Like pockets with never-ending storage space, he managed to utilize his combo and grab all of the spikes that rained down on him. This was accomplished quite naturally, yet Noel still fumbled a bit to prove that he only barely managed to dodge them but somehow succeeded thanks to his ‘really good reflexes’.

To prove the ‘slightly above average reflexes’ role he’s engrossed in, is real – he even pretended to ‘fail’ grabbing a few and flat out tripped onto spots where the ground spikes were bound to show up. The ‘close calls’ which tore into his uniform reaffirmed Noel’s acting as real for the man codenamed 4. Thinking he could kill an easy target right now if he played his cards right – he began shifting all of the remaining spikes from below at rise, and every single one in the sky towards Noel.

Not only that: but his control over the remaining spikes increased with each one Noel stole, causing their speed to take a soaring increase and their forms to slowly stabilize.

The problem with sending Oliviera and Leos away was becoming painfully apparent. With less targets, MORE spikes were free to unleash their combined onslaught on the energetic duo! There was definite strain felt by both non-combatants, as they had to keep watch for signs of danger popping out suddenly from the forest or the soil below!

.

.

…

Of course: even then, They only needed to try harder.

{Dammit, he’s too crafty. Trying so hard to trarget me instead of focusing his energy on the guy who, according to that angered face, wants to kill him. Should I just move? Nah, pretty soon, anytime now, he’ll start getting curious about what exactly happened to the spikes I destroyed. That should give Rise the chance he needs.

.

.

.

but just in case...let’s up the ante on how many it takes to attract his attention~}

Noel Kept Watch. He watched the enemy: 4.

He watched Rise impressively dodge through the field of deadly spikes. Interestingly enough: Rise was about as fast as Nathan! It seemed like his muscles grew more pronounced as they swelled a tad – the physical difference was barely noticeable unless you focused hard enough. Noel obviously had been trained to do so, in preparation for surprise tactics pulled by his adversaries during missions.

Rise’s leg veins appeared to nearly pop out of the skin. Yet, each stomp he took drew more power from the earth, and as he walked, more power was released back into it – shaking the earth itself.

Or at least part of it – specifically the forest around them all.

And finally:

He watched all of the spikes dance.

Noel began observing the trajectory and flight pattern of each individual spike. He watched, then, after aptly comfirming their directional patterns, his attention switched over to another, then another…

and the next after that…

He repeated this with all 700 spikes both in the air and underneath the ground, and found a spot where a good amount of the seven hundred collided.

Noel’s fingertips glowed purple from deep within his pockets, while he stopped grabbing them and started maneuvering to his chosen position.

Noel: “*Whispers* Destructive touch…”

His young fingertips lightly tapped against the myriad weapons faster than a bolt of lightning striking down a hefty tree. To an untrained human, his arms would appear invisible or missing. Even for peak strength and minor super-human level mortals, he appears to have multiple arms touching against different metal weapons at the same time.

With every touch a dot of bright purple light stuck to them. That single dot would then grow and fester, spreading throughout the metal structure like an invading fungi.

Then...they vanish.

200 disappeared in an instant. This, of course, alerted 4. Such an action was impossible! He knew the rough condition of each one of his creations! Every scalpel was in pristine condition, minus a few teeth due to clashing with Rise. He actually swiped back at them – generating an energy-based claw in the air that sliced through every one of the metal spikes he through! Although he saved the serrated scalpels, a few teeth were inadvertently chipped into nothingness.

But they were still his main damage dealers. This was no doubt a fact, since the spikes could only stab, while the scalpels could perform BOTH roles, but specialized in tearing or ripping jobs. Those were 4’s most prized possessions and the completed variants he started creating ever since he was a child. Even when those around spat on his idea and called him an idiot for using his gift to design defunct medical supplies, he never changed his mind on what weapon of choice to bring to a battle. And every so often, he increases their numbers. Those scalpels were his joyous creations and it pained his heart to see them damaged like so, by some...freak of nature!

And although his love for the weapons he creates help him to concentrate immensely after 4 brings them out: this one time, that love for weapons failed him.

Normally, when a puppeteer loses control over a massive number of their ‘puppets’ without warning, they would clearly be struck with bewilderment. He knew that the short brown haired kid was doing something to his weapons, but that was only one at a time…

200 at once?

Not even mentioning the fact that 4 gets unnaturally attached to his attacking weapons that’ve been in creation since he was a kid…

After losing control over such a vast number of spikes – he forgot for only a moment that the scalpels weren’t mixed into the parade of air spikes attacking Noel from all sides!

That moment of aversion was ALL Rise needed to dig his clawed fingers into 4’s left shoulder, a specific soft spot close to the neck, and right love handle respectively.

He tore his fingers out with an untamed smile - and succeeding this act of savagery revealed a generous spilling of blood.

The liquid was a beautiful crimson in the afternoon shade. Furthermore, once they were finished being showered in it, the leaves below changed from yellow-green in tint, to a color not naturally found in the wild, save for around a field of corpses.

4: “Wh...What the hell, are you children..? This isn’t what...we were told…! You all *Ka-haak!* *huff* *huff* were supposed to be powerless...! It wasn’t supposed to-”

*Crack*

4: “Aaaaah!”

Without mercy, Rise stomped hard on the defeated man’s forearm. An audible crunch echoed throughout the area, coupled with his screams.

Noel: “Rise, stop. It sounds like he has friends. I’m worried about the others back at the dorm. Shouldn’t we go check on them?”

Rise: “...*Stomp*”

4: “AAAAAHH!!”

Like a hunter encircling his defeated prey, he stomped again at a weak point – the left ankle. By doing so – he ensured the opponent’s inability to escape.

Noel: “Rise. Stop. We should-”

Rise: “Don’t order me around!”

*SHIING!*

As if on impulse, he immediately lunged at Noel! The younger male wore a surprised expression, but Rise didn’t care. Everywhere he smelled gave off a dangerous smell! And this guy was one of them! Why should they trust each other? Because Rise protected him just now? NO! For all he knew, Noel was a baggage installed into the non - combatant side by these guys! That would explain why he didn’t leave with the others – or why he smelled dangerous!

Even if he can’t fight – he sure can backstab! Well, Rise wasn’t about to let him take the initiative.

No.

He wanted the first strike! Only AFTER the guy was unable to move could he squeeze out the truth from him safely and efficiently--!

…

Too bad that would never happen.

Would Noel just stand still while someone tries to slash away at him, for an unjustified cause?

.

.

.

Obviously not. If you thought otherwise, then fix your eyes.

Noel was a few centimeters away from being cut down – just a moment away from receiving Rise’s now sharpened nails to the neck…

Then…

*Swish!*

Nothing was hit. Instead: Rise found a thin pointed needle touching against his adam’s apple, while a light load put pressure on his upper back.

Noel: “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now for that action.”

Rise: “...I knew it. Hahaha! You bastard. Who’s side are you on anyways?! Look at this! You call dodging my ‘enhanced body’ and hiding needles in your sleeves...something NORMAL people do?? Don’t FUCK with me!”

Noel: “...What are you talking about – this is normal self defense…any random old woman can do this.”

Rise: “…”

Noel: “W-Well, who are YOU to judge!! NORMAL non-combatants don’t BLAST PEOPLE AWAY with a scream or jump off of trees! Plus, your nails grew!”

Rise: “Grr… just TRY sticking my neck with that thing and watch how fast I slit your throat first!”

Noel: “Go ahead and try! Having you around is dangerous to my identity anyways – I’ll make you disappear!!”

4: “...*Cough*”

Rise: “...*Stares*”

Noel: “...*Puts away needle and stares*

Hey. Finish finding out information about his friends. If not, we might get jumped.”

Rise: “...Fine. You better not be lying about being related to him somehow. I can tell!

...Kinda.”

Noel: “Hmph! If I was related to him, then I’d kill you right now instead of wasting my breath speaking.”

Rise: “Grr. Just try it! I’ll kill you faster than—!”

during the conversation’s end, Rise was released from Noel’s needle point and walked over to 4. He positioned his clawed hands over the barely conscious man’s head and struck down…

…

but couldn’t finish his arm’s descent.

That’s because something round and wet came flying at his own head before he could finish.

It wasn’t particularly fast – he caught it with ease.

Though…

The wet, spongy feel was a familiar sensation that he wished to never feel again. Noel saw the object and his pupils shrank. His fist shook as he made eye contact with a pair of irises, strangely located on the spherical object.

A pair of familiar...terrified eyes...

---