EX-istential Crisis

Chapter 38: The Son's War

Nelly found himself surrounded by Emberly's lackeys, the atmosphere thick with tension and the threat of violence looming over him. With a swift motion, he picked up a stone from the ground and broke it into smaller bits. "Ero," he whispered urgently, "target lock some lights. I'll throw these bits to destroy them."

"Calculating..." Ero's voice chimed in his ear, a calm presence amidst the chaos. "A total of 25 lights, sir."

Nelly nodded, his mind racing as he prepared for the onslaught. He drew back his arm and began throwing the charged bits of stone, each one exploding into brilliant flashes of light. One by one, the lights shattered, plunging the area into darkness. In the pitch black, the only thing visible was Nelly's neon-vibe LED mask, which now flickered ominously as it shifted into Execution mode.

With a slight movement, the mask lit up the area around him in fading hues, casting eerie shadows that danced along the ground. Nelly could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, igniting a fire of determination. "Echo location activating, heat sensors up," Ero announced, providing vital intel. "A total of 54 on the right side and 73 on the left side."

"Thanks, Ero." Nelly felt the weight of his mission. He began to dash, moving like a shadow through the dark, intent on eliminating his targets one by one. As he closed in on the nearest lackey, the fear in their eyes grew. They could only see the haunting glow of his mask approaching, creating an aura of dread.

"Pull out our best assassins!" commanded Queenie, her voice sharp with authority.

Nelly's senses heightened as he detected movement through his heat sensors. "They're good at not being detected by sound," he muttered, preparing himself for the incoming danger. Almost immediately, the assassins lunged at him, their blades glinting in the scarce light.

Nelly's instincts kicked in; he dodged each slash with fluid precision. "Thunderstrike Blitz!" he shouted, executing a perfectly timed counterattack. With a single motion, he punched five assassins in rapid succession, sending them crashing to the ground. The echo of his fists reverberated through the dark alley, a testament to his strength.

He turned back to Ero, his breath steadying. "Ero, locate Mira and the others."

"Scanning..." Ero's digital voice resonated in his ear, a beacon of hope amid chaos. "Sir, they're on the third floor on the right side with a big window."

"On it." Nelly felt a rush of energy propel him forward. He dashed towards the wall, running horizontally before making a powerful leap. He reached for the fiberglass window, breaking through with his fingers first. Careful not to let the glass fall towards them, he stabilized the remaining shards, ensuring his friends would be safe.

"Here, take these creatures!" he instructed, pulling out small, intricate capsules designed for protection. "I already sent a signal to activate their defense mechanisms. Here for you, Mrs. Gina! And for you, Miro—"

As he reached out to hand the last dingding capsule to Mira, a sudden force grabbed him. It was a large, fiery hand, gripping him like a vice. He was yanked backward, the dingding capsule slipping from his fingers and clattering to the floor. "No!" he shouted, panic rising in his throat.

The moment the capsules hit the ground, they activated, their defense mechanisms kicking in. In a flash, Miro and Mrs. Gina were engulfed in a blinding light. Teleportation initiated, they were whisked away to safety, but Nelly's heart sank.

Distinct 13 Arcade

A"Where's my daughter?" Mrs. Gina gasped in shock as she materialized beside Mr. Requiem, her voice filled with desperation. "Miraa!!"

Somewhere...

Meanwhile, on Miro's end, she was teleported to an unexpected location—far closer to Nelly than she realized. "Sir! I'm sorry for the interruption!" she exclaimed, her eyes darting around nervously. "I got teleported here by my ex... which is Nelly..."