Chapter 206: Face The Nameless



Seeing the robotic unit operated by Nikko was a surprise, but a hopeful discovery in the darkest hour. He didn't know exactly where to begin in describing the circumstances, though found it to be a good time to inform the others as well.

"There is a Major Arcana in the building—the Devil," Finn admitted.

"An Arcana? Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure, Finn?" Nikko desperately asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, one hundred percent. It's a man that can warp the area around him. He's ruthless and cold; it feels like he's always faster and stronger than whatever you throw at him," Finn divulged what he knew.

"Warp the area? That explains why nobody has been able to get back inside–I see. You said this one appears as a normal man?" Nikko asked for clarification, touching his metallic chin as if in thought.

"Anything but "normal", but yeah. I don't know how to explain it, but it just feels like no matter what, he's always just a bit stronger, faster–just a moment ahead," Finn said, feeling the phantoms of wounds that once persisted on his body.

Charlotte looked at him with concern, shuffling a bit closer as she nudged her arm against his, "It's different now, though–we're here, Finn."

"Yeah," he nodded, holding a small smile, though not sure if he felt it was a benefit.

The black-steel sentry controlled by Nikko raised his left arm, unveiling a hidden blade that popped out, "I will assist you to the best of my ability. It may not be my most recent model, but this prototype will still provide plentiful support in combat." Nikko offered.

"Oh, hell yeah! I've been wanting to see a robot in action!" Jasper excitedly claimed.

"We'll take all the help we can get–" Finn admitted.

Amidst his own words, the entire left side of his body buzzed as he swung his gaze around. It was that stomach-turning sensation; that sickening feeling that rang like an alarm within him.

"He's here!--" Finn shouted, pushing the words desperately from his throat.

As he took the first step, pushing between his comrades in the direction he felt that disgusting presence, he was accompanied by a blaring noise–GRAT-GRAT-GRAT.

The dark floor was brightened with a burst of light from beside him, finding the cyber-pilot holding his left arm forward as a built-in gun rapidly fired bullets. A barrage of gunfire sprayed against the shadow-crept wall, though the sinister silhouette bled between the flashes of light from the bullets.

It was difficult to make out anything through the light of the gunfire, only seeing brief glimpses of the figure.

"Nikko! Hold on!" Finn yelled, reaching his hand over to the robot's arm.

The relentless shots came to an end as the robot glanced to the side, "What is it–?"

No sign of [Nameless] was seen at the other end of the facility, only dozens of bullet holes still left oozing smoke from the wall. There couldn't be a single second of allowing that man to escape his sights, quickly listening in for the quietest footsteps–

He looked over his shoulder, checking behind him as he saw Jasper with his sword and shield ready. A glance was shared between them in that second before he glanced to the other side, seeing Charlotte checking as well as her sword was clad in flames.

Finn stumbled back, knocked off his balance; Charlotte was left the same, but Jasper and Nikko managed to catch themselves.

For the knight, a quick skill was initiated–

["Banishment"]

From his right hand, Jasper tossed golden chains that sought to grasp the elusive man. The figure dropped down on all fours, rolling out of the way before hopping back up, flicking the gold links back with a slash of his knife.

From behind, Nikko closed off the killer's escape, cocking his metal fist back as the knuckles opened with hidden compartments–BOOM.

A punch from the robot came, ignited with a gunshot that launched right from the fist, though it hardly came close to striking [Nameless]. Instead, the fist of the cybernetic sentry was removed from its arm with an electrical buzz.

"That's a problem—" Nikko remarked.

A follow-up was attempted from the sinister man, pushing his knife towards the robot's head. Finn sprinted in from the right, while Charlotte came in from the other side.

While he intended to intercept the killer alongside the spellblade, their pincer attack was cast aside as the man vanished into the shadows.

"Shit!—" Finn reacted.

He dug his boot into the ground, forcing himself to come to a stop just short of a headbutt with Charlotte.

"Gah!" Charlotte flinched.

There was no time to exchange a word as he instantly glanced around for where the elusive man would sprout from next. It was becoming like a lethal game of whack-a-mole; an impossible difficulty.

The mechanical construct built by Nikko extended minuscule fragments from its separated arm, swiftly rebuilding its own limb.

"I can still keep going. Just worry about protecting your own bodies—" Nikko's voice emitted from the robot.

Finn saw it was a split-second, not hesitating to love, "Jasper!"

The warning came just as the knight pivoted, raising his shield to guard against wherever the knife came from.

["Azure Fortification"]

A blue hum clad itself to the knight, acting as a secondary exterior of astral armor that bolstered his shield as well.

All of that to stop the knife, yet it sank right past the armaments.

As though it were butter, the enchanted shield was pierced easily.