Bam. Bam. Bam.
Nessa's claws rained down on Plague Reaper like a hail of blades. Her muscles were tensed like steel ropes, veins inflated with occasional shivering, hot steam emanated from her entire body. She was at her limit, doing everything she could to buy a little more time.
Plague Reaper, unlike Nessa who had a furious expression on her face, tried to remain calm and collected.
Katrin's plan made his task much more difficult, but... Nessa was clearly not strong enough to compete with him. She woefully lacked the mastery and ability to hold off Plague Reaper.
Whoooooooosh.
The scythe spun rapidly in Plague Reaper's nimble hands, the black blade releasing sparks blocking Nessa's claws, occasionally, the end of the handle would hit Nessa's body leaving more bruises and small cuts.
'No... Something's not right. I'm giving it my best shot, I can feel my body ready to burst from the exertion, but... he dares to take his eyes off me?!' Nessa inwardly exclaimed with anger looking at Plague Reaper.
Plague Reaper's eyes were only occasionally turned towards Nessa. He was quite often glancing at what was happening near Fume Cathedral.
Adam and Katrin were attacking Scarlet Pyromancer from all directions.
In fact, Adam could kill Scarlet Pyromancer even in ten seconds given its current state, but he had to make sure that Katrin's genes got as much influence over Scarlet Pyromancer's genes as possible.
Whooooosh.
Adam burst forward, finding himself in front of Scarlet Pyromancer, whose broad wings were already covered in numerous cuts, bleeding, but they weren't serious wounds.
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
The glands at Scarlet Pyromancer's jaw quivered releasing powerful flame streams outward. Adam simply bounced back, only to appear next to Scarlet Pyromancer the next moment, swinging his long needle.
The sharp tip effortlessly cut through the monster's protective chitin, leaving a light, open wound.
Scarlet Pyromancer was a Top-8 Purple Threat monster. For many K1-Phantoms, it would be a real threat, but for Adam, it was already a pretty weak monster.
He had killed two different Top-2 monsters and had fought against Plague Reaper in an even match.
But... now he had to carefully wound Scarlet Pyromancer only for Katrin to take advantage of it.
Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.
A multitude of spiky roots emerged from the ground, pointing their sharp tips at Scarlet Pyromancer. Seeing this, Adam bounced to the side. If there was a way to make sure his genes didn't come in contact with Scarlet Pyromancer's genes, he had to do it.
Silvana and Alan were helping their Phantoms do the right thing.
It was on Silvana's advice that Adam decided to only inflict scratches on his opponent, weakening him and allowing Katrin to do much more damage.
"Should I chop off his legs?"
Katrin shook her head.
"No. In that case, you'll do too much damage to him. I don't want to risk it. Just damage his tendons, then I'll do it myself."
Adam nodded slowly before stepping forward, turning into a lightning flash.
Before this, Katrin had often been nervous, sometimes almost panicking and trying to figure out how to deal with the crisis they got into because of Plague Reaper.
However, when they finally set out to do what they went on this mission for, Katrin changed completely.
She acted coldly and pragmatically. In her head, she had already visualized many times how she would kill Scarlet Pyromancer and absorb his gene to get a new Initial Gene.
To her, Scarlet Pyromancer was no opponent, especially with Adam helping her.
Katrin looked at Scarlet Pyromancer like a butcher sharpening his cleaver before slaughtering another victim.
Sure, it wasn't in her plans to confront Plague Reaper, but Nessa was trying to buy them time.
Whooooooooooooosh.
Adam dashed next to Scarlet Pyromancer, his needle slicing Scarlet Pyromancer's legs, rendering them practically useless.
Then, spiky roots twisted around his injured legs, and Katrin jerked her hand, at once, the roots ripped Scarlet Pyromancer's legs from his body.
Before Scarlet Pyromancer could escape the pain, Adam got a new task and badly wounded Scarlet Pyromancer's wings.
Katrin didn't waste any effort in trying to tear off Scarlet Pyromancer's heavy and sturdy wings, but she effortlessly pierced them dozens of times with her roots, making multiple holes in them.
"TRRRRRRRKKKKK!!!"
Scarlet Pyromancer tried to do something, but his strength was already low.
Osana tilted her head looking at Katrin's cold face. She took no pleasure in such a brutal murder, she was just carrying out part of the plan, after all her life depended on it.
'How cold-blooded, but...' Osana glanced at Plague Reaper who realized that soon Katrin would get a new Initial Gene and become a full-formed combat Phantom.
'A cornered beast is scary. We have yet to see what Plague Reaper will do in a desperate situation.'
Osana narrowed her eyes glaring at Adam.
'Well... That just means I have to be ready. Their plan must not fail.'