4.3

Sheer Heart Attack: The enemy of my enemy

"Doraemon, are you alright" Asked Eikichi.

The girl couldn't answer as the fear soon overcame her. The smell of blood and metal chains flared up within her mind. How could this be, she was now in another world altogether, no trace of the archaic one she left behind. This place was governed by magic, by complete order in spite of identity.

Yet there he was, in front of her, his existent a blight. The biker, Killer Queen.

For years she had been pushed on the run. Her body modified beyond recognition. All her life was spent living in fear. And she would never be free from it.

But didn't she know that already, that was why she seek out the Ladder. Doraemon was willing to earn her freedom whatever the cost. And yet, the time spent here had soften her resolve. Or maybe it never truly existed to begin with.

"I… I'm sorry"

Doraemon muttered and cloaked herself. Once again, she ran away. But within her, there was a familiar hope. It was Eikichi, maybe he could pull it off, maybe he could end this scourge once and for all. Of course, she was aware this wasn't the first time she felt this way. But maybe this time, this time… 'It's Eikichi'

The bald man turned back to the biker. For Doraemon to be that shaken, the man had drawn two conclusions. First that this wasn't a nice person in front of him, second, he was probably no pushover either.

"Hey, how are you doing" The bald man said.

"Happy little day~" The music played "Happy little day, Jimmy went away. Met his little Jenny on a public holiday. A happy pair they made, so decorously laid~"

Eikichi looked at the two bodies strewing over the floor.

"Hah, that's funny, because his name is Jim. I don't know what that one is called though" The man jested, the smile on his face soon disappeared "You sure did a number on them"

"It's so good to know there's still a little magic in the air. I'll weave my spell~"

The biker threw out his chain aimed straight at Eikichi's face. The man dodged effortlessly. Well, diplomacy had failed. It was not like it was ever an option anyway.

His head twitching, the biker stepped forward, the wrench in his hand. Then suddenly, he sped up straight to Eikichi. The bald man moved just in time to dodge the strike, which broke the wall behind him with ease.

He knew that the buildings here were studier than they look, for it to crumble so easily.

The biker turned to his target, the red light gazed on ominously "Jenny will you stay - tarry with me pray~" He continued his onslaught only to receive a devastating kick to the helmet.

Eikichi followed that with another kick, this one straight to the torso.

The biker flew back, landing on his back. It lied there for a moment before bouncing up again. He looked at his hand to find it empty, the wrench had somehow been disarmed. Then it could hear someone behind.

There Six kneeled over Mi-Young, having injected something to her veins. The woman injuries were too great for her to be moved. The drug would help but it wouldn't kick in right now.

"Forgive me this time, One" He whispered before standing up to face the biker.

Never left your comrades behind, that something One had taught him. The old man would understand. Six prepared for a fight, stance ready.

The biker looked at the operative, then back to Eikichi.

"O Rock of Ages, do not crumble, love is breathing still~"

The bald man was the first to move, throwing a crescent kick. But before his foot could reach the biker, Eikichi grounded himself feinting the kick. Then, in extreme close quarter, thrusting his palm straight at the opponent chin.

Dodging back, the biker was met with Six with his near instantaneous movement.

The operative threw out his deadly punch, enough to kill any creature inside out. But with beastly movement, the biker turned while directing Six blow straight to Eikichi.

But the bald man wasn't done yet, narrowing dodging Six blow, he kicked high straight at the helmet. The operative, knowing that he needed to be crafty to catch his opponent, punched quickly in hope of catching the biker trying to avoid the kick. The two attacks synchronised perfectly.

Their attempt once again end in failure as the biker slipped out with inhume reflexes.

"Geez, how come every person here is Ultraman, making me feel so inadequate" Eikichi joked, but his mind was being pushed to the limit like usual.

The biker flicked dust out of his jacket mockingly, his head tilted to the side.

"Here I stand~"

Eikichi and Six looked at each other. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, for now at least. Nodding, the two charged at the biker, splitting to two radical side. Using his superior speed, Six also moved around his target looking for an opening. The, both of them pounced in, both aiming for a perceived weak spot.

But alas, the biker jumped back with an extra bounce.

"Look around around around around around. But you won't see me~"

Of course, such mocking didn't dampen the fighters spirit at all. They continue weaving through each other attack, sooner or later, there wouldn't be anywhere left to dodge.

Cornered, the biker raised his hands up to the air, seemingly surrendering. Titling his head to the side, he seemed to contemplate that idea before smashing the wall behind him instead as Eikichi approached.

Behind the wall, however, was Six who had blinked in through the window. The operative delivered a direct hit straight to the biker back.

With Six power, the kinetic residue of his blinks was stored then unleased through physical contact. That force then swirled within a target, decimating them from inside out. Feedback from such an attack also allowed him to learn of the enemy anatomy. Most of the time, that ability wasn't relevant, until he met Doraemon and the biker.

The kinetic travelled through the leather jacket to a soft layer behind which immediately harden, neutralising the force.

This technology! It was state of the art even from his time!

Body armour that could harden upon impact is not new. However, one that could effectively spread out force this effectively was still only experimental. But there was something more, not all of the punch was absorbed by the armour, but as the force was completely neutralised, Six received no feedback.

What being was exactly lurking underneath, could it even be deemed human!

"Talk about tactical advantage"

A comment flashed in Six's mind, the voice belonged to Eikichi. Somehow, they were connected telepathically. This must be the work of someone's power.

"That's right, look at your hand, your left to be precise"

Six took a glimpse to see a red string tying around his pinkie finger. Weightless, the thing floated freely through the air glowing ethereally. This had always been here and yet he only saw it now. It was because the man was now aware.

"It was given to me by Doraemon" Said Eikichi.

"And why would you tell me that"

"Because apparently it only works on mutual consent. Somehow, you trust me enough to share your thought even, so I ought to make effort on my side"

By showing such a power and even naming the user. It may sound idiotic at a glance but Eikichi wasn't one to mess around like this.

No, this connection had been feeding both sides information. Of where the other was going to advance, how were they going to attack, how were they going to complement each other move. With an enemy like this, such coordination was absolutely important.

Eikichi hiding the origin of this power would only obfuscate this connection, their doubt would ruin the synergy possible to corner a target like this.

From the string, Six could feel Eikichi's approval of his interpretation.

Of course, the operative wondered whether critical information had been extracted. But if that was the case, it was now too late to do anything about it. No, Six would make the most out of this situation.

"So chief, since you are familiar with this, how are we going to break through this guy's defence?" Eikichi asked with jest even while dancing with death, a rare feat.

"All incoming attack would be absorbed, but the armour has to react individually to each blow. A constant barrage of powerful attacks would eventually cause it to break down"

He had seen it all in action. Soldiers, thought to be invincible, strolled though hail of lead only to suddenly melted. But whether the two of them could equal to high calibre tank buster ammunition firing rapidly? No, but Six still believed, he always did.

The operative pushed aggressively, locking down both of the biker's arms. They held monstrous power which could crush Six's limbs in a second.

It was a risky bet and it pays off. Such an advance opened up the enemy's back, which Eikichi exploited in a flash with… blinking. Completed with a kinetic punch enough to stagger the biker. Even Eikichi was surprised by that, his body moved automatically as if it had done this so many times before.

Those were Six's power, those were his knowledge, his instinct. This was his trust.

The biker violently replied, thrashing back at Six only for his blows to miss. The broken wall under him was grafted back, throwing off the biker's aim. But the force that held the pieces couldn't be achieved by Eikichi, whose body was still not used to mana manipulation.

No, this was the fruit of Six's trust, he gave and received in return.

The biker tried to break free only to receive blows after blows, the destructive force pulsing throughout his body. The broken wall constantly regenerated with great power, interrupting his attempts at retaliation. Pressure from both Six and Eikichi from all sides kept him in place.

But this wasn't the end. Oh no it was not the end. The biker, with his monstrous strength jumped up. The force of this shattered the roof, making the ground trembled. Escaping up, the biker flung himself through the air. Six moved in to intercept the landing but his attempt was stopped by a violent swing of the wrench.

Eikichi meanwhile, lagged behind as his body cannot coped with the newfound blink ability.

"Now I'm here. Now I'm there~"

The biker landed and looked at his opponents, or was it opponent, his head tilting.

"I'm just a. Just a new man. Yes you made me live again, wow~"

The light on his helmet continued to shine and the music, the music would never die.