Poppy looked down onto his wrist and saw the pins to which they were released. Poppy remembered he forgot to pick them up after his exciting battle against Spino. This made his heart drop.
Warmaster Poppy: Looks like I won't be able to die if I were to encounter danger.
He sat down next to Empress's grave and pondered on his next move.
Warmaster Poppy: I have a suspicion that the hunters are closing in on me. It's only a matter of time before...
Poppy stopped himself and just rested. He was done thinking about a potential fight for he was exhausted.
X teleported in what was the Congo jungle entrance. What was once a lush jungle was now a burnt down travesty. Luscious green trees were now burnt twigs, life there was gone. X continued his pathway towards the way to the boss. On the opposite side, Zero and Axl walked slowly through the dead trees.
Zero: Good going Axl in burning the jungle.
Axl: Can't help it that enemies were in the trees.
Zero rolled his eyes and continued to dash. X entered the boss room first, but he was immediately thrusted towards a wall and had a knife pointed at his throat.
Warmaster Poppy: I could've killed you, Hunter.
X pointed his buster at Poppy's head.
X: Doesn't matter if you could time stop, I can bet my plasma shot can reach you before you could react.
Warmaster Poppy sighed and dropped X and his knife.
Warmaster Poppy: What do you want Hunter?
X: for you to surrender.
Warmaster Poppy: Surrender? Why?
X: Surrender now or else...
Warmaster Poppy: I had you pinned against a tree and you think you can-
Before Poppy could say another word, X pointed his buster at Empress's grave. Poppy stood in front of the buster, nervous.
X: Now Poppy, will you surrender?
Warmaster Poppy: X, why would you threaten the dead?! Have you felt that low?
X: You heard records of me Poppy, correct?
Poppy nodded slowly
X: You know that I wouldn't try that unless you're my greatest enemy. You're not my enemy, I came here for answers.
He dropped his buster, making Poppy relax a bit, still standing in front of Empress's grave just in case.
X: Now then, I have one question. Why defend that grave?
Poppy then realized that what X did was a bluff: He wanted to get an emotional reason on why Poppy would be here.
Warmaster Poppy: My friend fought here.. She... died here. I did my best to bury her, in the forest to which she loved. Or once was before-
Poppy growled in a way, thinking of Axl made him angrier than normal
X: Ok, Just wanted to know that for one reason.
Warmaster Poppy: And what reason is that?
X: I'm not gonna turn you in or retire you. You're already in enough emotional pain that inflicting more wouldn't make sense. Just promise me that you won't affect the outside world.
Poppy thought about it and only replied with a nod
X: good enough for me.
Before X could walk away, a charged buster shot and automatic buster pellets came Poppys way, hitting him in the back and flinging him on his stomach. Axl and Zero arrived.
