Chapter 441 - The Wolf And The Serpent

Cliff and his team prepared their weapons. While Amir Mann was an ally, they knew meeting him wouldn't be an everyday experience, especially since Amir and Cliff had fought. Amir had lost because Cliff reached another level in his powers and won with the assistance of everyone else in the battle on the Kraken.

Cliff could sense the deep anger of Amir. But he also sensed something from the young man that accompanied Amir. The young man looked very much like Amir. But instead of a muscular body, the boy had a fragile frame.

Cliff felt a headache coming along as he saw Amir and could guess what had happened.

"Seeker..." Cliff shook his head and turned to Amir.

"You crazy Overcomers really need to chill! This really isn't the time, Amir. I respect you as an Overcomer, but..." Cliff frowned.

"But...?"

"I have a date! Can't you settle your grudge another time? Look, I'll be happy to face off with you, or whatnot, but can't we have it after my date?"

Amir Mann laughed and shook his head.

"You misunderstand, Cliffy. I'm not here to settle a grudge. I'm here because of my son. And I'm afraid to say that this can't wait." Amir pointed at the young man in front of him.

"So he is your son! A Ranked Hero, huh? Where is his mom? And what have you been feeding him! I mean, this kid looks like he needs to eat more!" Cliff complained.

Zidane, Hank, and Counter were all more guarded when Cliff confirmed it. They could feel a terrifying power within the body of the boy.

"So he really is a Ranked Hero! So young!" Zidane was amazed. The young boy was barely in his teens.

"Not yet a Ranked Hero. That's why we're here."

"You want me... to fight the boy?" Cliff frowned.

"I'm afraid that my worth and use have surpassed these menial chores."

"Wow! The boss used menial!" Hank praised.

"Amazing. He really has grown." Counter approved.

Cliff sighed. His memories allow him to capture and select things that have drastically changed how he speaks. Seeker and Charles also told him to do that to appear more professional.

"Yes. But don't underestimate him, General." Amir laughed.

"I did what I did and why I chased after you back then because of him. You should be able to see it, right? How his cells are changing?"

"Yes. I've been using my Path. His cells are changing every second. My memory of how strong each of his cells grows at the passing of each second."

"He just ate. We thought we'd do you guys a favor for the trouble that we will cause. More of Pridgeon's men were found on the east side. We paid them a little visit to have some fun."

"Have some fun? Attacking a Presider without prior approval is- Wait a minute! That boy next to you- He's hungry. Not just hungry! He's already starving! Didn't you say you he ate?" Cliff frowned.

"Yes. He is the reason why I have been looking into the WGP and even chased after you and Lowengren. It's the scent that you two gave off. Of course, that bastard brat played me like a cat! So it became personal as the chase continued. Of course, when I saw Typical, I wanted to get him and have my son feed on him. My goal has always been trying to find a way to cure my son. As you can see, he isn't normal. Rather, he can't live a normal life because of his hunger. He needs to feed almost all the time. I keep him in cryostasis using various techs to keep him alive."

"Feed? Oh. I get it. That explains it. His cells are dying of hunger. No wonder it's changing so fast. That's why you had to kill. It's to feed him!"

"Luckily, there are newer food supplies that help him control his diet. His cells are now dying at a slower rate. Can you feel it? The familiar cells of those people?"

"Those people?" Zidane asked.

"I see..." Cliff made a very deep sigh.

"That kid of yours. Why does he have the cells of several members of the Dragon's Fang?"

At that moment, the trio commanders were horrified.

"Boss! You can't mean!"

"No. I doubt that Meng will let that slide. I'm guessing this kid managed to bite off their arms and legs or something."

"He did. I had to stop him from killing Specter. One and Force were so angry that they went on to fight me. That Suit really has improved. Sting is now a Ranked Hero. And I was surprised! Typical is now a Near-Overcomer." Amir laughed.

"One, Force, Blur, Clutch, and even Twister. To think your little boy managed to nab a bite from these guys. One and Force are among the next Unlocked that is expected to become a Ranked Hero within a month. I get it. He needs to eat people with high cells to survive. You can't go after Meng directly. That will kill your boy. So you are going after everyone else so that your boy is strong enough to attack that person?"

"He wants to bite Meng?!" Counter was shocked.

"No. That would be suicide. He wants to bite Rosa."

"Oh, Nutterballs. That's even worse than bitting Meng!"

"Rosa has the Path that preserved her beauty. She is the key to healing this boy." Cliff explained.

"Anyway, I still have a date. So can I just offer my hands to him and be done with this?"

"Of course not. This boy of mine needs to bite an Unlocked utilizing his powers. He isn't like Seeker, who can copy the potential whether the cell is dormant or active. Unless the limb that he is eating is using Skills or Path, he won't gain it. So he has to force you. Oh, and of course... there is my grudge." Amir Mann gave a dangerous glare at Cliff.

"Oh, what fun! Did Seeker put you up to this?"

"Yes. He told me where you were. He said you aren't getting hard missions anymore."

"Did he suggest that you would take part? If we fight, the Presiders will notice!"

"Of course. He said that if we fight and I try to kill you, it will make the Presiders think that we Anti-Presiders aren't so united. That will make them not focus all of their attention on us. Right now, you attacked Pridgeon and Gordon. Suddenly, I crash the party and attempt to assassinate you. It's perfect."

"As expected of that guy. Seeker still bears a grudge ever since I made him kiss that man."

"What?"

"None of your business."

"...It isn't my business indeed... But I want to know."

"I won't tell you. Besides, this is too much trouble. I'll just teleport my way out of here and bring these three. If you kill the soldiers up there in anger, I honestly don't care. Most of them are from the Novelty-Blastoise who mistreated Charm anyway. See you."

"She smelled nice." Amir smiled as he took out a single strand of hair.

Cliff froze.

Amir moved closer to the young man next to him and made the young man smell it.

The young man grunted as he sniffed the strand of hair and was slowly transforming into a werewolf.

"AHHHH!"

"No wonder you like her. She's sweet and kind. I have already asked for her permission if I could have a talk with you. I had to keep my son away from her, you know? She smells so refreshing and calming that I almost thought it was a Skill. In fact, now that she is Unlocked, it is probably a Skill. She's quite a catch. I wonder what she tastes like? Her scent is so overpowering that it drives werewolves mad. There is something in her that drives us all insane. Thankfully, I can control the urges. But my son... a pity. He still lacks training."

"ROAR!" The werewolf completed his transformation.

"Oh, Nutterballs... Fighting an Overcomer?" Hank sighed.

Zidane and Counter, however, had an excited expression, and the trio moved to their position.

BOOM!

Surrounding Cliff was a sound armor that transformed into a massive long serpent that was all coiled up. The sound was the barrier that helped Cliff contain the strength and free movement of the wind.

The coiling serpent was made of wind and sound. But bolts of lightning could be seen dancing around the entire body.

"See, son? I told you this one is more exciting to fight! He has a diverse set of skills! That snake is using Richie's Spear of Transgression. But the hollow inside is made of Herme's winds. And let's not forget the wild lightning of Lennox inside. So this is it! Now I know why he became the General of the Basilisk Squadron!" Amir Mann laughed as his body slowly began to transform into a werewolf.

"Let's see who will eat who?!" Cliff roared as the coiling serpent sprang forward towards the two werewolves.