Chapter 147: Conflux of Emotions
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The Barrier technology developed by the EAA was shocking. Through this technology, it withstood the attacks of the Americas during the Third World War. The weakest barriers could easily block armor-piercing rounds used by common infantry. Even though this barrier was weak, strategic usage of this tech when paired with their unique Exoskeletons that had fast speed had made EAA a formidable country that made the skirmishes of the Americas and Canada end in failure.
Even low-tier barriers were priceless that not every rich power in the Underworld could gain access to it. With its unique and complex resources, it was deemed impossible to reverse-engineer and thus, portable barriers would appear even on enemy countries. Of course, barrier technology could not be used against the EAA as they could easily access it.
Oark became an extremely valuable hired guard or hitman in the Underworld as he was one of the few who had managed to acquire portable barriers. Yet who would have thought that a punch coming from a human could penetrate through it?
Various reddish lights had suddenly lit up as the barrier was breached. A hole was made from the punch. The shockwaves of that punch vibrated and exploded out causing the mercenaries behind the barrier to shake and stumble because of the shockwave that was generated from the punch.
"Tsk! It looks like I can only go this far. Barrier technology is as formidable as ever." Seeker admired. His hand remained penetrating the barrier. Though the barrier tried to close the gap created, and while normal humans would be crushed at the reforming barrier, Seeker managed to ignore
But before any of the mercenaries could aim their guns at Seeker, Seeker's hand opened and a small orb, as large as a walnut, fell down.
At that moment, Madison's years of experience and the throngs of battle experience made him feel that he was on the throes of his death.
And just like all those other moments where he faced death and barely made out alive, he witnessed the phenomenon that would greet him like an acquaintance.
Time first started to move at an extremely slow speed. The milliseconds of Seeker's actions were clearly seen as if the entire act was over five seconds long. But as the bomb dropped, timed move slower still.
It moves so slow that the falling orb wasn't moving anymore.
And for a few seconds, Madison finally concluded that time stopped.
"I guess this is it?" He thought. Such a strange series of events had befallen him. He was one more mission away from being able to leave the Underworld. Who knows? Maybe he could finally profess his feelings to that person.
But life was cruel. This last mission which paid such a huge amount that he could buy himself out of the picture had too many unpredictable variables. But who would have thought that he would be scammed? Not only was this mission involved in the prostituting of a world-famous gamer, but it also involved the government and even the WGP!
The strange feelings he felt at that moment when time stood still made him laugh at his own misfortunes. Pity still, was the fact, that he could not even laugh or smile as his body remained frozen along with time.
"I would die from the hands of a kid? What a sick joke." He thought as he looked at the bomb.
In fact, there was a point where things stopped moving. It was if, time would not move.
Madison gazed at it for a long time. Sadly, there wasn't anything he could do. He could not even change the focus of his sight.
"At least let me have a good look at my killer!" Madison thought as he tried to take a peek at Seeker's face.
His eyes were affixed to the small palm of Seeker which dropped the small orb. Even then he tried his best to look at Seeker. But since his eyes had focused on the orb, he could only make out the vague and unfocused image of Seeker's expression.
"He's smiling? What a cruel kid." Madison thought in his heart.
"I guess this is it." Madison couldn't smile but he was somewhat happy. Now that he knew he would die, strange emotions began to surface at the thought of freedom from this life.
He could not even shift his gaze but longed to look at the assassin beside her.
"Would it be crazy… if I told you that I loved you?" He pondered before accepting his faith.
"At least… let me prove it."
In the great mystery of that moment, somehow, Madison knew that time would suddenly move forward.
And immediately after, time indeed moved.
Seeker's punching arm retracted at an unbelievable speed and quicker still was Seeker's retreat. With one powerful step Seeker flew off to the other end of the room as if he was flying.
Despite the series of unexpected scenarios, the mercenaries still managed to react faster than how most could. And so, most of them noticed the small orb that fell down.
Before anyone could yell, the bomb immediately exploded.
THUD!
A muffled sound could be heard and it was as if a strange vacuum was formed sucking a strange vibration that sounds within the area disappeared.
The explosion had no flames, no loud booming sounds.
All that it emitted was a powerful repelling force that threw them all away.
It was a bomb that was the result of their application and study based on Richie's voice.
The Aragarian's behind the Australian government had been trying to replicate Peals of Thunder. But now that Richie had grown far stronger, and with the great scientist Lennox behind their back, a militarized usage of Richie's sound was possible.
Richie was granted the honor to name it.
The chattering Richie commended Lennox at that time and while Lennox and Arthur had long retreated as Richie's chattering mouth worn them out, Seeker stayed close by and listened as if he was used to Richie's endless chatters.
"What do you want to name it?" Seeker patiently asked.
"My skill is called Peals of Thunder, right? Then there could only one name for this bomb." Richie laughed.
As Seeker recalled the discussion with Richie, he unconsciously frowned.
For a split second, Seeker even forgot he was in the middle of battle.
"It's a good thing these Balls of Thunder are as useful as you said it was." Seeker sighed. It was then that Seeker's expression changed.
The sound bomb shook everyone in the room and they were thrown out and they all crashed to the walls or was flattened on the floor.
Others flew past Seeker at the force of the explosion.
Yet despite this bomb, none of the assassins died. It was all according to Seeker's calculation. The position and direction of how these mercenaries would all be thrown off were accurate. Except for two particular people, Madison and the woman called Cheryl.
Madison's body had great wounds.
Seeker gave him an odd look.
"Unbecoming. How rare. To think there'd be someone in your group with this potential." Seeker walked closer towards him ignoring all the grunting and the struggling bodies around him.
"I guess I've been greatly underestimating your kind. Perhaps Lander was right. I may not know it, but people like you must have had contributed greatly to our future. Well, this changes things." Seeker smiled.
At the last possible second, Madison reacted faster than the rest of the mercenaries. He actually moved in front of the mercenary Cheryl and did his best to withstand the explosion.
The other mercenaries did not have wounds as critical as Madison's body had.
In fact, Cheryl, who was thrown off from the back had the fewest since the impact that assaulted her was greatly minimized.
"Is this love?" Seeker mused to himself.
"Ah… that familiar face." A strange thought echoed out in Seeker's mind. At that moment, Seeker then understood the actions of Madison as if years of experience had thought him this reckless and selfless act of sacrifice.
Seeker frowned as a grave and serious look surfaced on his face.
"I see… Forget it. I'll deal with you later." Seeker said to himself. Seeker then glanced at the bloodied body of Madison.
"Amazing. You forced your body to stand still and accept the full force of the blast and yet you survived. The transition and effect of the Neuro-Transcellular phenomenon shouldn't be that fast. Yet your body almost reached the basic level of an Unbecoming body? How'd you do it?" Seeker moved quickly and stood over Madison.
"I see… If this was a real bomb, it would… draw the attention…" Madison laughed.
"So… the bomb… was just a blast… so you… can disarm us… But why? Aren't you planning… on killing us?"
Seeker didn't bother explaining and went ahead and shot Cheryl immediately. Because Madison took the majority of the explosion, Cheryl wasn't as hurt as the rest.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots rang as Seeker shot Cheryl with his eyes locked on to Madison.
Seeker was stunned. The expressions of Madison turned from a sudden look of fear and then almost instantly became a confused look. Seeker who studied micro-expressions could tell the emotions that Madison displayed.
"Impossible. You could see that? This gun should have fired at the same velocity of a real gun yet you noticed it… Do you see things stop?" Seeker then asked.
At that moment, Madison's expression turned strange. He could not help but nod.
"So that's it. That's how you know I shot tranquilizer bullets." Seeker glanced in excitement. He had shot the girl from a position that hid the gun's appearance from sight. Madison would have only seen the gunshot.
If Madison found out that Seeker used tranquilizer bullets, the only explanation was that Madison managed to either make time far slower than ever which is almost impossible for any regular Unlocked. Those at the Advent stage of Unbecoming didn't have this capacity.
"What an interesting Skill. Could you stop time from your perspective? I need that…" Seeker smiled excitedly. This was a simple Skill. But if he could trace the foundation of this, have Lynd copy it, or pass on the foundations to everyone else, a perspective that could stop time was extremely useful.
"Since you've reached Unbecoming… You probably now have the vitality to remain alive while I play around with the others." Seeker shoved a pill on Madison's mouth.
"This should help you stay alive. Eat it and rest."
Madison, who was confused, still obeyed Seeker. He knew that having such a conversation amidst mercenaries would be idiotic and decided to just obey Seeker's orders and wait until Seeker defeats the rest of the mercenaries.
After confirming that Madison swallowed the pill, Seeker aimed his gun at Madison.
"We'll talk later."
BANG! BANG!
Immediately after Seeker shot Madison, Seeker dodged as a mercenary finally got a hold of a gun and immediately attacked Seeker.
"Good. Except for these two, everyone else has reacted according to my calculations." Seeker smiled. The explosion of the bomb had injured. Seeker knew none of them died. The position and of where he made the bomb fall was calculated. Except for Madison and the girl, everyone else fell into the respective areas that Seeker had envisioned.
But then Seeker started to retreat back to the entrance as his calculations could no longer keep up.
"So I can calculate just an instance?" Seeker sighed. He knew if it was Arthur, his calculation would have continued longer.
Some mercenaries were acting in instinct and were rushing to get a gun to shoot Seeker because of their fear of death. Other mercenaries were still trying to make sense of where they are.
Seeker smiled and was about to use the full extent of his Reaper's Breath, he paused as he recollected something. Just like Madison, Seeker managed to awaken and reach the Overcomer's level due to a variety of emotions.
"It isn't just fear…" Seeker frowned.
"My rising to the Ranked Hero stage was one of the most conflicting emotions I felt… Love, hatred, anger, frustration. Madison reached Unbecoming with that as well…" Seeker pondered.
His rise to the Ranked Hero stage was also through the conflicting emotions of fighting and defeating Zeraphine of the Presiders.
"Let's try it then… What if I awaken their emotions and push it further? They're better than the soldiers and have had quite a life. Maybe if I force them to tread on a path, they would breakthrough…" Seeker grinned. He prepared to summon the memories and all the emotions he felt and leak it to affect all the mercenaries.
"I'll be stronger if you do that." A familiar thought surfaced once more.
Seeker gritted his teeth.
"If I'm right, you'd be less annoying." Seeker answered back.
"Whatever you say."
Seeker no longer hesitated, but then summoned his memories once more.
Suddenly, Seeker's cell started to vibrate erratically. The power of his cancerous cells was focusing on producing the same hormones that would create the Reaper's Breath.
Seeker channeled his memories and just as he managed to release the emotions during the battle against the Tyrant Empress, Seeker did so once more.
A powerful terror grasped the hearts of everyone in that room.
Seeker only smiled and ignored him and waited for the others to respond.
The emotions that Seeker leaked out were based mainly on his frustrations. The many memories of his life, all the frustration that he felt. Failure in battle, failure in love, failure to save his loved ones all were poured out.
And aside from the frustration, Seeker leaked out the angry emotions he felt. The anger that drove him to defeat and kill Zeraphine, the anger that allowed him to destroy the Orbital's that killed both Lynd and Meryl, the many waves of anger he felt towards the arrogant faces of the Presiders who massacred Earth with a proud expression.
All of these were all leaked out.
"Fight me!" Seeker called out.
The shivering bodies of all the mercenaries started to move as the scuffled for their weapons. They could not understand it. But somehow, a strange angry emotion and a feeling of utter frustration brought about by despair gripped their hearts and mind.
The mercenaries moved wildly and angrily,
"Too slow!" Seeker reacted as he lunged towards a mercenary who was reaching for a gun and kicked him. Seeker expertly spun and took the halberd that was dropped nearby and began his attacks on all the mercenaries.
Two of the mercenaries managed to move as if Seeker's pressure were none-existent. One of them was the one that Seeker just kicked. Their eyes were red with anger and a conflux of various emotions.
"What a surprise! Harker was right! These soldiers ARE useful! But sorry Harker… These mercs are too perfect! More members for my Gryphon Squadron!" Seeker smiled as he ran towards the remaining one who was moving towards their weapons.
"Let's see how strong your will is!" Seeker laughed as he raised the halberd to begin his infamous training procedure.
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The Barrier technology developed by the EAA was shocking. Through this technology, it withstood the attacks of the Americas during the Third World War. The weakest barriers could easily block armor-piercing rounds used by common infantry. Even though this barrier was weak, strategic usage of this tech when paired with their unique Exoskeletons that had fast speed had made EAA a formidable country that made the skirmishes of the Americas and Canada end in failure.
Even low-tier barriers were priceless that not every rich power in the Underworld could gain access to it. With its unique and complex resources, it was deemed impossible to reverse-engineer and thus, portable barriers would appear even on enemy countries. Of course, barrier technology could not be used against the EAA as they could easily access it.
Oark became an extremely valuable hired guard or hitman in the Underworld as he was one of the few who had managed to acquire portable barriers. Yet who would have thought that a punch coming from a human could penetrate through it?
Various reddish lights had suddenly lit up as the barrier was breached. A hole was made from the punch. The shockwaves of that punch vibrated and exploded out causing the mercenaries behind the barrier to shake and stumble because of the shockwave that was generated from the punch.
"Tsk! It looks like I can only go this far. Barrier technology is as formidable as ever." Seeker admired. His hand remained penetrating the barrier. Though the barrier tried to close the gap created, and while normal humans would be crushed at the reforming barrier, Seeker managed to ignore
But before any of the mercenaries could aim their guns at Seeker, Seeker's hand opened and a small orb, as large as a walnut, fell down.
At that moment, Madison's years of experience and the throngs of battle experience made him feel that he was on the throes of his death.
And just like all those other moments where he faced death and barely made out alive, he witnessed the phenomenon that would greet him like an acquaintance.
Time first started to move at an extremely slow speed. The milliseconds of Seeker's actions were clearly seen as if the entire act was over five seconds long. But as the bomb dropped, timed move slower still.
It moves so slow that the falling orb wasn't moving anymore.
And for a few seconds, Madison finally concluded that time stopped.
"I guess this is it?" He thought. Such a strange series of events had befallen him. He was one more mission away from being able to leave the Underworld. Who knows? Maybe he could finally profess his feelings to that person.
But life was cruel. This last mission which paid such a huge amount that he could buy himself out of the picture had too many unpredictable variables. But who would have thought that he would be scammed? Not only was this mission involved in the prostituting of a world-famous gamer, but it also involved the government and even the WGP!
The strange feelings he felt at that moment when time stood still made him laugh at his own misfortunes. Pity still, was the fact, that he could not even laugh or smile as his body remained frozen along with time.
"I would die from the hands of a kid? What a sick joke." He thought as he looked at the bomb.
In fact, there was a point where things stopped moving. It was if, time would not move.
Madison gazed at it for a long time. Sadly, there wasn't anything he could do. He could not even change the focus of his sight.
"At least let me have a good look at my killer!" Madison thought as he tried to take a peek at Seeker's face.
His eyes were affixed to the small palm of Seeker which dropped the small orb. Even then he tried his best to look at Seeker. But since his eyes had focused on the orb, he could only make out the vague and unfocused image of Seeker's expression.
"He's smiling? What a cruel kid." Madison thought in his heart.
"I guess this is it." Madison couldn't smile but he was somewhat happy. Now that he knew he would die, strange emotions began to surface at the thought of freedom from this life.
He could not even shift his gaze but longed to look at the assassin beside her.
"Would it be crazy… if I told you that I loved you?" He pondered before accepting his faith.
"At least… let me prove it."
In the great mystery of that moment, somehow, Madison knew that time would suddenly move forward.
And immediately after, time indeed moved.
Seeker's punching arm retracted at an unbelievable speed and quicker still was Seeker's retreat. With one powerful step Seeker flew off to the other end of the room as if he was flying.
Despite the series of unexpected scenarios, the mercenaries still managed to react faster than how most could. And so, most of them noticed the small orb that fell down.
Before anyone could yell, the bomb immediately exploded.
THUD!
A muffled sound could be heard and it was as if a strange vacuum was formed sucking a strange vibration that sounds within the area disappeared.
The explosion had no flames, no loud booming sounds.
All that it emitted was a powerful repelling force that threw them all away.
It was a bomb that was the result of their application and study based on Richie's voice.
The Aragarian's behind the Australian government had been trying to replicate Peals of Thunder. But now that Richie had grown far stronger, and with the great scientist Lennox behind their back, a militarized usage of Richie's sound was possible.
Richie was granted the honor to name it.
The chattering Richie commended Lennox at that time and while Lennox and Arthur had long retreated as Richie's chattering mouth worn them out, Seeker stayed close by and listened as if he was used to Richie's endless chatters.
"What do you want to name it?" Seeker patiently asked.
"My skill is called Peals of Thunder, right? Then there could only one name for this bomb." Richie laughed.
As Seeker recalled the discussion with Richie, he unconsciously frowned.
For a split second, Seeker even forgot he was in the middle of battle.
"It's a good thing these Balls of Thunder are as useful as you said it was." Seeker sighed. It was then that Seeker's expression changed.
The sound bomb shook everyone in the room and they were thrown out and they all crashed to the walls or was flattened on the floor.
Others flew past Seeker at the force of the explosion.
Yet despite this bomb, none of the assassins died. It was all according to Seeker's calculation. The position and direction of how these mercenaries would all be thrown off were accurate. Except for two particular people, Madison and the woman called Cheryl.
Madison's body had great wounds.
Seeker gave him an odd look.
"Unbecoming. How rare. To think there'd be someone in your group with this potential." Seeker walked closer towards him ignoring all the grunting and the struggling bodies around him.
"I guess I've been greatly underestimating your kind. Perhaps Lander was right. I may not know it, but people like you must have had contributed greatly to our future. Well, this changes things." Seeker smiled.
At the last possible second, Madison reacted faster than the rest of the mercenaries. He actually moved in front of the mercenary Cheryl and did his best to withstand the explosion.
The other mercenaries did not have wounds as critical as Madison's body had.
In fact, Cheryl, who was thrown off from the back had the fewest since the impact that assaulted her was greatly minimized.
"Is this love?" Seeker mused to himself.
"Ah… that familiar face." A strange thought echoed out in Seeker's mind. At that moment, Seeker then understood the actions of Madison as if years of experience had thought him this reckless and selfless act of sacrifice.
Seeker frowned as a grave and serious look surfaced on his face.
"I see… Forget it. I'll deal with you later." Seeker said to himself. Seeker then glanced at the bloodied body of Madison.
"Amazing. You forced your body to stand still and accept the full force of the blast and yet you survived. The transition and effect of the Neuro-Transcellular phenomenon shouldn't be that fast. Yet your body almost reached the basic level of an Unbecoming body? How'd you do it?" Seeker moved quickly and stood over Madison.
"I see… If this was a real bomb, it would… draw the attention…" Madison laughed.
"So… the bomb… was just a blast… so you… can disarm us… But why? Aren't you planning… on killing us?"
Seeker didn't bother explaining and went ahead and shot Cheryl immediately. Because Madison took the majority of the explosion, Cheryl wasn't as hurt as the rest.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots rang as Seeker shot Cheryl with his eyes locked on to Madison.
Seeker was stunned. The expressions of Madison turned from a sudden look of fear and then almost instantly became a confused look. Seeker who studied micro-expressions could tell the emotions that Madison displayed.
"Impossible. You could see that? This gun should have fired at the same velocity of a real gun yet you noticed it… Do you see things stop?" Seeker then asked.
At that moment, Madison's expression turned strange. He could not help but nod.
"So that's it. That's how you know I shot tranquilizer bullets." Seeker glanced in excitement. He had shot the girl from a position that hid the gun's appearance from sight. Madison would have only seen the gunshot.
If Madison found out that Seeker used tranquilizer bullets, the only explanation was that Madison managed to either make time far slower than ever which is almost impossible for any regular Unlocked. Those at the Advent stage of Unbecoming didn't have this capacity.
"What an interesting Skill. Could you stop time from your perspective? I need that…" Seeker smiled excitedly. This was a simple Skill. But if he could trace the foundation of this, have Lynd copy it, or pass on the foundations to everyone else, a perspective that could stop time was extremely useful.
"Since you've reached Unbecoming… You probably now have the vitality to remain alive while I play around with the others." Seeker shoved a pill on Madison's mouth.
"This should help you stay alive. Eat it and rest."
Madison, who was confused, still obeyed Seeker. He knew that having such a conversation amidst mercenaries would be idiotic and decided to just obey Seeker's orders and wait until Seeker defeats the rest of the mercenaries.
After confirming that Madison swallowed the pill, Seeker aimed his gun at Madison.
"We'll talk later."
BANG! BANG!
Immediately after Seeker shot Madison, Seeker dodged as a mercenary finally got a hold of a gun and immediately attacked Seeker.
"Good. Except for these two, everyone else has reacted according to my calculations." Seeker smiled. The explosion of the bomb had injured. Seeker knew none of them died. The position and of where he made the bomb fall was calculated. Except for Madison and the girl, everyone else fell into the respective areas that Seeker had envisioned.
But then Seeker started to retreat back to the entrance as his calculations could no longer keep up.
"So I can calculate just an instance?" Seeker sighed. He knew if it was Arthur, his calculation would have continued longer.
Some mercenaries were acting in instinct and were rushing to get a gun to shoot Seeker because of their fear of death. Other mercenaries were still trying to make sense of where they are.
Seeker smiled and was about to use the full extent of his Reaper's Breath, he paused as he recollected something. Just like Madison, Seeker managed to awaken and reach the Overcomer's level due to a variety of emotions.
"It isn't just fear…" Seeker frowned.
"My rising to the Ranked Hero stage was one of the most conflicting emotions I felt… Love, hatred, anger, frustration. Madison reached Unbecoming with that as well…" Seeker pondered.
His rise to the Ranked Hero stage was also through the conflicting emotions of fighting and defeating Zeraphine of the Presiders.
"Let's try it then… What if I awaken their emotions and push it further? They're better than the soldiers and have had quite a life. Maybe if I force them to tread on a path, they would breakthrough…" Seeker grinned. He prepared to summon the memories and all the emotions he felt and leak it to affect all the mercenaries.
"I'll be stronger if you do that." A familiar thought surfaced once more.
Seeker gritted his teeth.
"If I'm right, you'd be less annoying." Seeker answered back.
"Whatever you say."
Seeker no longer hesitated, but then summoned his memories once more.
Suddenly, Seeker's cell started to vibrate erratically. The power of his cancerous cells was focusing on producing the same hormones that would create the Reaper's Breath.
Seeker channeled his memories and just as he managed to release the emotions during the battle against the Tyrant Empress, Seeker did so once more.
A powerful terror grasped the hearts of everyone in that room.
Seeker only smiled and ignored him and waited for the others to respond.
The emotions that Seeker leaked out were based mainly on his frustrations. The many memories of his life, all the frustration that he felt. Failure in battle, failure in love, failure to save his loved ones all were poured out.
And aside from the frustration, Seeker leaked out the angry emotions he felt. The anger that drove him to defeat and kill Zeraphine, the anger that allowed him to destroy the Orbital's that killed both Lynd and Meryl, the many waves of anger he felt towards the arrogant faces of the Presiders who massacred Earth with a proud expression.
All of these were all leaked out.
"Fight me!" Seeker called out.
The shivering bodies of all the mercenaries started to move as the scuffled for their weapons. They could not understand it. But somehow, a strange angry emotion and a feeling of utter frustration brought about by despair gripped their hearts and mind.
The mercenaries moved wildly and angrily,
"Too slow!" Seeker reacted as he lunged towards a mercenary who was reaching for a gun and kicked him. Seeker expertly spun and took the halberd that was dropped nearby and began his attacks on all the mercenaries.
Two of the mercenaries managed to move as if Seeker's pressure were none-existent. One of them was the one that Seeker just kicked. Their eyes were red with anger and a conflux of various emotions.
"What a surprise! Harker was right! These soldiers ARE useful! But sorry Harker… These mercs are too perfect! More members for my Gryphon Squadron!" Seeker smiled as he ran towards the remaining one who was moving towards their weapons.
"Let's see how strong your will is!" Seeker laughed as he raised the halberd to begin his infamous training procedure.
The Barrier technology developed by the EAA was shocking. Through this technology, it withstood the attacks of the Americas during the Third World War. The weakest barriers could easily block armor-piercing rounds used by common infantry. Even though this barrier was weak, strategic usage of this tech when paired with their unique Exoskeletons that had fast speed had made EAA a formidable country that made the skirmishes of the Americas and Canada end in failure.Even low-tier barriers were priceless that not every rich power in the Underworld could gain access to it. With its unique and complex resources, it was deemed impossible to reverse-engineer and thus, portable barriers would appear even on enemy countries. Of course, barrier technology could not be used against the EAA as they could easily access it.Oark became an extremely valuable hired guard or hitman in the Underworld as he was one of the few who had managed to acquire portable barriers. Yet who would have thought that a punch coming from a human could penetrate through it?Various reddish lights had suddenly lit up as the barrier was breached. A hole was made from the punch. The shockwaves of that punch vibrated and exploded out causing the mercenaries behind the barrier to shake and stumble because of the shockwave that was generated from the punch."Tsk! It looks like I can only go this far. Barrier technology is as formidable as ever." Seeker admired. His hand remained penetrating the barrier. Though the barrier tried to close the gap created, and while normal humans would be crushed at the reforming barrier, Seeker managed to ignoreBut before any of the mercenaries could aim their guns at Seeker, Seeker's hand opened and a small orb, as large as a walnut, fell down.At that moment, Madison's years of experience and the throngs of battle experience made him feel that he was on the throes of his death.And just like all those other moments where he faced death and barely made out alive, he witnessed the phenomenon that would greet him like an acquaintance.Time first started to move at an extremely slow speed. The milliseconds of Seeker's actions were clearly seen as if the entire act was over five seconds long. But as the bomb dropped, timed move slower still.It moves so slow that the falling orb wasn't moving anymore.And for a few seconds, Madison finally concluded that time stopped."I guess this is it?" He thought. Such a strange series of events had befallen him. He was one more mission away from being able to leave the Underworld. Who knows? Maybe he could finally profess his feelings to that person.But life was cruel. This last mission which paid such a huge amount that he could buy himself out of the picture had too many unpredictable variables. But who would have thought that he would be scammed? Not only was this mission involved in the prostituting of a world-famous gamer, but it also involved the government and even the WGP!The strange feelings he felt at that moment when time stood still made him laugh at his own misfortunes. Pity still, was the fact, that he could not even laugh or smile as his body remained frozen along with time."I would die from the hands of a kid? What a sick joke." He thought as he looked at the bomb.In fact, there was a point where things stopped moving. It was if, time would not move.Madison gazed at it for a long time. Sadly, there wasn't anything he could do. He could not even change the focus of his sight."At least let me have a good look at my killer!" Madison thought as he tried to take a peek at Seeker's face.His eyes were affixed to the small palm of Seeker which dropped the small orb. Even then he tried his best to look at Seeker. But since his eyes had focused on the orb, he could only make out the vague and unfocused image of Seeker's expression."He's smiling? What a cruel kid." Madison thought in his heart."I guess this is it." Madison couldn't smile but he was somewhat happy. Now that he knew he would die, strange emotions began to surface at the thought of freedom from this life.He could not even shift his gaze but longed to look at the assassin beside her."Would it be crazy if I told you that I loved you?" He pondered before accepting his faith."At least let me prove it."In the great mystery of that moment, somehow, Madison knew that time would suddenly move forward.And immediately after, time indeed moved.Seeker's punching arm retracted at an unbelievable speed and quicker still was Seeker's retreat. With one powerful step Seeker flew off to the other end of the room as if he was flying.Despite the series of unexpected scenarios, the mercenaries still managed to react faster than how most could. And so, most of them noticed the small orb that fell down.Before anyone could yell, the bomb immediately exploded.THUD!A muffled sound could be heard and it was as if a strange vacuum was formed sucking a strange vibration that sounds within the area disappeared.The explosion had no flames, no loud booming sounds.All that it emitted was a powerful repelling force that threw them all away.It was a bomb that was the result of their application and study based on Richie's voice.The Aragarian's behind the Australian government had been trying to replicate Peals of Thunder. But now that Richie had grown far stronger, and with the great scientist Lennox behind their back, a militarized usage of Richie's sound was possible.Richie was granted the honor to name it.The chattering Richie commended Lennox at that time and while Lennox and Arthur had long retreated as Richie's chattering mouth worn them out, Seeker stayed close by and listened as if he was used to Richie's endless chatters."What do you want to name it?" Seeker patiently asked."My skill is called Peals of Thunder, right? Then there could only one name for this bomb." Richie laughed.As Seeker recalled the discussion with Richie, he unconsciously frowned.For a split second, Seeker even forgot he was in the middle of battle."It's a good thing these Balls of Thunder are as useful as you said it was." Seeker sighed. It was then that Seeker's expression changed.The sound bomb shook everyone in the room and they were thrown out and they all crashed to the walls or was flattened on the floor.Others flew past Seeker at the force of the explosion.Yet despite this bomb, none of the assassins died. It was all according to Seeker's calculation. The position and direction of how these mercenaries would all be thrown off were accurate. Except for two particular people, Madison and the woman called Cheryl.Madison's body had great wounds.Seeker gave him an odd look."Unbecoming. How rare. To think there'd be someone in your group with this potential." Seeker walked closer towards him ignoring all the grunting and the struggling bodies around him."I guess I've been greatly underestimating your kind. Perhaps Lander was right. I may not know it, but people like you must have had contributed greatly to our future. Well, this changes things." Seeker smiled.At the last possible second, Madison reacted faster than the rest of the mercenaries. He actually moved in front of the mercenary Cheryl and did his best to withstand the explosion.The other mercenaries did not have wounds as critical as Madison's body had.In fact, Cheryl, who was thrown off from the back had the fewest since the impact that assaulted her was greatly minimized."Is this love?" Seeker mused to himself."Ah that familiar face." A strange thought echoed out in Seeker's mind. At that moment, Seeker then understood the actions of Madison as if years of experience had thought him this reckless and selfless act of sacrifice.Seeker frowned as a grave and serious look surfaced on his face."I see Forget it. I'll deal with you later." Seeker said to himself. Seeker then glanced at the bloodied body of Madison."Amazing. You forced your body to stand still and accept the full force of the blast and yet you survived. The transition and effect of the Neuro-Transcellular phenomenon shouldn't be that fast. Yet your body almost reached the basic level of an Unbecoming body? How'd you do it?" Seeker moved quickly and stood over Madison."I see If this was a real bomb, it would draw the attention" Madison laughed."So the bomb was just a blast so you can disarm us But why? Aren't you planning on killing us?"Seeker didn't bother explaining and went ahead and shot Cheryl immediately. Because Madison took the majority of the explosion, Cheryl wasn't as hurt as the rest.BANG! BANG! BANG!Three shots rang as Seeker shot Cheryl with his eyes locked on to Madison.Seeker was stunned. The expressions of Madison turned from a sudden look of fear and then almost instantly became a confused look. Seeker who studied micro-expressions could tell the emotions that Madison displayed."Impossible. You could see that? This gun should have fired at the same velocity of a real gun yet you noticed it Do you see things stop?" Seeker then asked.At that moment, Madison's expression turned strange. He could not help but nod."So that's it. That's how you know I shot tranquilizer bullets." Seeker glanced in excitement. He had shot the girl from a position that hid the gun's appearance from sight. Madison would have only seen the gunshot.If Madison found out that Seeker used tranquilizer bullets, the only explanation was that Madison managed to either make time far slower than ever which is almost impossible for any regular Unlocked. Those at the Advent stage of Unbecoming didn't have this capacity."What an interesting Skill. Could you stop time from your perspective? I need that" Seeker smiled excitedly. This was a simple Skill. But if he could trace the foundation of this, have Lynd copy it, or pass on the foundations to everyone else, a perspective that could stop time was extremely useful."Since you've reached Unbecoming You probably now have the vitality to remain alive while I play around with the others." Seeker shoved a pill on Madison's mouth."This should help you stay alive. Eat it and rest."Madison, who was confused, still obeyed Seeker. He knew that having such a conversation amidst mercenaries would be idiotic and decided to just obey Seeker's orders and wait until Seeker defeats the rest of the mercenaries.After confirming that Madison swallowed the pill, Seeker aimed his gun at Madison."We'll talk later."BANG! BANG!Immediately after Seeker shot Madison, Seeker dodged as a mercenary finally got a hold of a gun and immediately attacked Seeker."Good. Except for these two, everyone else has reacted according to my calculations." Seeker smiled. The explosion of the bomb had injured. Seeker knew none of them died. The position and of where he made the bomb fall was calculated. Except for Madison and the girl, everyone else fell into the respective areas that Seeker had envisioned.But then Seeker started to retreat back to the entrance as his calculations could no longer keep up."So I can calculate just an instance?" Seeker sighed. He knew if it was Arthur, his calculation would have continued longer.Some mercenaries were acting in instinct and were rushing to get a gun to shoot Seeker because of their fear of death. Other mercenaries were still trying to make sense of where they are.Seeker smiled and was about to use the full extent of his Reaper's Breath, he paused as he recollected something. Just like Madison, Seeker managed to awaken and reach the Overcomer's level due to a variety of emotions."It isn't just fear" Seeker frowned."My rising to the Ranked Hero stage was one of the most conflicting emotions I felt Love, hatred, anger, frustration. Madison reached Unbecoming with that as well" Seeker pondered.His rise to the Ranked Hero stage was also through the conflicting emotions of fighting and defeating Zeraphine of the Presiders."Let's try it then What if I awaken their emotions and push it further? They're better than the soldiers and have had quite a life. Maybe if I force them to tread on a path, they would breakthrough" Seeker grinned. He prepared to summon the memories and all the emotions he felt and leak it to affect all the mercenaries."I'll be stronger if you do that." A familiar thought surfaced once more.Seeker gritted his teeth."If I'm right, you'd be less annoying." Seeker answered back."Whatever you say."Seeker no longer hesitated, but then summoned his memories once more.Suddenly, Seeker's cell started to vibrate erratically. The power of his cancerous cells was focusing on producing the same hormones that would create the Reaper's Breath.Seeker channeled his memories and just as he managed to release the emotions during the battle against the Tyrant Empress, Seeker did so once more.A powerful terror grasped the hearts of everyone in that room.Seeker only smiled and ignored him and waited for the others to respond.The emotions that Seeker leaked out were based mainly on his frustrations. The many memories of his life, all the frustration that he felt. Failure in battle, failure in love, failure to save his loved ones all were poured out.And aside from the frustration, Seeker leaked out the angry emotions he felt. The anger that drove him to defeat and kill Zeraphine, the anger that allowed him to destroy the Orbital's that killed both Lynd and Meryl, the many waves of anger he felt towards the arrogant faces of the Presiders who massacred Earth with a proud expression.All of these were all leaked out."Fight me!" Seeker called out.The shivering bodies of all the mercenaries started to move as the scuffled for their weapons. They could not understand it. But somehow, a strange angry emotion and a feeling of utter frustration brought about by despair gripped their hearts and mind.The mercenaries moved wildly and angrily,"Too slow!" Seeker reacted as he lunged towards a mercenary who was reaching for a gun and kicked him. Seeker expertly spun and took the halberd that was dropped nearby and began his attacks on all the mercenaries.Two of the mercenaries managed to move as if Seeker's pressure were none-existent. One of them was the one that Seeker just kicked. Their eyes were red with anger and a conflux of various emotions."What a surprise! Harker was right! These soldiers ARE useful! But sorry Harker These mercs are too perfect! More members for my Gryphon Squadron!" Seeker smiled as he ran towards the remaining one who was moving towards their weapons."Let's see how strong your will is!" Seeker laughed as he raised the halberd to begin his infamous training procedure.
