Storms Gather

"That thing’s coming."

Duke Vic gazed at the giant silhouette outlined amid the flames in the distance. He did not seem particularly concerned; instead, his face was full of interest.

Hulk was indeed powerful, but Vic was far faster. It posed little threat to him.

Though it could continually gain greater strength through battle, that still required time to fight and grow.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

After "Lucy’s" stealth ability was forced to reveal her true form by the high-authority chains, she grew increasingly agitated by the roaring commotion charging in from behind.

Had that "Master" died outright in that explosion, completely enraging this guy?

How was that possible!

A Reincarnator who had been the first to approach and earn his trust could not possibly have been so weak.

But this was not the time to worry about that. If she did not deal with the man before her, it would make no difference whether that big brute came over or not.

"First, hand over the plasma you obtained."

With Hulk drawing closer, Duke Vic made his demand without any haste.

"You need to sign a contract first!"

"Lucy" clearly had no intention of submitting so readily.

"I’m not in a hurry, anyway."

Yet Duke Vic had no intention of accommodating her. After gritting her teeth for a moment, "Lucy" glanced at Jason, whom Vic had tossed at his feet, then snorted and flung the syringe in her hand toward him.

"Good. You know what’s best for you. Killing you does me no good, so you needn’t worry too much."

After catching the syringe filled with plasma, Duke Vic smiled broadly.

He then began inspecting it himself.

Though he believed that in such a desperate situation, she would not dare deceive him, the necessary caution still…

Before he could check the item’s properties, another barrage of rockets shot toward him.

"Hmph. A bunch of fools who don’t know what’s good for them."

At his level, how could he possibly care about ordinary rockets…

"Hm?"

But before he could even finish that thought, the seemingly ordinary rockets instantly emitted strange magical runes. Resonating with the rocket warheads, they actually formed a magical array with the rockets as its nodes!

"Damn it!"

He had initially intended to simply tank the attack. But once the array was completed and sealed off the entire area, Duke Vic had no choice but to take it head-on even if he did not want to!

In an instant, the magic attached to those warheads trapped him within a confined area.

The next moment, a dazzling white radiance erupted where he stood. Yet there was no violent explosion; all the energy had been compressed and unleashed within that tiny zone, without the slightest waste.

"Lucy" below could not help but twist her face viciously. Jason was within that blast radius as well!

At the same time, she understood why that counterfeit "Master" had been unable to escape.

She had assumed General Ross’s team was filled with insignificant fools, but she had not expected a Lone Wolf to be mixed in among them.

"Magic Killer" Tal.

That was the opponent "Lucy" recognized after realizing what was happening. Back then, like her, he had preferred lurking in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity.

She had not expected him to be hiding within General Ross’s team this time, suppressing himself without making a move until now.

That flash just now should have been mercury rounds specifically designed to counter vampires. Combined with his own magical array, Duke Vic had been caught off guard by the first strike. Even if he was not dead, he would have lost a layer of skin.

It was just a shame about Jason. Her plan had been on the verge of success, yet everything had been ruined…

"Tal! Are you really planning to make enemies of Saint Hill?!"

As the blinding flash faded, Duke Vic’s bedraggled figure was revealed at the center of the blast.

His formerly elegant appearance had turned completely into the smoking, tattered attire of a beggar. Jason, whom he had thrown aside, had already become a charred corpse.

"Saint Hill? I’ve even offended Eagle of Napoleon, the number one faction. Offending Saint Hill as well doesn’t seem like much."

A cold, hoarse voice came from nearby. Then, a cloaked figure whose face was entirely hidden appeared.

"Magic Killer" Tal.

An assassin with none of a Magus’s bearing whatsoever, he was one of the rare lone wolves in the France Zone—a mercenary and assassin.

As long as the price was right, he did not care who his opponent was.

His most famous achievement had been successfully ambushing and killing one of Eagle of Napoleon’s big shots back when he was still an Elite Reincarnator.

Yet even now, Eagle of Napoleon’s people would sometimes hire him to complete missions.

His conduct and personality were highly suited to the Reincarnation Space, and he had been thriving there.

Forget being ambushed by him first—even in a fair, open duel, Duke Vic knew he was no match for Tal!

But he had not expected a man like this to have set his sights on the mission target before them!

Banner’s Blood was indeed rare and highly effective, and Hulk’s abilities were also powerful.

But it should not have been enough to make him take such a risk!

His own power system had already taken shape!

Banner’s Blood should not have been enough to make him come specifically for this.

Every move in this Mission Space had to be weighed carefully. The more often one acted, the more likely S.H.I.E.L.D. was to neutralize them!

Could he have learned that secret as well?

Clearly, that was Saint Hill’s exclusive secret!

"I admit defeat this time. I’ll give you the item. How about we stop here? If we truly fight to the death, I may not be your match, but I certainly won’t let you get off easily!"

Duke Vic conceded decisively. He did not even require the other party to sign any agreement before directly tossing over the syringe in his hand.

Just as he himself did not intend to kill "Lucy," in normal mode, once one’s strength reached their level, there was no need to create unnecessary complications. There was no point doing things that brought trouble instead of benefits.

Only profit was the sole code of action in the Reincarnation Space.

"A wise decision. To have suffered only this much damage from my customized mercury rounds, it seems you are not far from becoming a Prince."

Tal caught the syringe with one hand and spoke in a satisfied tone. Since he could save himself some trouble, naturally it was better to do so.

That big brute drawing ever closer was not easy for him to deal with using his abilities. It could not be killed, and it only grew stronger the more it fought!

If he had not obtained newly uncovered secret information and learned that its blood had another use, he would not have taken this risk specifically…

But at that moment, Tal clearly saw the system’s description of the syringe in his hand.

Ineffective Banner Plasma: Banner plasma that has already lost its effectiveness. Its effects are no different from ordinary blood. It may be donated to a blood bank.

The description left Tal utterly stunned. Then, with a trace of embarrassed fury, he said in a sinister voice,

"Very well. You’re at death’s door, yet you still dare toy with me. It seems I’ve given you all the impression that I’m too easy to deal with…"

Boom!

At that moment, Hulk had already bulldozed his way through all manner of sheet-metal buildings and reached the area. With a single leap, he landed directly between the three people who were facing off…

The second update still needs proofreading… My youngest cousin started winter break today. I had wanted to fob him off with a serving of clam vermicelli, but it failed, and I was forcibly dragged outside…