Samuel Archer looked down at her and laughed. “What? You saved one last slice attack to surprise me with? What’s that going to do that the countless others failed at. At best, your attacks leave a little sting, but they can’t break through my skin. My endurance stat is too powerful against your ability.”

“Screw...you...” said Sakura with one last breath, before triggering one last slice attack.

A beam of golden energy shot forth, just missing Samuel and going over his shoulder.

His whole face widened in a grin.

“You even wasted your last futile shot,” he said. “You truly are pathetic.”

* * *

Sakura’s slice attack shot over Samuel’s shoulder.

Max lifted his left hand and reached out for the energy blade like he was catching a baseball.

He gritted his teeth and held back the pain as the powerful attack ripped a hole right through the palm of his hand.

Sakura had thrown them both a lifeline. A trump card like nothing else.

It was now or never.

* * *

“It’s time to end this,” said Samuel. “See ya la—”

A blade of golden energy stabbed right through his stomach. Blood and guts shot forward to the ground in front of him.

Samuel coughed blood out of his mouth.

“But how...?” said Samuel, looking down at the fatal attack.

Max stood behind the man, his left palm had a hole in it from Sakura’s slice attack. His right hand had then triggered and commanded the second energy slice.

“Max can more than just copy powers, he doubles their power,” said Sakura. “So my B-rank power levels doubled, hitting strength stats even unknown to S-rankers. Power levels that can rip through your flesh with ease, you smug bastard. How does it feel to die at the hands of a common trait?”

“No, this isn’t it,” said Samuel, triggering cellular manipulation on himself. His own body began to mend, until Max raised the slice attack upwards, slicing Samuel into two pieces.

The left and right side of the man’s body fell to the ground on top of each other.

Samuel Archer was dead.

The attack on Zestiris was over.

The city had been saved.

108

Max opened his eyes and found himself in a hospital bed.

He instantly began to panic. What was going on? Where was the climber president? Sakura? Casey? Toto!?

“Ah, you’re awake,” said a voice.

He looked up and saw Sakura.

She was all patched up. She had no bruises or marks like she had when he had found her at the arena.

Also, on her green leather jacket was a badge, it was different from before. It was made of diamond and had the letter A engraved on it.

“You ranked up?” said Max.

She nodded and smiled at him. “There’s a lot to catch you up on. You’ve been out for a couple of days.”

“How’s Casey?”

“Everyone is fine,” she said.