Catalyst

Chapter 24: Level Headed

Meanwhile...

Phillip: "Ah yes, the joys of the scent of pizza."

Phillip is now working the register at a pizza place, enjoying every second of the pizza scented air.

Phillip: "Such a shame that they've got to stay back and get covered in dust."

Phillip gets ready to help another customer.

Phillip: "(in head) I think their clothes could use a wash."

Meanwhile...

Soldier 1: "Anyone else hungry?"

Another group of around a dozen stands in the parking lot for a pizza place.

Soldier 2: "I'd be down for a pizza."

Soldier 3: "We've got a mission! We'll have pizza afterwards."

Soldier 4: "(excited) What're we waiting for?!"

They stand by with their hunting rifles.

Meanwhile...

Phillip: "J-Just, are they going against my people?"

Phillip can see the soldiers in the parking lot.

Phillip: "Don't panic, I'll be right back when their emotional states are shattered for all eternity."

Phillip heads for the door, equipping his gear.

Customer: "(astonished) What am I about to see?"

Phillip stands in front of the soldiers.

Phillip: "You do realize that I'd be willing to take your orders if you weren't coming to take me to your government facilities to be experimented on or become a weapon of mass destruction."

Awkward moment of silence...

Soldier 5: "We wouldn't be here if you gave yourself up in the first place!"

Dark blue and yellow fires swirls around Phillip.

Phillip: "You think I'd do that against my will?"

Phillip's flames enter three soldiers.

Soldier 6: "No..."

The three soldiers feel as though they have been gifted luck.

Phillip: "See? It doesn't sound too pleasant."

Phillip begins to dodge between bullets.

Meanwhile...

The elf is currently getting stares from everywhere you can think of as he casually walks down the street, ignoring all of them.

Elf: "A couple stares won't faze me."

He begins to hear gunshots from what seems to be a mile away since no one else in the area isn't reacting.

Elf: "I'd better take a look."

He heads in the direction of the shots.

Meanwhile...

Phillip: "You look a little too excited, why don't you feel a little more akin to what's actually about to go down?"

Phillip managed to get close enough to a soldier to punch him with black fire, draining away any enthusiasm he had about the battle.

Soldier 7: "Wh-What're you doing?!"

Phillip backflips away when the soldiers reload.

Phillip: "Ah yes, your emotional stability rests in my hands."

A bullet gets stuck in Phillip's left hand.

Soldier 8: "Then those rainbow fires aren't just for show!"

Phillip's blood begins to trickle down to the ground.

Phillip: "(in pain) Yeah pretty much."

Phillip keeps his ground and continues dodging.

Meanwhile...

Elf: "Hm?"

The elf can hear the shots coming from soldiers a few dozen meters away.

Elf: "(drawing bow) Nothing I can't hit."

As he pulls back the string, a green arrow of energy forms between his fingers.

Elf: "(aiming) Maybe now I'll learn about this world."

Meanwhile...

Phillip: "Reckless!"

Phillip tries to send red and orange flames at the enemy.

Soldier 9: "Dodge!"

The flames don't connect.

Phillip: "(in pain) Great."

The blood spills from Phillip's hand a little faster.

Soldier 5: "We've got him-"

An arrow made of green energy goes through the soldier's helmet.

Phillip: "(in pain) Looks like Lariat..."

Lariat is walking towards the scuffle.

Lariat: "So what are you doing attacking a person with a weapon like that?"

Lariat notices Phillip's clothing.

Lariat: "Seems like no ordinary person though."

A rainbow aura surrounds Lariat.

Phillip: "(in pain) You're right Lariat, I'm not."

The soldiers aim at Lariat.

Lariat: "It's pointless trying to beat a god."

Lariat pulls his string back, creating three energy arrows before firing, killing three soldiers.

Phillip: "So are you giving me a hand?"

Lariat casually walks past the remaining soldiers.

Lariat: "I'm only going to trust you for as long as I need to."

Phillip: "(in pain) Relax, Owen and Rox are at my base."

Lariat: "Owen and Rox?"

The aura burns bright.

Phillip: "Yep, I'll explain the whole situation with them."

Lariat: "Very well."

The two face forward as the guns are aimed at their chest.

Phillip/ Lariat: "Synergy Attack..."

The green energy forms in Phillip's right palm as Lariat pulls back his string to create more energy.

Phillip/ Lariat: "... Tranquility Synchronization."

The energy is let loose, disinagrating bullets and heading straight for the soldiers' hearts.

Phillip: "Now I'm going to wrap up my shift."

Phillip turns around the moment the energy blasts end the soldiers.

Lariat: "Shift?"

Phillip changes back into his normal attire.

Phillip: "It's only ten more minutes."

Phillip puts his hand in his pocket to control the bleeding.

Lariat: "Then I get the truth?"

The people inside are shocked.

Phillip: "Yeah."

Lariat follows Phillip inside...