Taking a jump back, Stan ran back as he aimed yet again toward Ryan’s chest.

 

Pushing down on the trigger, many of the bullets that shot out through the barrel splintered the air around them, the mini shockwaves circling the entire area. The bullets made contact with Ryan’s skin, his chest welcoming the hot lead with open arms, his skin absorbing it as if it were hugging them.

 

(Stan’s thoughts) How am I supposed to reach his heart!? If only I could get another bottle of acid!

 

Gritting his teeth, Stan ran to the right as he pushed on through the cluttered debris in his way. His right hand already swelling and practically blistering from the burns of the acid, Stan’s breathing continued to fasten as even motioning his hand would stab his nerves.

 

As Ryan had his head unstretched onto his body, he spread both of his feet apart, creating a stance since he had both of his arms tucked into his armpits. His feet dug into the cement, Ryan then pushed off the ground, creating a big dent in the cement beneath him as his right foot was out in the air.

 

(Ryan) Eat this you sack of shit!

 

The wind gushing through his face, Ryan didn’t feel the hot wind unwrinkling his face, as his face was nothing more than just skin and bones. Having his body, legs, and head moving forward toward where Stan was, he had his arms and hands in the exact position where he last stood. 

 

Reaching halfway toward the running Stan, Stan extended both of his outward, his gun the only thing defending himself from the upcoming attack.

 

As for Ryan, he then pushed forth both of his hands together at the same time, bursting the air around his knuckles as it barrelled its way toward Stan. Upon reaching Stan’s skin, Ryan’s knuckles felt the presence of the cold dark gun that Stan used as a last resort for defense. 

 

(Ryan’s thoughts) He may be smart, but that sure is a dumb way to defend yourself!

 

The air around them exploded as both his fists landed straight at the gun, the rifle cracking as Ryan pushed his fists and arms further toward Stan. 

 

Unable to hold the gun any longer because of Ryan’s immense strength, Stan pushed away his rifle to the right of him, causing Ryan’s hands to follow the gun. An opening secured, Stan quickly put his left hand into his pocket, pulling out a single-bladed knife as the light gleamed against the metal.

 

Thrusting his left arm forward, he barreled the knife right at Ryan’s left hand, focusing his eyes as his world began to slow down again.

 

(Stan’s thoughts) I’m doing it … I feel like I could take on Luna…

 

Stabbing right in between Ryan’s knuckles and bones, the knife managed to go through the bony hand with ease. With the tip of the edge of the knife pointing out from the other side, it caused none other than Ryan to scrunch up his face, his wrinkles showcasing on his forehead.

 

Pulling back his right and left hands, he sprung himself to the left, kicking his left foot as he barreled himself up high in the air. The hot wind screaming against his ears, he heard the tranquil sounds of fighting and gunfire across the other end of the district.

 

(Ryan’s thoughts) Oh … what a pity. I hope Sidney does her job as a trump card.

 

Not bothering to look at the other fight in the distance, Ryan reached an altitude far greater than Stan ever hoped to see. His eyes peering up into the heavens above, Stan quickly put both of his hands inside his jacket, stumbling inside his pockets as he tried to find something of use.

 

As the lich-bunny human let out an evil smirk.

 

(Ryan) I haven’t reached my height yet!

 

Noticing that his body was being pulled back down due to gravity, Ryan stretched and shot both of his feet and legs, both of them reaching toward the cement. As another airburst commenced onto the asphalt, it shook his entire stretched-out body, sending Ryan to push above into a much greater height.

 

For comparison, Ryan was taller than almost all of the buildings around him, making him the tallest thing as he pulled back his legs onto his body. 

 

Reaching the climax of his peak, Ryan then extended back his hands and arms as he pushed them upward to the sky. His eyes squinted at the lowly figure from below, just standing still at the unrealistic sight, his hands started to enlarge.

 

(Ryan’s thoughts) I have never done this, but it won’t hurt to give it a try.

 

His body being pulled back down to the earth, Ryan’s hands slowly draw more and more blood and skin onto his palms and knuckles, making his hands rapidly grow in size. Since his weight had been increasing steadily, it led him to feel the hot air more painful than it already was, his skin flapping gently at the cement that was soon ready for his impact.

 

And at long last, he then thrust both of his giant fists right where Stan was gawking.

 

 

(Ryan) Providence Discernment.

 

 

Ryan saw the world in slow motion as Stan held up another bottle right in his hand. Seeing the bottle, Ryan noticed a logo that he had forgotten long ago…

 

 

The logo had a skull and bones but in white and black.

 

 

Unable to pull back his hands in time, the only choice that Ryan had was…

 

(Ryan) Wait—

 

His hands made contact with the glass bottle that was wrapped in black wrapping paper, the glass bottle soon exploded, the air that was within that bottle spreading across Stan and Ryan’s hands.

 

Many of the glass shattered to the ground, piercing both of Stan’s boots and Ryan’s bare feet. Not only that, but the gas that was holding a particular air then circulated Stan’s right hand and both of Ryan’s hands.

 

As the 0-kelvin air instantly wrapped itself onto Stan and Ryan’s hands, freezing them within milliseconds as even both of them couldn’t see with the naked eye. 

 

This leaves both of them at a standstill, as both couldn’t escape from within each other even if they wanted to. 

 

Not even bothering to free himself, Stan’s body started to tremble as his iced and frozen hand was completely and utterly numb and void of feeling, his blood and cells unable to even move. 

 

(Stan’s thoughts) Good thing that I have a fan…

 

Looking down, Ryan saw the object that he had on Stan’s left hand, a small yet useful fan that blew the cold air right toward him. Because of this, Ryan clenched his teeth shut as tar started to drip from the corners of his lips, his eyes tarshot black as his breathing started to turn rabid.

 

(Ryan) Fucker!

 

(Stan) Desperate calls call for desperate measures.

 

His entire mouth felt as if it was biting into a big block of edible ice, Stan’s breath started to slow down as his entire body began to wobble. His chest stabbing him from the inside, tiny pinches started to attack his lungs and heart, causing him to arch his head and neck upward as he shut his eyes.

 

Not even able to take a step backward, Stan’s arms soon lost the ability to even pull or push, as they started to falter.

 

(Stan’s thoughts) I didn’t think this through huh…

 

Ryan then pulled back his head, stretching it back dozens of feet away. Widening his eyes, Stan tried to pull back his right hand, but given his weakened arms and impossible way to break free only just caused him to grit his teeth against one another.

 

(Ryan) How about I help each other out huh!?

 

Unable to lose concentration anywhere around him, Ryan then barreled his head not where Stan’s head was…

 

But where both of their hands were frozen solid.

 

Breaking the ice that was between them, both of them took a step back, as Ryan managed to remain standing.

 

While Stan dropped onto the cement, his left palm facing the cement floor—

 

(Stan) …

 

Pinning his eyes toward where his right palm was supposed to be, he soon noticed that his knuckles, fingers, skin, and bones made up his right hand.

 

 

We’re gone.

 

 

(Stan) Ha … ha …

 

Blood not even spurring out of the frozen bandage that stopped the bleeding, it led to him not feeling any stabbing or excruciating pain.

 

Clutching his right wrist which was cut in half, he put it toward where his chest was, his breathing irregular and off pattern. Followed by his heartbeat taking a more geometric pattern, his entire body shivered as his throat continued to produce wail after wail from his vocals.

 

With his vocals tearing each other apart as he wailed directly at his discarded hand, Ryan inhaled a deep breath, his lungs expanding as he lit up a smile.

 

(Ryan) Music to my ears…

 

Ryan then extended both of his missing hands outward toward Stan, black and putrid tar slowly dripping out of the wounded areas that were replacing the missing hands. As the tar started to steam, it led to the tar to turn into a hardened substance, creating a perfect replication of the muscles and tissues of a normal human.

 

As the white pigment was then put on top, Ryan moved both of his freshly regenerated fingers, wiggling them back and forth. 

 

(Ryan) Now for your death … I think I remember saying you deserve torture right?

 

Covering his face with his left hand, Stan shut his eyes away from the rest of the world, his legs moving backward as he limped toward the back of the wall. 

 

Unable to come to terms with the way things are heading, Stan’s throat started to quiver cruelly, causing his breath to be stuck inside of his throat. Keeping his head still, followed by his eyes widening at the tide of the battle, the only thing that Stan could do at that moment was…

 

(Stan’s thoughts) I did that all for what…

 

(Ryan) I think I should pull you out of that wall. I think it’s time for me and you to have a little fun…

 

Pulling back his left arm, he stretched it a few feet back as he spread his feet apart. Digging into the cement, Ryan straightened his back and he then thrust his arm right where—

 

Ryan couldn’t move his body.

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

(Ryan) What the … what’s happening!?

 

Feeling his back frozen solid, he tried to move his legs and arms as they remained still in the air. 

 

Not only was his back, but his legs, feet, hands, arms, neck, and back of his head were encapsulated in a frozen layer of ice and water. Trying to move his head upward, he couldn’t as the only thing that he could dare move was his eyeballs.

 

As for the front side of his body, they remained normal as the air around him started to frost up his chest and stomach.

 

(Ryan) Who … who did that!?

 

Stan, who opened his eyes slowly, saw a chubby figure in the back of Ryan. His breathing was still erratic, he put his left hand onto his collar, his nonexistent right hand still lying motionless on the ground. 

 

(Stan) Gary…

 

Not able to turn his eyeballs, Ryan managed to take note of the man that appeared in the back of him. Tar started to drip down from the corners of his mouth, and the black liquid dribbled onto his feet as it started to freeze from the cold air below.

 

The person in back in question, Gary, had in his right hand a bottle of the same frozen air that Stan carried with him. 

 

(Ryan) You pieces of shit!

 

(Gary) I think I understand more clearly now…

 

Walking slowly upon the debris-ridden cement, Gary had on his left hand a simple pistol locked and loaded with bullets within the chamber. 

 

Turning his body toward Ryan, Gary continued to hold both objects with both of his hands, looking downward onto the cement pavement as the squeaking of sneakers shrieked the ground.

 

(Gary) In life, there’s always going to be someone better than you. Whether in brains or brawn. 

 

Standing still right in front of Ryan, Gary then holstered his gun onto his right hip. Putting his left hand inside of his jacket, he quickly pulled out a sharp kitchen knife, the dull blade coarse and rough along the edges.

 

(Ryan) Does it look like I care!? Release me! I promise to give you a simple and clean death!

 

(Gary) I’m not strong, and others are smarter than me. But in the end, what lies beyond that horizon?

 

Pushing his left hand, he thrust the knife right along the corners and edges of Ryan’s left chest, causing Ryan to tear his vocals apart. Forcing his body to move, the entirety of his back didn’t dare to let his legs or arms defend himself, leaving himself to be carved up by Gary.

 

Finishing up his carving, he dropped the kitchen knife onto the ground, the metal clanking onto the pavement as it thundered. 

 

(Gary) I had good company six years ago. I was the robotics club's top kid and all. I had it all until Luke showed up, but hey, we’re on good terms now.

 

Ryan’s black tarred heart was shown clear as day.

 

With his right hand, Gary thrust his right hand into Ryan’s left side of his chest, placing the glass object right next to his heart. Feeling the burning yet cold body that rustled along his fingernails and skin, Gary continued to talk as he took a step back.

 

(Ryan) What are you doing!? Hey! Hey! HEY!!

 

(Gary) And overall, I think being a mentor or rather a man that helps the noobs and lower levels sounds more fun than competing. Don’t you think?

 

Pointing the pistol straight at Ryan’s heart, Gary had both of his hands gripping the grip of the gun, his right pointer finger caressing the trigger. 

 

As for Ryan, tar started to pour out of his eyes, the tar that was replaced with tears rolling down his cheeks as his breathing started to fasten.

 

(Ryan) You remember the fond memories right!? We were friends Gary! FRIENDS!!

 

Looking straight into Ryan’s tarshot eyes, Gary could’ve sworn that he saw his reflection in those pitch-black pupils. Sharpening his eyes, straightening his back, and swallowing a butt load of saliva down his throat, he let out one last smile.

 

 

(Gary) But I have other friends to support for. And many more to come.

 

 

Gary pushed the trigger.

 

The bullet sped right toward where the glass bottle was located, the little soundwave piercing the air as it managed to hit the glass clean.

 

(Ryan’s thoughts) Stupid glass! I can’t regenerate when something’s in the way—

 

Unfortunately, the frozen air that was entrapped in the bottle managed to quickly spread through every part of Ryan’s body, as well as freezing up his heart instantly. 

 

With no way of moving his body, Ryan became completely frozen in an instant, leaving him with just a statue of what became of him. Not only that but his heart was also pierced by the glass shards, which would cause his heart to…

 

 

Crumble into ice.

 

 

As his heart shattered, it also led to an instant death, leaving Ryan with no steam or tar that would leave out of his body. With his whole body being turned into ice, as well as the ash being replaced with frozen snow…

 

(Gary) I hope you, Cameron, and Harold are resting in peace now.

 

Turning his head toward the ginger-haired man who was lying against the wall, he put his thumb up, letting out a cheerful smile compared to his grumpy frown.

 

(Gary) Come on, we got to support Luke.

 

(Stan) Yeah … I don’t know how Hope could heal my right hand…