Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2 Overwatch - Volume 3: Crystalline Universe: Bloodline's Curse Chapter 88 Blood Blossom And Tainted Execution Part 2

Like a mindless raging bull, Mike charged forward toward his opponent with a powerful blast of energy in his fists. But Scaphism stayed reserved and fearless, his composure didn’t show any sign of weakness. While Mike’s eyes showed the dark murderous intent of a killer, Scaphism’s eyes showed the expression of a sharp and calculated surgeon.

In a few swift acrobatic moves, he easily dodged Mike’s attacks and proceeded to launch a series of precise strikes that sent Mike flying back. Despite neither showing any sign of fatigue or pain, blood kept pouring from the wound on Mike’s head.

[Scaphism] – “I have never seen such a strange power… to be honest, I’m impressed. You didn’t succ.u.mb to your injuries despite that blow clearly puncturing your skull and impacting your brain. ”

[Mike] – “I also wonder why… hehe… yeah, I wonder too. Something I don’t understand is keeping me alive. ”

[Scaphism] – “You are like me, anything is possible with your ability and I’m going to find out how. ”

Upon hearing those words in hiding, Azur finally understood the reason why none of them was able to defeat Scaphism. Scaphism possesses the same ability as Mike, thus meaning that he can do whatever he desires with the use of his ability. Compared to Mike, who hasn’t been using his ability ever since he defeated Lapidazione, Scaphism is a highly trained assassin with superior knowledge about his crystals’ abilities.

[Scaphism] – “You have become obsolete with time, Mike, you forgot the importance of the crystals over your personal convictions. Now it will cost you everything. ”

Scaphism effortlessly shattered one of the sapphires Azur sent at him from behind.

[Scaphism] – “Fool… you think I’ll fall for small tricks such as this? ”

The crystal on Azur’s forearm shattered due to her ability being overpowered by the counterattack. In shock, Azur fell back into hiding.

“Impossible, how did he know? I get that he can do anything with his crystals but how did he know I sent an attack against him? And this power… how strong is he exactly? ” Thought Azur while taking a few nervous breaths.

In a single jump, Scaphism dashed toward Azur’s hiding spot with a charged punch.

[Scaphism] – “It’s about time I end this! You have become more of an annoyance than I expected! ”

But before Scaphism could deal out the deadly blow, he was suddenly pulled from the legs down onto the ground and before he could realize what’s going on, he was forcefully squeezed against the ground with such intensity that he ended up buried a few metres underground.

Surprisingly, Mike stood firmly despite his injuries, ready to fight. Using his ability, he slowly tried to heal his damaged skull that is yet to fully heal due to his limited knowledge of human anatomy. Without his armour, Mike is fully dependant on his own ability to use his crystals to fight.

[Scaphism] – “*Grumbles* What a god damn pain… F.u.c.k! ”

Scaphism angrily crawled out of the pit on the floor with almost no significant damage on his body at all.

[Scaphism] – “You all are so damn annoying. Like a bunch of ants… a bunch of pesky ants that just won’t die! ”

Mike stood menacingly without a response. There was just that killer stare from his eyes and silence. Nothing else came from him, not a single expression, not even a slight feeling of pain. But on Scaphism’s face, there was readiness and caution. Like a sharpshooter about to take his shot, the executioner’s stare shined sharply across the distance. Like an enraged beast that’s about to feast against a hunter that’s about to hunt, the 2 men both have their weapons ready.

[Scaphism] – “You wanted to kill me… why? You know about this whole ordeal, right? You arranged this fight knowing I’ll be the one to show up. From the start, I thought something isn’t right about how you would show up despite that I cut all communication from your minions. ”

Scaphism confidently walked around all the while having his eyes fixed on his immobile opponent.

[Scaphism] – “Cousin… you have fame and fortune when you were the destined head of the family but look at you, ruined and dirty. Why did you choose to be a dumbass? If you have stayed head of the Gilberto family, I would even bow out of respect for you but you chose to be a criminal. ”

Mike let out a slight rumbling sound filled sound of blood bubbling in his throat.

[Scaphism] – “Sad that I’ll have to kill you today… You see, I’m a fair man. I lived my life as you guys lived it: killing, bribing, torturing and laughing. All the common point between you and me. Why can’t people get along, why can’t people accept certain realities? Who to ask these questions? ”

With a snap of his finger, as if a black hole formed around Mike, all objects around were suddenly sucked in along with Mike. As the walls entered the hole, they formed giant spikes before entering in a collision course with Mike.

[Scaphism] – “You ask God. Only he knows why. Death is like an art, torture is like the steps preceding its creation. Now, you are the artwork itself, perfect and forever in peace. ”

Azur jumped out of her hiding spot and shouted:

“Mike! His ability! It’s the same as yours! ”

But she soon realized that Mike was literally wiped out of the picture with only part of his clothes hanging by the spikes.

[Scaphism] – “He is dead. Do you think that’ll serve him something? ”

Azur realized in fear that she has put herself directly in harm’s way by revealing her location.

[Scaphism] – “I’m not evil, dear, I’m just doing what needs to be done. Ending one man’s life is an opportunity for millions more to live. He is gone and you have nothing to do with it anymore. I’ll not kill you, I’ll let you live to show my kindness to the world. ”

Azur stared in shock at the pit where a horrific scene stood by the bottom. There were pieces of flesh hanging from a dark coat while blood coated the spikes’ edges. Scaphism pulled a large white structure out from the crater and revealed the horrific scene of a cut-up human spine.

[Scaphism] – “Look at this! I gotta show this to the world, this is marvellous! ”

Azur fell to her knees in pure shock as her eyes stared blankly at the hole.

[Scaphism] – “Oh my god this is a true piece of grandiose art! The remain of the once great terror of the world, Mike G. Mundy! ”

the deranged man went as far as to kiss the piece of bone while hugging it in his arms. His psychotic eyes stared at the piece of bone with fresh blood still dripping while he acted like a joyful child seeing the wonders of the world for the first time.

“No… No… I don’t believe it! No… No… it’s impossible, he can’t be gone. ” Thought Azur in a state of distress.

[Scaphism] – “I gotta celebrate this! I’m inviting you all to this! I’m inviting even you, blue girl! And… and… with him dead… the entirety of the Gilberto family fortune is mine! The association is mine! Hahahaha! I’m rich! ”

In pure rage, Azur raised her arms in an attempt to launch an attack against Scaphism. But Azur quickly regained her senses and realized that it would be futile to attack at all. She quietly thought for a second and suddenly, remembered her training, how in the perfect rectangular rotation, her ability could achieve something new.

“It’s now or never. ” Though Azur in desperation.

Using all her remaining strength, she gathered her remaining crystals and used 4 of them to form the 3D rectangular rotation before focusing all her mind on the last one. The 5th crystal is the one that should cross the so-called portal. As energy acc.u.mulated inside the rectangle, Azur took one last breath before sending 5th crystal in a ratio rotation inside the rectangle. This time, the rectangle did not explode like it did the other times.

Scaphism, while completely distracted, took sometime before realizing that something is coming in his way. Using his shield, he carelessly disregarded the incoming projectile but not before it pierced his shield and shot right through his abdomen.

Both sides were shocked to realize that the shield did not manage to block the attack. But it was only a taunt for Scaphism as he quickly healed his wound and stood up once more.

[Scaphism] – “Impressive… what did you do? ”

[Azur] – “I… I… ”

Even Azur was speechless herself but before long, she knew that this is her final attack. As Scaphism approached her and grabbed her by the throat, Azur closed her eyes and prepared to accept her fate.

[Scaphism] – “You’ll be a fine specimen to study, you may even allow me to access power beyond the association’s knowledge. ”

Upon hearing these words, Azur quietly retrieved one of her sapphires and placed it in a position of direct trajectory toward her head.

“I’ll rather die than be capture as your white mouse for experiments. ” Thought Azur in a last stare of mockery in defiance at her captor.

Scaphism suddenly grabbed Azur’s arm and retrieved the gem.

[Scaphism] – “There is no easy way out. Or else, your death won’t be as beautiful as your fellow over there. ”

Before Azur could put up any resistance, Scaphism, with a single snap of his finger, knocked Azur out of consciousness.

[Scaphism] – “Shhhh! You’ll be in paradise when you wake up, I’ll paint you up really good, I’ll draw you into art. ”

As Scaphism prepared to leave the scene, he suddenly noticed a vibration in the ground. He put Azur down and listened more carefully to the almost unnoticeable vibration coming from underground.

[Scaphism] (in a whisper) – “Something’s below me… ”

Using his ability, he opened a door to the source of the sound but before he could further investigate, a series of invisible punches struck him from behind. In a few jumps and few acrobatic moves, Scaphism dodged all the attacks launched against him.

[Scaphism] – “Oy! Not fun at all! Who the hell are you? Show yourself! ”

Suddenly, a sharp pain filled Scaphism’s entire respiratory system as blood soon poured from his nose and mouth. His skin was soon filled with bruises and deep cuts.

“The air! The air is sharp as razor blades! ” Thought Scaphism while trying to heal his wounds.

After dissolving the sharp air around him, Scaphism took a large breath of fresh air while gasping.

[Mike] – “Not so damn impressive after all. All you really are is just a cheap copy of me. The one difference between you and me is that you fall second but in ego, you fall last. ”

[Scaphism] – “How the f.u.c.k are you still alive? I killed you, I have your remains here… I… Impossible! ”

In a shadow, Mike appeared from the ground with his lower half still submerged in the ground.

[Mike] – “Earlier, you used the body of a dead waiter to trick me but who said I can’t trick you with fake wounds and a dead body as well? ”

[Scaphism] – “*Gak* ”

[Mike] – “You think I’ll be so dumb that I’ll leave my brain and skull wounded for that long? It’s even more hilarious how you kissed that spine, you f.u.c.k.i.n.g psycho! ”

A palm landed on a shocked Scaphism’s shoulder while Mike menacingly stared at him from behind.

[Mike] – “Still in disbelieve? One’s fate is determined on the day of his birth and I’m born to win and to live in fortune while you are born to lose and live or die like anyone who dared oppose me. ”

With a swift turn, Scaphism attacked only to find Mike not even being there at all in the first place with the hand on his shoulder being only a piece of wood.

Taken by surprise by this series of turn of events, Scaphism for the first time in his years as an executioner, felt a glimpse of fear in his heart. Something about Mike isn’t feeling right to him. As if Mike suddenly became ruthlessly precise and creative with his attacks.

[Scaphism] – “You’ll still die, Mike! I’m still holding the advantage here, you can’t outdo me. ”

[Mike] – “It’s what every of my opponent says after I revealed all the cards in their deck. ”

[Scaphism] – “My ability gives me unlimited possibilities, I’ll never run out of tricks. ”

[Mike] – “It’s not about how many tricks you can pull out, it’s about how much you wanna win. And I thirst for that victory even if it means I’ll have to tear his heart out of his chest with my bear hands. ”

The grim words managed to set Scaphism further into panic as he felt confidence never heard in Mike’s voice. The ruthlessness only ever heard in lord Sniper’s orders.

[Scaphism] – “I fear nothing! What advantage is that gonna give you? You know one’s card but the outcome is already decided. ”

[Mike] – “And I’ll be the judge of it. ”

Mike suddenly dived from the ceiling toward Scaphism but as Scaphism launched a counterattack, he realized that he only struck a mannequin.

In a swift movement, Scaphism dived underground as well as the reality around him started to bend. The ceiling became the floor while the windows moved to the ceiling along with Scaphism.

[Scaphism] – “If you think you can win, then try! I’ve yet to see anything impressive from you! ”

Upon hearing these words, Mike could not help but let out a grim smile in the dark as if he knew already won.

To be continued… Next Chapter: [Blood Blossom and Tainted Execution (part 3)]