Chapter 20 - The Mission Machine (6)
That vampire exploded into a cloud of mist.
Jeff received some questioning gazes.
"I would set up that dome if I were you." Jeff nodded at Barry.
"Do it." Liam commanded.
"Lo-" Jeff hurled his dagger at Everly. Like a ray of light, that dagger brushed by Everly head.
"-ok out."
Behind Everly, that vampire was standing only ten feet away.
Looking at the hole in her chest, the vampire's malicious smile widened. "Children don't play nice these days..."
"You kids want to get more... physical?" The vampire girl walked towards the group.
Like a flash, Jeff appeared in front of that vampire girl.
Holding nothing back, Jeff landed a punch on the girl's head.
Yet, at the same time, a palm strike had landed onto Jeff's chest as well.
Only now, a popping sound in the air could be heard.
That vampire girl's head exploded like a watermelon... a watermelon that's made out of mist.
Like a cannonball, Jeff shot through the second floor, and then crashed through a glass window of a shop.
Pulling random clothing articles off himself, stepping through the shuttered glass, Jeff walked to the railings of the second floor. "Well. Fellas. Looks like we have trouble."
Barry had erected his dome of light now.
Liam looked at Barry with a concerned look.
"Don't worry man. Even S-ranks can't leave a dent on this baby." Barry knocked on his dome. It sounded like he was knocking on glass.
Some distance down the hall, mist quickly gathered up. Like a beating heart, that cloud of mist condensed.
Having [Aura Vision] turned on, Jeff could see right through that cloud of mist. A glowing girl figure converged. With every second passed, that figure was glowing brighter.
"So. What's the plan now?" Jeff asked.
"Do you guys have holy water or UV bullets or something?" Barry weakly suggested.
Everyone looked at Barry speechlessly.
"What. I'm just trying to be helpful here."
Liam thought for a quick moment.
"First of all, we can't even be certain that what we are facing is a vampire." Liam shot those words out like a machinegun.
"Also. It's a mist monster... not a real vampire."
"Anyways." Liam looked at that cloud of mist. He could see the outlines of that vampire... 'maybe a vampire' girl now.
BAM!
A girl's small fist slammed onto that dome of light, leaving a growing crack.
The three inside flinched at this surprising attack. Staring at the vampire girl, these fellas looked like they were shell shocked.
"You guys don't want to play?" The vampire girl put on a pouting face.
That cloud of mist down the hall dispersed.
Jeff raised his brows. His detection had been deceived this time. That cloud was just a decoy.
"They don't want to play. I do." Jeff shot his dagger at the S-rank monster... S-rank? Definitely at least SS-rank actually.
Side stepping and leaning sideways, that vampire girl dodged the ray of light.
Waving her hand, her bell bracelet made crisp tinkle sounds. However, Jeff didn't turn [Adamant Will] off. This attack was useless.
Not losing any speed, Jeff ran up to the girl with a punch.
The girl lowered her body and leaned to the side, easily dodging this attack.
"Try this!" The girl swept at Jeff. Her hand grew in size and turned into claws.
Like a snap, Jeff started to emit a golden glow.
Scrrreeech!
The girl's claws cut through Jeff's barrier and clothing. Grinding against Jeff's body, the claws sounded like it was grinding on metal.
Front Kick!
The girl shot towards a pillar like a soccer ball.
Splat!
Upon impact, that girl exploded into a cloud of mist again.
Looking around, Jeff fixated his gaze upstairs.
Hiding inside an appliances shop, there was a cocoon of mist. It barely got a glow. Clearly, there's some stealth magic applied.
Squatting down a little, Jeff jumped towards second floor.
While in air, Jeff took out three bristles off his waist. Throwing them out, the bristles instantly turned into three bronze rays.
Without any resistance, the rays punched three holes into that cocoon.
Yet, in the next instance, the holes on that cocoon closed up.
Crashing through the glass q-railingings, Jeff darted at that cocoon.
'Shield!'
Enveloping his hand with a shield made of mana and psychic energy, Jeff threw a punch at that cocoon, leaving an explosive boom in the air.
BAM!
That cocoon exploded into mist.
"Is that it?" Barry asked with a hopeful tone.
"Not yet." Liam looked around with a concerned face. This dude panted as if his mind was running on light speed.
"Well Liam. Looks like your intel missed the mark by a lot." Jeff looked around.
One cocoon down. Twenty cocoons up. They looked identical in energy readings.
"Yes Jeff. You are right." Liam nodded in thought. "S-rank physique."
"Stronger than S-rank actually." Liam took a look at Barry.
"S-rank psychic capabilities. Instant revival capabilities. I'm afraid we are facing an SS-rank monster. We'll need multiple S-rank hunters to hold this thing back."
"Mission change. Jeff, escort us out, and the dagger is still yours."
"Awww... You guys are leaving?"
Looking in that direction, a pair of hands had pierced out the cocoon. Making a paper ripping sound, that cocoon was torn open.
"Without my permission?" The girl stepped out that shop. Looking down at the dome of light, she licked her lips.
"Yeah. You think you can hold us back?" Barry looked up at the girl.
"You think we don't know anything about you." Barry smiled with confidence.
"Oh? I'm listening." The girl lazily leaned against the q-railing. She looked to be in the mood to play around.
"Based on what I've observed, you are immune to physical attacks!"
'...'
'...'
Well. We've got a Sherlock in the house.
Jeff also happened, by chance, to have noticed this by now. That's why he did a little test.
Looking at the girl with [Aura Vision], Jeff's eyes glinted in thought. 'Looks like I'm onto something...'
As Jeff analyzed the situation...
"However!" Barry continued. "That's because your body is made out of mist!"
Yes...
Barry pointed up with confidence. "But your main body is your bracelet!"
"If we destroy your bracelet, it'll be over for you!"
A pause of silence.
Barry looked at Liam. Liam shook his head.
Barry then looked at Jeff. Jeff lightly shook his head as well, making a 'No' gesture with his mouth.
If that's the case, they would be able to tell through detection.
"You can try." Extending her arm over the q-railing, the girl giggled. Her bracelets made crisp bell sounds.