episode_0176

* * *

-The constellation chosen by Rahe is 『Libra』.

As the name of the constellation suggests, the greatest characteristic of her power lies in the ‘balance’ of strong-weak, strong-strong.

Rahe possesses more powerful and superior abilities than anyone else with her inherent power, but her true value is demonstrated in disadvantageous situations where she should be at a disadvantage in anyone’s eyes.

When there are more opponents than herself, when the opponents are stronger than herself.

Rahe’s power becomes even stronger, as if balancing the scales. In addition to her original power, she becomes even more powerful so as not to be defeated by the opponent’s power.

In short, it ‘balances’ things out.

An ability that never falls behind the opponent.

Therefore, until now, she has never experienced defeat even once.

Of course, by the time she became the leader, there was no one to compare with her original power alone, so she rarely had the chance to use this ability….

-And the constellation of the villain Delta, who came to face such Rahe, is 『Gemini』.

Her main ability is ‘imitation,’ which literally copies and replicates the opponent’s power as it is and uses it as her own.

Originally, she could only copy to a degree that was inferior to the opponent’s, but after undergoing Apple’s mental modification, which brought out her potential to the fullest, and drug and physical modifications, which she enthusiastically received regardless of the pain, she raised it to a practical level against the leader.

As for her personality, she was originally timid and afraid to come forward, but now, in addition to her forcibly inflated physique, her mind has also become ferocious and belligerent, suitable for fighting.

Everything is for Apple. For Apple-nim, to whom she pledged her loyalty, she did not mind her body and mind changing at all.

For that person, she felt like she could give her life a hundred or two hundred times over.

『Libra』 and 『Gemini』.

『Balance』 and 『Imitation Magic』.

Considering those two abilities, the outcome was not easy to predict.

It would be like a fight between the strongest spear and the strongest shield.

To imagine a little further.

It was also possible to foresee a situation in which power would increase uncontrollably as a result of repeatedly ‘balancing’ or ‘imitating’ in order not to lose to each other…

Like placing mirrors facing each other, constantly accumulating power and becoming stronger in response to the opponent’s power… Eventually, there could be a singularity.

Apple had only thought about such a possibility.

Either way, it was a good story for Apple.

Creating some kind of chaos in this country, whatever it may be, was Apple’s purpose.

Even though there could have been other ways, the reason why she took the time to create ‘someone comparable to Rahe’ was for that reason.

It was clear that the fight between Rahe and Delta would be a long one.

Surely—it should have been.

“……..”

Thump, Rahe’s boots crushed the frozen ground.

The place where Rahe was standing was like a pure white snowfield.

No, no. The place where she was standing was the same plaza as before.

However, the entire plaza was covered with pure white or transparent ice and snow.

Rahe walked out onto the snowfield, crunch crunch.

The giant ice statue that she had just passed was an ice sculpture of what used to be Delta.

She who imitated Rahe’s power, from a certain moment, her body swelled up as if she was running wild, and eventually she became a grotesque monster, a lump of flesh nearly 5 meters tall.

But even after becoming such a figure, even while emitting such terrible and ominous magic, she was eventually trapped in Rahe’s ice storm and frozen, and ended up like this.

Furthermore, several ice pillars were pierced straight through the ice statue, making it clear that her life had been cut off.

In the end, Rahe’s power was far beyond what Apple had expected and imagined.

Delta’s power, which was thought to be comparable to Rahe’s, was ultimately not even close to her feet….

“I pity you. If possible, I wanted to protect at least your lives…”

Rahe lowered her eyes and muttered wistfully.

But it couldn’t be helped. She wanted to save them if possible, but after considering various things as the leader, she had no choice but to come to this conclusion.

That is why Rahe is pointlessly wandering around here, looking at those she has turned into ice statues, even though she already knows that there is no one left alive in this plaza.

At least to remember the faces of those whose lives she took. Also, to pray to the God she believes in for their afterlife.

That time didn’t take long either.

She confirmed that those trapped in the ice statues had died as they were. She thought that there would be no more reinforcements coming, and even if there were, Check and Club would take care of it.

Having made that decision, Rahe immediately left the plaza and ran out.

The place where her body is heading in a straight line is the building located in the same direction where she threw the 13th a little while ago.

Apple is there.

* * *

Click, the sound.

It was the sound of Apple cocking the gun she had for self-defense.

Almost simultaneously with Apple taking out the gun, Spade, who was standing in front of her, pounced on the 13th.

“You’re not even giving me time to talk?!”

“Because I don’t think you’ll agree to talk…!!”

The 13th exclaimed in embarrassment at the quick judgment and movement, and Apple replied.

Her judgment was correct.

Well, even if she just held these two here and bought time, the 13th would win.

She didn’t know how the fight between Rahe and Delta would turn out in the plaza, but she couldn’t even imagine Rahe losing, and even if that wasn’t the case, Check would reach this building in time.

Coco and Club are also watching for openings at this very moment.

Apple, who now only has Spade to rely on, has no way to deal with this situation.

…No, it wasn’t that she had no means at all.

“There’s no need for a conversation—subdue that man, Spade!!”

Apple shouted, hiding her body behind a thick wall, wary of Club’s snipers.

Incapacitate the 13th before reinforcements come for him and brainwash him.

She had already completed most of the procedures necessary for hypnotic brainwashing, and if she had a little time to face each other, she could make this man her doll.

The 7th Unit is still in the hands of the 13th.

So, if she only dominates and takes control of the 13th… she can instantly neutralize all the members of the 7th Unit who have come here.

Not just neutralize, but make them her own and dominate them──

‘Many things were unexpected.’

‘But thanks to you showing yourself in person, it looks like everything will be fine!!’

A do-or-die, all-in gamble, betting everything you have.

A last stand of survival or death, taking everything or having everything taken away.

Such a battle began here.

* * *

Bang!!

A little earlier than Spade reaching the 13th, Apple’s gun spat fire.

Unfortunately, the gun did not hit the 13th and grazed him slightly. Apple’s shooting skills were not great, but more than that, it was because the 13th saw the gun and dodged it first.

‘He dodged it…?!’

He heard that he had lost his abilities.

But his reaction now did not seem like the reaction speed of an incompetent person at all.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Apple pulled the trigger several times more, but none of them hit the 13th.

With extraordinary physical abilities that did not seem like an ordinary person, the 13th dodged Apple’s bullets.

In addition, he even deflected one of the bullets with a modified baton pulled from his waist.

And the very moment the 13th barely blocked Apple’s gun.

Spade, who had bypassed her to some extent so as not to be hit by the gun, but eventually reached him, pounced on him.

“Keuk…!”

The 13th swung the baton at Spade in an awkward posture right after blocking the bullet, but before the end of the baton could be properly swung, Spade’s foot kicked the handle of the baton.

The 13th’s weapon flew into the air, hitting the ceiling and falling away.

Although he knocked away the 13th’s weapon, Spade also had a slight opening at that moment.

The 13th quickly reached out and pulled out her exclusive weapon, a short baton, which was hanging on Spade’s waist.

“…!”

Spade widened her eyes in surprise, pulling out the one remaining short baton with her own hand.

In this way, there is one short baton in the 13th’s hand and one in Spade’s hand.

The ink-colored short batons, which were originally used with one in each hand, are now in each of their hands.

Spade was quite surprised that she had been disarmed in that short moment, but without showing any sign of surprise, she immediately swung the weapon in her hand.

Clang!

The 13th’s short baton blocked Spade’s swinging short baton, and sparks flew.

The weight of the short baton and the force with which it is swung are enormous.

Even if it doesn’t have a blade, even if it’s not a gun, it has enough killing power with each swing.

Clang! Clang! Clang!!

Clanging! Clang clang clang!!

The loud sound of fighting echoed, and the desperate fight between Spade and the 13th continued.

They swing short batons of the same shape, aiming for each other’s vitals, but they are blocked.

The weapon attack is blocked, but this time they use their arms and legs to stab each other’s openings, but they are blocked by each other’s arms and legs in the same way.

A deadly battle is taking place at close range, where a moment’s gap leads to death.

“How…!”

And Apple stared blankly at the scene.

No matter how she looked at it, this was beyond her expectations. She clearly judged that the 13th was just a minion without any power or ability except for the brainwashing drug…!!