Elaine ran through the emptied city, demolished buildings or barely standing. It was a desolate place. A complete ghost town that was now a battlefield because of a man's fury.
"Yo!" A voice called out.
Elaine quickly raised her hands as she squeaked, "EE!"
Skysin merely stared at Elaine's stance. His violet eyes squinted, face neutral as he stood like some lost child in a mall. Elaine herself looked like some kind of bird that knew martial arts.
There was only silence between the two.
"Skysin, you're okay!!" Elaine exclaimed. She released a deep sigh, placing a hand on her chest, "please don't sneak up like that…I'm traumatized already…"
Skysin rubbed the back of his head, chuckling, "sorry—sorry. Looks like you did okay though."
"Yeah, I think I got lucky…but I'm alright. You took down that Capreece guy?"
"Yep! Could hardly even keep up."
Elaine smiled, then tilted her head, "now that I think about it…why're you helping us? We don't really…know each other like that."
Skysin crossed his arms, "kinda got the gist on why Crim wanted to help you guys. Not like I can't if he wants to. His ship needs a battery, and your place is the only one selling it."
Elaine sweated, "well…" She poked her fingers together, "I kinda blew up everything with the building…"
"Pfft…" Skysin cackled.
"He—Hey!! That's not funny, okay?? I didn't have a choice!"
Skysin laughed, "can't wait to see Crim's face when he hears that."—The young man shrugged, walking forward— "no biggie to me. You guys can just order another. Plus, from how annoyed Crim looked earlier, I think he might have a crush on your sis."
Elaine giggled, eyeing Skysin with softness, "whatever the case may be… Thanks for helping us out, really."
"Meh," Skysin waved it off, "no reason to thank me. Like ya said, it's for our own purpose."
"Still though—"
"You can thank me after we help your sis and get back in one piece, cool?"
"Yeah!"
Skysin and Elaine headed to where Ai Mei is.
**
Shockwaves shook throughout the city, wisps of light carving through the air at breakneck speeds. Ai Mei and Greyvus moved within the area, fists and kicks flying faster than the yuman eye could track.
As the two came sliding across the ground, Greyvus slipped a punch towards Ai Mei.
Ai Mei weaved, sending a roundhouse kick over to the man. But Greyvus leapt over, kicking his knee to her face.
The girl had briskly flipped back, narrowly dodging a lethal knee to her face.
Greyvus rubbed his chin, humming, "….it seems Raine taught you well indeed."
Ai Mei scowled, "don't speak my father's name."
"Me and your father knew each other before you were even born, brat." Greyvus scoffed, "Until he met that wench…"
"I don't even know her! What will killing me do anything for you?? This is meaningless!"
Greyvus squeezed his fists, mildly shaking, "maybe for you… BUT NOT FOR ME!!!" Greyvus lunged, front kicking.
Ai Mei raised her arms, blocking his foot as her heels scraped through the ground beneath them.
"I couldn't do anything at first. But now that numbers have been divided, no one else is a threat to me!" Greyvus screamed, "Viper: Binding Collision!"
Greyvus used his arm as a serpent, slithering around Ai Mei's. He lifted her up and swung her onto the floor back first.
"I AM AN AVENGER!!! TIGER: ULTIMATE IMPACT!!" Greyvus raised his hands and slammed them towards Ai Mei.
Just before he could reach her, a pair of black boots came crashing onto Greyvus' head, sending him crashing through multiple constructs.
"Mei, you okay?"
Crim asked, giving his hand out to her.
Ai Mei took his hand, sighing in relief, "I'm okay, thanks…" Ai Mei stood, rubbing her head from getting smashed into the ground, "how's my sister? Is she okay?"
Crim sat his hands on his waist, "I dunno. She should be fine though, especially if Sin is with her. Plus I can't feel either of those other people's chaotic energy. Must've taken 'em down."
"Thank Malerenz."
"We got our own asses to worry about right now though…"
Ai Mei noticed Crim's grey eyes staring into the distance. She followed, gazing at Greyvus walking back slowly, calm as could be. Arms propped behind his back, not damaged in the slightest.
"Any idea why he's so pissed?"
"Well…" Ai Mei sharply exhaled, "he's got a serious vendetta against my mom. Who I don't even know."
"And that reason is…?"
"She killed someone he knows. Probably his family, more than likely. I feel so stupid now…"
"Not like you would've known this. Can't blame yourself. But this explains why he's so hell-bound on killing you."
Ai Mei looked to Crim, biting her lip, "I'm really sorry I dragged you and Skysin into this…it's not fair."
Crim slapped the apology away, "meh, no need to apologize. I brought myself into it. And Sin probably doesn't even care much if there's a fight. So…we'll make this out, alive."
"But you really don't have to! You can literally go somewhe—"
"Look." Crim interrupted Ai Mei, "I wouldn't call myself the hero type. But I told you I'd help. Gonna keep my word. If you really wanna apologize. Get me the battery after this crap gets settled."
Ai Mei staggered for a second. Crim's stubborn when he wants to. But Ai Mei couldn't help but respect it and be grateful. Ai Mei smiled, "right."
As Greyvus ambled his way to them, chaotic aura spiraled from his being, his eyes set on Ai Mei.
"Listen Greyvus!" Ai Mei spoke, "I'm sorry about what my mother did…but I understand what it's like to lose family… I don't wish for us to die because of something she herself caused!"
Greyvus laughed loudly, "I don't care! I don't care if you're her child, grandchild, or great grandchild. Just you being related to her makes my skin crawl… You have no place in this world, or Omiverse!"
That was the answer right there. Greyvus was not going to change his mind, whatsoever. The martial artist was set on his revenge. And he'd do whatever it took to make sure that plan would happen.
Ai Mei and Crim readied themselves.
Greyvus leapt to them, swinging his fist to Ai Mei, completely ignoring Crim's existence.
Ai Mei put herself on the defensive, but Crim hastily reacted, sweeping his own kick to Greyvus in that span of short time.
Greyvus was quick and fast, blocking Crim's kick and sending knuckles to the boy's gut. Yet Crim managed to tank the brute force with his arms. However, the power itself sent Crim sliding across the broken gravel road.
"Crim!" Ai Mei yelled, gritting her teeth, fighting back against Greyvus.
Greyvus dodged each attack with ease. Ducking under another, Greyvus laughed, "a solid attack, but nowhere near enough." Greyvus spun on the balls of his foot with quickness, sliding a kick onto Ai Mei's torso, launching her away.
Ai Mei was sent soaring in the air, but she quickly backflipped, landing on her feet as she slid across the surface. But what she didn't notice was Greyvus already waiting where she stood, staring down at her.
Greyvus raised his hand, fingers pulled together like a knife, about to slice her head off.
Ai Mei's hazel eyes widened and weaved under, just as his hand slashed diagonally. Cars, lucanaships, and buildings sliced down in one fell swoop. Ai Mei maneuvered onto a handstand, kicking a foot towards Greyvus.
Greyvus slapped away her foot, thrusting his fist onto Ai Mei's back. Ai Mei slammed on the ground, bounced, and thundered into a car.
Ai Mei gazed to Greyvus as she coughed, 'was he holding back this entire time?? It's like I'm fighting my dad…!' Ai Mei thought to herself, pushing herself to stand as Greyvus steadily approached.
"Is that really all you can do as a disciple of the Shang Fu art? I'm quite disappointed."
A small ball of ice slapped the side of Greyvus' head.
Greyvus raised a brow, "the hell was that?" He asked, looking around.
Ai Mei's eyes focused on the small back of a young woman standing in front of her, before Greyvus.
"Elaine?"
Greyvus' lip had raised, a bit annoyed, "are you serious…?"
A flicker of flames popped beside him.
As it grabbed Greyvus' attention, Crim and Skysin came speeding down from the sky, ramming their knees right onto the man's head, exploding into the road!!
Ai Mei quickly stood, "Elaine, what're you doing here?? It's too dangerous. You need to leave, now!"
"No! I'm not just gonna leave you here Mei Mei! What about our promise?? To stand by each other no matter what?!"
Ai Mei paused.
She knew the promise, but Greyvus is too strong. She couldn't allow Elaine to just get killed like this.
"She's right, y'know?" Skysin spoke up, arms behind his head, "don't really know each other much, but I'm having fun. Plus, that Greyvus guy pisses me off. And we're already here, so why not?"
"I told you," Crim added, "we're here."
Ai Mei sighed, "fine…"
A hand grabbed the ledge of the crater, and Greyvus pulled himself out, "oh…so now a group of brats are here. Fantastic. All of you are done now."
Crim, Ai Mei, and Elaine all prepared themselves for an arduous battle.
Skysin grinned, rolling his shoulders, "alright guys! It's do or die. Let's kick his ass!!"