Rossi rocked with laughter, as though he had heard the most absurd claim in the world. Then every expression vanished from his face in an instant, leaving only a cold blankness.
"Worried about my companions? Why not turn around and see how your own people are doing first?"
"You think trash like this is worthy of challenging us?"
"Impudent!"
The voice beneath the white mask tried to maintain its authority, but the thing inside his chest sank despite himself.
According to the plan, they should have isolated the man known as the strongest first, eliminated the other targets one by one, then used hostages as leverage to force him to submit.
But there was not a trace of uncertainty on the face before him. Had their intelligence been wrong? Could every one of those people they had separated be...
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
In another partitioned space, Doffy's leather heels struck the bare floor with hollow echoes.
Several men in black and the soldiers they led surrounded him like a silent fence.
"Is this all the manpower CP3 has?"
The man in black leading them gave a snort.
"More than enough for you."
"The best fighter among you is already receiving our commander's personal attention.
"Surrender now, and perhaps you can still..."
His voice cut off.
Something invisible exploded outward.
It was not wind, yet it was fiercer than wind; it was not pressure, yet it made their very marrow tremble.
An aura of intertwined black and red swept through like a tangible tide, carrying the cruelty and indifference of something that looked down upon all living things.
The soldiers fell in swathes like wheat beneath a scythe, their eyes rolling back as their consciousness plunged into darkness.
Even the men in black leading them buckled at the knees