Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2 Overwatch - Volume 3: Crystalline Universe: Bloodline's Curse Chapter 89 Blood Blossom And Tainted Execution Part 3

Objects floated around as if there was no gravity, the surface of the weirdly shaped room were all inverted as if there is no up or down nor left or right. The sight that only could be seen in a movie about the paranormal and yet, it is right here and now, in front of Mike.

Mike moved around the place knowing full well that Scaphism is watching him in hiding somewhere around the place. There were only dead silence and the sound of random objects colliding with each other. After a glance to the right and a stare to the left, Mike, strangely, instead of any outstanding action, grabbed a chair and a bottle of vodka in the air and sat without worries in the middle of danger.

This move even unnerved Scaphism who’s at a better advantage to launch a sneak attack than the one defending.

[Mike] – “There could be no victor if you desire in a shallow fight. I’m still waiting for your ego to reason over why I’m doing this or how would you strike me. ”

Scaphism somehow felt frightened by the flagrant confidence. It may be years since he last met Mike but this man felt different… as if he is a new Mike.

[Mike] – “It’s only natural to fear the unknown. At least from what I know, your friend Lapidazione didn’t fear it and look at what has he become. ”

Scaphism, infuriated by this outrageous taunt, started to lose his cool. Using careful and silent hand movements, he moved some of the elements in Mike’s blindspot before jumping out of his hideout.

Landing right in front of Mike, Scaphism stared at his foe for a moment to see a face filled with so much confidence that he ended up feeling stressed to face him.

[Scaphism] – “What are you hiding? What secret do you keep from me? ”

[Mike] – “Life hides many secrets but me, I’m no secret, I’m an open book for you to read. ”

All of a sudden, Scaphism charged toward Mike but before he reached him, the environment altered once more, allowing Scaphism to suddenly disappear without a trace only to appear behind Mike a second after. In a coordinated attack, Scaphism forced large spikes to impale Mike by his sides while he delivered the critical strike from behind his head.

Bubbles floated through the vodka as Mike drank a mouth full of it in a single gulp. The spikes were all bent over while Scaphism’s punch was blocked by Mike’s ability without him even turning around.

[Mike] – “You done playing around? ”

Confused and shocked, Scaphism backed a few steps before trying to understand Mike’s plan.

“It couldn’t be, he couldn’t possibly know where I was gonna strike him. Unless… Unless he has the same ability as me! ” Thought Scaphism.

[Scaphism] – “How did you figure out my secret ability? I can sense the movement of objects around me… how did you figure this out? By this point, you are just playing me. ”

[Mike] – “Any movement around you, even the invisible attacks I launched at you are being predicted! Even a monkey would have figured it out by now. ”

[Scaphism] – “But you aren’t so invincible as you appear either, Mike. I learned about you… a lot! You are a very known actor when it comes to fights. ”

The use of the word actor suddenly unsettled Mike’s state of calm.

[Scaphism] – “You are sweating! My offensives did make you use a lot of your ability power to defend. You use the method of deception and fear through the unknown to trick your enemies! ”

[Mike] – “What advantage could this give you? ”

[Scaphism] – “It’s useless to continue pretending, Mike! You and I are on equal ground… or so you thought… ”

In a sudden dive, Scaphism disappeared into the ground and before Mike could properly prepare, a barrage of punch came out from his left. Before he could he properly repel the attack, a set of high-velocity objects flew toward him from behind. Just as he prepared to defend himself a punch struck him by the abdomen and broke several of his rib bones.

Caught time after time by never-ending attacks from all directions and without any sense of direction in this mess of the twisted dimension, Mike took several hits and collapsed to his knees.

[Scaphism] – “You tricked me earlier with the blood on your head and now, I discovered your trick too! You are indeed what you said you are; an open book for me to read! Prepare to face death! ”

Mike’s eyes suddenly opened with a sharp stare into the ground. And before Scaphism could react, a surge of energy crushed him between the concrete.

[Scaphism] (in baffled speech) – “Wha… what? ”

Scaphism distanced himself from Mike and emerged several metres away from Mike from the ground. With severe damage to his entire body, Scaphism said in a bloody tone: “How… Impossible! You couldn’t… You cannot learn this ability at this rate! ”

[Mike] – “I didn’t! I may not be able to sense my surrounding like you but the energy is connected to my crystals and by letting the energy in my crystals run around, I’ll even be able to tell the slightest of movement or attack coming my way. ”

In complete speechlessness, Scaphism stared in anger and shock at Mike a few metres away from him.

[Scaphism] – “Using your mind to create an ability instantly like this… hehe… You are truly something, aren’t you? ”

The anomalies around Mike suddenly stopped and in flash, Scaphism appeared in front of him and used the fullest of his power to launch an attack against him. But Mike had enough time to put up his arm to receive the shock.

Suddenly, to the 2 men’s surprise, their abilities cancelled each other. That could only mean 1 thing: their ability power is equal.

[Scaphism] – “I see… This is a damn surprise to be sure. There is only 1 way to settle this then! ”

Before Mike could react, Scaphism pulled a pistol out of his jacket and shot Mike in the mouth. But instead of dying, Mike pulled a sniper rifle out of his back and shot Scaphism in the neck.

Scaphism collapsed to the floor with half his neck missing while Mike stood up and spat the crushed bullet out of his mouth.

[Scaphism] – “H- How…?”

[Mike] – “I’m now more than glad that CR-455 destroyed all my teeth. These metallic teeth sure finally served their purpose. ”

But in a matter of seconds, Scaphism healed his neck wound and stood up once more.

[Scaphism] – “No matter how much I hated you. I’d admit… the Gilberto family never bread fools. And you, cousin, would have been perfect if you didn’t betray. You did it out of your own ambitions… but why? ”

[Mike] – “Some mysteries are best left unanswered. ”

[Scaphism] – “I know you… you wanted no war, you only wanted a normal life with that beauty… Kadyn, right? This doesn’t explain why betraying Sniper is the right decision! ”

[Mike] – “Because you can’t see through lies! You are born into luxury, which means you’ll never understand those who suffered or are secretly suffering. ”

[Scaphism] – “You are just like me, what makes you special? ”

[Mike] – “If you truly knew me, you wouldn’t be asking those questions. ”

[Scaphism] – “Of course I know you! You want to take down Sniper… get revenge or claim the throne! I can help you! ”

[Mike] – “I require no help from an opportunist. I don’t trust those who don’t bow to my feet. ”

[Scaphism] – “We are cousins! What other relative do you have left? Who can you trust more than me? ”

[Mike] – “Then kneel in front of me! Declare out loud I’m your emperor! ”

[Scaphism] – “… ”

[Mike] – “You couldn’t, right? Because you’ll rather become emperor yourself. I no longer look for a girl and a quiet life, I look forward to the throne that is destined to be mine and I don’t plan to keep corrupted crooks like you around. ”

All of a sudden, Scaphism kicked Mike’s weapon out of his hand and pointed his gun at his opponent’s forehead.

[Scaphism] – “I’ll claim it myself then! I’ll become emperor and you, you’ll be a piece of the forgotten history of the Gilberto family. ”

Scaphism used his ability to cancel out Mike’s ability so that he couldn’t defend himself.

[Scaphism] – “This is the end of the road, Mike! Yes, you are quite the badass but you should’ve shut up and stayed one of us instead of losing her and yourself. ”

Scaphism pulled the trigger but no shot is fired. He tried again and again but the weapon made no sound. He checked the magazine, which was full, he checked the gun’s system, which was also fine. Scaphism is baffled to find nothing wrong with his gun but it just won’t fire.

But when he raised his head after trying to figure out what’s wrong with his weapon, the last he saw before a burning hole formed in his chest was the rifle’s scope staring him in the left eye.

The bullet, infused with Mike’s ability, spread through his inside and exploded all over his body, forming blossoms made of flesh and blood. Distracted by the pain, Scaphism failed to realize that the dust around him formed a rope around his neck.

Before he could react, he was hung up. His bloodshot eyes looked at Mike who stared emotionlessly at him. He couldn’t speak nor free himself, his fate was sealed from the very moment he lost focus by trying to fix his gun. Blinded by the thrill of victory, Scaphism forgot back then that Mike isn’t dead yet.

As he helplessly gasped for air, Mike kept staring at him with the same cold eyes that he used to stare at every of his victim. Something in those eyes inspired terror in his soul until his last breath.

With the last of his strength and his remaining faint consciousness, he pointed at Mike in confusion and whispered: “Sniper… ”

After 20 minutes of hanging, Scaphism finally passed away with an expression of absolute fright on his face. During all this time, Mike stood and watched without a single ounce of empathy.

After making sure that his opponent is truly dead, Mike cut the rope off the ceiling and threw the body in a pit.

[Mike] – “It’s not the way someone dies that is artistical like you said. Death is just an efficient way to erase the obstructions and the true art is absence, the blank canvas you needed to start a new painting. ”

Then using his ability, Mike pulled dirt over the body until it was entirely covered.

[Mike] (to the intercom system in his ear) – “Operation Incision: completed. ”

On the other side, Kadyn laid on her bed, unable to sleep as her mind was tormented by an unknown evil of an unknown source. She almost felt as if she was watched by a malefic entity somewhere.

Azur was abruptly woken up by some light shaking.

[Mike] – “Wake the f.u.c.k up, K-popstar, we got people to eliminate and bodies to dig. ”

To be continued… Next Chapter: [The purgatory]