two of them almost used a similar style of combat, Rex’s visible advantages slowly surfaced as Gibson’s attacks were limited in variety whereas Rex’s assaults were diverse.

Ten minutes later, the two bloody combatants in the boulder area was now panting. Rex wasn’t a God right now, nor did he have the advantages of his arsenal in Terroa.

He recalled this similar feeling of limitation back at the time when he first (re)entered Terroa and this was a feeling which he wouldn’t forget.

This was the feeling of a mortal’s helplessness…

It was a feeling of weakness born from the limits of fighting an opponent who was on equal ground as yourself.

Rex had to end this now.

He lowered his center of gravity, preparing for a charge while Gibson did the same but instead of a charge, he dons a defensive stance; left fist and left leg at the fore —a horse riding stance— with the right leg as support and right fist at the ready.

Seen from the side, he looked like Akuma without the black aura, readying for his finishing move. It was a karate stance.

“Come.” He challenged.

Rex chuckled, “Here I go.”

From his charging position, he took a step… but that was it. The startled mercenary was shocked, he fell on a feint, a classic stupid move, but since they’ve been tackling it since earlier, he forgot he was still in the middle of a mission. He enjoyed a rare fight against an equal because this was still a game and so his inattentiveness caused him this opening that Rex exploited with a feint.

“Shi—”

His center of gravity was broken, he leaned forth but right after he recovered, Rex already pulled a gun and pointed its barrel on his forehead.

“You lose.” Rex declared.

Gibson closed his eyes. “Aye. Do it.”

Rex didn’t pull the trigger and instead asked, “Are you in the venue right now?”

“No. I’m on vacation.”

“Too bad. When are you available for a beer?”

“Do you have a mission?”

Rex paused, “Yes.” he answered.

“Sorry. I already have an employer.”

“Then a simple drink perhaps?”

Gibson paused and looked at the kid’s eyes. He saw there sincerity wanting to share a drink with a peer in the industry. Although this wasn’t rare, it should be noted that in the world of mercenaries, there’s no real friendship —everything has a tag price attached, even companionships.

“I’m not a merc.” Rex said as if he read his mind and continued with a placid face. “It’s rare for me to meet someone who could match my moves. I’m just looking for worthy drinking buddies.”

Gibson almost wanted to laugh both in a sarcastic anger and also at the joke. He’s already 37 years old and yet he was being treated a “buddy” by a teenager half his age.

In the end, he laughed, “You’re weird.”

“Yes I am. All geniuses are weird.” Rex said in a-matter-of-factly way.

“…and smug.”

“…”

Gibson hesitated for a moment then said, “I heard you flipped Mundus upside down? I’m in Scheol this in-game Sunday, Bar Le Franz, afternoon.”

“I’ll shoot a bullet in the wall.”

Gibson paused to absorb the last words then he nodded, “Your call.” he said but raised a finger to speak a command to the tenth person, “This is our loss… next round is ours.” Gibson gave a pause to hear the reply and confirmed, looking at Rex to give him a nod. “We are signing off in this round but don’t expect us to loss again on the next. My team is just a recon squad.”

Rex was surprised but hid it. “I’m waiting.” He said and accepted the challenge as well as the heads up before pulling the trigger to erase an obstacle.

*****

the old gangster turned to Chronos.

“Hmp. Before he did, Gibson would have died just as they decided to meet.”

Goldwyn shrugged,

“He also did some Jujitsu, Muai Boran, and some orthodox boxing foot work and punches. He’s a walking encyclopedia of surprises.”

Goldwyn went silent and looked at the replay of the fight while watching Rex tend to his injuries as he picked up what’s left usable in his inventory.

“Hmmmm…. you don’t believe it’s this convenient for him, do you?”

Chronos went silent. He was bothered by Rex’s calmness and proposition after the fight. This was not a move done by someone who was in a tight duel against a professional mercenary.

What bothered him the most is that his excuse of someone teaching him all these skills inside RPG: Terroa…… when all these time, his actions inside the game were being monitored so the only time it was all able to fit in was the two weeks’ time that he was left alone.

He asked himself: should we really send someone to investigate him or should we just take him in?

It was dilemma.

Although they’ve agreed to send the twins to test Rex at his home, seeing his fighting ability and then thinking of the fact that there’s still “Mitra” to consider around him, there was a large chance he might lay down a trap for the twins.

Chronos was startled by the comment, “How do you think so? I have to consider this very clearly.”

“There might actually really be a chance that Rex had a minimal control of the NanoMechs.”

“No. Just a doubt. And why are you sounding as if it’s not your problem? Between the two of us, you are the one losing the most if we can’t extract all data by the end date!”

“But you’re still relaxed. You’re the one who told me about this possibility but you’re still smiling.”

Chronos cleared his throat and Goldwyn laughed.

The two watched on as Rex retired from the place with Gibson’s backpack and the sniper rifle. While the rest of his looted items became useless since they were ladened by shrapnels, he still had four handguns with their ammos as compensations to the damages he received.

Besides he’d already used all his SpyCams and all his grenades so the loss in weight was actually a bit advantageous. He still had two bangles’ worth of Garrote Wires, three tactical knives, and three more batteries for his exoskeleton.

Rex was still operable but his Anti-Tank Rifle only had 24 rounds left since the rest were dented by the shrapnels from Gibson’s grenades.

After considering for a while,

“Let’s proceed. But I’m also sending Graham with the twins, just to ensure that if Rex and them were to fall into a fight, he will still be captured.”

Goldwyn shrugged,

After he spoke, Goldwyn pressed a button on his Console Panel and yet, as soon as he did——

*****

[Boss, we have an attack. It’s strong. It’s hacking into our main servers… it’s the [Database], sir!]

The main servers, as far as Rex was concerned, was the servers he set up as the “home” of the Echelon Network, the place where its source code was located. Although its tentacles were spread, for every [program], just like a tree, has roots and these roots were located on server houses. In case of the Echelon Network, its base was located in Hong Kong.

Rex’s “trap” was still being setup. Its core was also in Loni’s Communicator Device. Also, Rex should be on a relatively calm and safe place if he wanted to battle it out with an advanced AI. Without these key points ready, clashing against the [Database] is just plain dangerous, if not outright suicide.

Rex was in the middle of running towards the next targets and according to the counter in the Office, there’re still 98 candidates remaining excluding his minions who were gathering resources fast with his help in clearing potential enemies.

When he heard the news, he felt his scalp went numb and he almost blurted out a surprise.

‘Can you handle the attack?’

[I can buy time but my hardware is limited. We’re on a deadlock right now. But while I am doing this, your body on the other side will have to carry the brunt of a severe headache.]

Rex didn’t have to hear half of her words as he’s already feeling the headache gradually increasing.

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Emergency!!!

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