Chapter 5: Sharpshooter

In the complete dark street where no can see anything other than darkness as the sound of agony echoes through the whole street.

Hearing the sounds of people screaming mixed with the roar of the dogs is kinda a unique sound one wouldn't have to hear. A unique melody if one would have to describe.

In the midst of chaos in the darkness, two people are hiding near the pole not getting targetted by the horde of dogs.

Mike and Ray.

Catching up their breath they rest even in this kind of situation where one would feel terrified and lose themselves in the darkness. Ray is already terrified but because he's with Mike he didn't lose himself like the others.

Without a source of light, the only thing they could do is nothing but to listen to the sounds of agony echoing through their ears.

"Argh!!!"

"Gahhh!!!"

As Ray feels the pain just by hearing the people scream he thugs Mike's clothes and whisper to his ears.

"Hey Mike, I know they're the ones who started this but isn't this going a bit too far?"

"Shut it. This is not the only time they chased me like this."

"Huh? So you've already experienced this kind of treatment?! Why didn't I know any of that-!?"

Ray's voice is getting louder so Mike quickly covers his mouth and warns him to never utter a word through his eyes.

He put a finger to his lips showing a gesture to be quiet.

"Shhhh....."

Even without his hand gesture Ray already understands Mike's intentions as he nods wildly.

*********************

After a few minutes of hiding in the darkness, the street went finally quiet as the dogs are finally gone leaving corpses behind from their path.

Mike double-checks the surroundings if there are thugs hiding.

"Looks like this was it."

"Y-yeah."

Ray is still feeling nervous because of the eerie silence that the street gives to him.

It cannot be helped since the darkness envelops the land around this area.

*Tap tap tap*

Mike goes to the pole and uses the long thin rod from earlier to do something to the pole. After a short while, without saying anything to Ray the streets have been returned to its former self.

The streets have been filled with lights once again but just like the way it used to the light coming from the poles is quite dim.

As the lights cover the streets, Ray saw the thugs lying down on the ground.

They cannot stand up because of the intense pain all over their body.

Seeing all of the thugs lying down in the ground without the strength to fight anymore, Ray felt terrified.

(There's no way I can forget this.)

Fortunately, the thugs who are lying at the ground in pain only have light wounds, not to the point that one must bring to the hospital. Not to mention the dog's bite mark around them are only shallow, but it's still scary if one must say.

Mike didn't bother to even look at the corpse as he just walks through them without much thought.

Ray who's still in hesitation sees Mike walking away.

He casually avoids stepping the corpse as he walks towards the direction of their home. Even though they run this much the two still know where they are.

"Oy! Are you gonna leave them like this?!" Ray asks Mike.

Mike didn't stop walking but he still answers Ray's question.

"After that sudden shutdown of electricity and a breakout of stray dogs from the animal shelter near here, police and others will surely come. So hurry up and walk before they arrive."

(Oh shit! You even think that far ahead.)

Understanding Mike's statement Ray quickly follows him behind.

He still has many questions in mind but now is not the right time.

Because they had been chased from thugs, their distance from their home increase.

The cat and mouse chase takes too much time that one didn't notice it's already 10 PM (22:00).

They walk home together after that scene but no-one utters a word to one another.

Silence surrounds the whole atmosphere around them and the one who's suffocating from the silence is Ray. After that horrible scene, of course, he would feel uncomfortable towards Mike like he changes his view to him.

(Uhh... What should I say this is getting awkward. Should I say;

'This night is great.' 'Man, that shit pumps my heart to the max.' or 'Luckily, they're gone, right?' but all of them would even deeply break the mood not only that it will give us some unexpected flags.

Should I just shut up or think of something else?) Ray's thoughts are quite unnecessary complicated.

For a second there Ray thinks about something to break the mood.

....

(Yeah... I'm just gotta shut up.)

....

..

.

"Man... that shit earlier literally give me a heart attack, good thing this night I'm with you. We're even lucky that they're finally gone... Ah shit." Out of conscious, mixing all of the bad things that Ray's mind doesn't to say, came out of his mouth.

(Did I just said all of them!?) To his nervousness, he reconfirms from his mind about the things he just said right now. He can't believe the stuff that comes out from his mouth is like a bomb as his stiff face started to sweats coldly.

Raising the flag is the last thing that he would not want to do in this situation... and yet...

(This will be a disaster.)

Hoping that his words will be just ignored by the gods of this world, he wishes flags will not happen.

Will not happen.

...Not happen.

Happen...

-ppen.

-pen.

It happens. The god of this world actually listened as he intertwines the reality of this unfair world.

After Ray saying the forbidden words, a can of juice flies through at high speed hitting Mike's face to its impact.

Because of the momentum that it builds from its speed, it throws Mike to the ground. He didn't react in time before it reaches him, no... It was more like he can't react at all.

The place where the can of juice hits Mike is in his injured mouth. A critical hit if one would have to say.

Falling to his knees Mike spit some blood to the ground as he endures the massive pain that came through his mind.

This is something Mike didn't expect a sharpshooter would come into the scene.

With only limited vision around the poles' dim light, there's no way an average shooter would able to shoot accurately.

This attack purposely hit Mike exactly at his wound so the enemy right now is beyond average.

Covering his mouth blood drips from his hand.

Just who the hell can hit this accurately?

High speed, great force not to mention this kind of precision Mike hasn't encounter this kind of person in his life.

"Mike!" Ray quickly covers Mike and checks if he's alright.

Glaring to the place where the sharpshooter might be Mike immediately comes to think of a plan.

The enemy uses the darkness for his advantage so Mike will be put in a disadvantage here especially the enemy specialist in long-range attacks.

Mike stands up and picks up the can of juice that just hit him.

(How fucking cruel... something like this. No wonder it's painful.)

Dropping the can Mike prepared his attack and stared beyond the darkness where his eyes cannot see.

(This will be my first time facing someone like you but I'll take you out.) thought Mike as he grins through sheer excitement.

The sharpshooter reads his intentions as it didn't dare to attack before him. The sharpshooter definitely underestimates him.

Removing his bag Mike gives it to Ray. One must be surprised that these two able to run at that pace even while carrying a bag.

"Hey, Ray."

"W-what?"

"You take my bag and get away from here. This will be quite an awful fight so there will be no room for me to save you if something happens."

"But!"

"No buts! You already raised the flags so don't give me another problem to deal with! Get out of here! This will be your first order from your very great leader!"

"No BUTS! You already raised this flag and I don't want any more flags to rise! out so get outta here! This is an order from your great leader!"

"Just when did you become a leader type!? Urgh! Fine!"

Giving up from their pathetic argument Ray takes Mike's bag and leaves.

Until Ray's figure disappear to the scene Mike stretches himself preparing for the battle.

While's stretching he didn't take off his eyes to the possible places where the sharpshooter is.

It's cool to see him like this but someone quickly breaks the mood.

Ray from afar shouts in frustration deliberately letting Mike hear his anger.

"THERE'S NO STUFF INSIDE YOUR BAG EXCEPT THIS USED CLOTHES! DO YOU EVEN CONSIDER YOURSELF A STUDENT!?"

Ray didn't wait for a reply as he just continued to disappear from the darkness away from the scene.

(The deadweight is finally gone.) Now Mike can go all out from this point.

"Haha... It seems like you're the same coward and cunning like me," said Mike as the adrenaline kicks into his body.

The excitement of being at the disadvantage side making his body shouts for a fight.

(Please be sure to entertain me, you bastard!)

*************************

Beyond the darkness where Mike is looking, five people are hiding behind the wall of the street.

Among the five, there is this guy who carries this strange big slinger like the size of a book.

This is the guy is the one who hits Mike with a juice can.

Mike is surely pissed because of that as the blood is dripping from his mouth.

(Where are you, bastard!)

The distance between them is large that it might take a full minute run to reach their position.

Out of the five guys, this guy who carries the slinger is the only one who attacks Mike. Others are just lookouts.

Mike started to move. Sprinting in a straight line towards the possible places of the sharpshooter, he runs recklessly.

Taking action, the sharpshooter as he shoots another can juice straight to Mike.

The strange slinger's rubber stretches so long that it reaches the sharpshooter's back shoulder. The rubber is thick and the holder is quite large for a slinger.

Because the prongs in the slinger are wide one could have fit almost anything in hand and turn it to a bullet. But one must give respect to the user for able to use it efficiently.

*Swoosh!*

Releasing his grip the juice can fly at a tremendous speed that even the air around him makes a swoosh sound.

However, unlike the last time, Mike already anticipated the incoming attack and put his left hand in his front to block it.

*Bang!* Receiving the bullet's impact Mike's left wrist immediately turns red.

"Argh! Fuck! It's hurt like hell!! Even though he managed to block it the attack is much more powerful than he anticipated.

Looking at his left wrist it's already swollen to the point that it looks like it about to explode. Horrible injury if one had to say.

Complaining and blurting some curses like that yet Mike didn't stop running straight like he's a mad man.

Mike can barely hold the pain from his mouth and yet another injury added to his body that it's much worse than the other one.

He wanted to take an immediate rest but the attack did not stop there.

All of a sudden a can has been flown towards his face again.

It didn't stop there as another stuff has been flown straight to his face. Again.

Mike doesn't want to feel that kind of pain again so he decided to dodge the attack in midway. Barely dodging an inch from his face it leaves a small cut wound in his left cheek.

Looking back the thing that flew to him is not a can based on the sharpness that cut to his left cheek.

He doesn't have time to check if that kind of thing has been thrown again who knows what will happen to him. He still continues to run straight forward.

Mike runs with all of his got yet... why he runs so slow compare to earlier?

His feet are swiping left and right as it reaches its limit.

Having no choice Mike run behind the thick tree to get a cover for a while.

*Pant pant cough*  Heavy breathes and cold sweats are all over his tired wounded body. He even coughs blood because of it.

He gives up covering his mouth as this time he'll just let his blood drip down to the ground as he focus himself building up a plan to beat that shit.

(Based on how the powerful this guy's attack, he may be using something like a slingshot but these bullets that had been thrown are too big for it to be used in a slinger. What in the world is that guy using?)

*BAM*

While resting behind the tree a sudden loud bang came from the tree he's hiding.

Slowly turning his head some of its tree's chunks have been blown away from the attack. This time the bullet the sharpshooter uses is stone as the bullet completely sink into the tree.

Seeing such a dangerous attack a bucket of cold sweat covers Mike's face.

(This is seriously bad.) Mike had thought.

"Oy! Is that all you can do to fight!? Fight me fair and square!"

"..."

Of course, no one would respond to his complaint.

Mike managed to catch his breath and started to run for it. Instead of running straight like a madman this time he runs in a zigzag pattern to decrease the chances of getting hit.

However, once he takes a step away from the cover of the tree, his thigh was immediately got shot.

"Fuck!" This will certainly give him damage. Luckily, the bullet that the sharpshooter use is a small pebble so the damage is not that high compare to earlier.

Even with that, Mike didn't dare to stop. He runs as he means it.

This time he runs not for pursuing the enemy but he runs to dodge the enemy's attack desperately.

Running mindlessly is what the sharpshooter thought when he saw Mike who's just running around.

Just when he thought this guy could get any weirder, Mike started to climb walls, cars, and even trees just to get away from the sharpshooter's aim.

The way he climbs is like an amateur monkey. This was actually his first time climbing so there's no fault for that.

(What is he doing?) thought of the sharpshooter while he keeps shooting Mike.

The eyes of sharpshooters are like an eagle that stalks its prey even in this dark night. Mike is fast at running but not fast enough to get away from this hunter's eyes.

A barrage of different bullets goes straight to Mike while he's climbing.

From time to time he got hit but didn't stop as he just runs in any places of the streets.

It's totally futile is what the sharpshooter has thought.

It didn't take a while but after a couple of minutes of running Mike finally went down.

Mike falls down to the ground with a thud. After he fell he didn't make any more movement like he's a puppet that loses its strings.

Seeing the body, the sharpshooter stands up and gives a sign to the four people that he finishes his job.

"Did you actually get him?" One from the five asked the sharpshooter.

"Of course, do you think a simple-minded boy like that can get away from my eyes?"

"Wahaha... As expected from you!" Hearing the sharpshooter's response he gives a bright smile and pats his shoulder showing how amazing he had done.

"Oh please, you compliment me too much. That boy over there didn't even give me any thrill. He just ran left and right without any thoughts in his mind. He even climbs for no reason like an idiot." The sharpshooter said with mockery and disappointment in his tone.

The guy didn't like him talking to Mike like that so he refutes to what he had said;

"Don't talk to him like that, bro. He really gives us a really hard time for a long time, you know."

"That just shows how weak you all are."

"Haha..." The guy just let out a small laugh and didn't talk anymore. He hates that the sharpshooter talks rudely but he also didn't want to make these guys as his enemies. They even help them to defeat that guy which is a big help for his group in their territory.

"Well, this must be it. Do what you want to that guy. I'll take my leave." said the sharpshooter and walks away as he waves his hand.

He leaves the four people and walks away towards somewhere. He didn't totally care why he's doing this kind of task but at least it must entertain him in some way.

(Is that even worth a challenge?) thought of the sharpshooter.

As we walk far away thinking what will he do after this, something- someone appeared at his back without notice.

And then... A sudden chill crawl back to his very spine.

*BAM!*

A large bang caused by the impact of a thing swinging onto his head. The swing is so heavy that the sharpshooter flew a short distance away.

Getting thrown onto the ground, the sharpshooter groans in pain as blood starts dripping from his head.

This is something he didn't expect.

Who in the fuck hits him? Is what in his very thoughts as anger and terrified are colliding in his brain interrupting his way of thinking.

The one who hits him slowly approaches him as his steps can be heard from the heavy silence around them.

"I finally found you, bitch." The one who hits him finally talks. The one's voice is cold as ice that the sharpshooter feels the cold from his ears alone.

Enduring the massive pain in the head, the sharpshooter slowly turns his head towards the guy.

With the eyes like an eagle sharpshooter quickly recognized who's the one that hit him.

He was sure that he take this guy down.

(B-but why is he here!?)

Through his panic, he immediately gets his slinger from his back and quickly prepares to shoot.

However, as he prepares he lost something important to his weapons. His bullets.

(I used all of it!?) Realized by the sharpshooter.

He quickly changes his plan and tries to grab some stones or pebbles just anything to become his bullet but no matter where he taps the ground there's none.

In the midst of his confusion, Mike just let the sharpshooter thinks his way out as he takes his time giving his enemy the despair they needed.

"Can of juice, rocks, pebbles, etc are the ones that have been thrown into me earlier. I already have a hunch at where you are because of the things that you use as bullets.

Because I know this place like the palm of the hand I know where's the place that has the most trash.

Just by looking at your bullets, I can tell that you're the one who doesn't like to carry some bullet-like trash around into his pocket. I mean you can grab this kind of bullets about everywhere, right? I'm amazing right?"

The sharpshooter is surprised when he heard Mike's statement, it totally hits every mark of him. But he's still confused.

(Even if you read me totally like a book, I can grab anything around me to make it a bullet!)

He desperately finds anything as long it can load his slinger but no matter where he looks even a small little pebble cannot be seen.

(How!?)

"You see, I did a little cleaning while we're playing duck hunt." as he said it Mike brought out the thing he hits sharpshooter with.

Bringing out the thing from the dark, a metal bat can be seen at Mike's hands.

Where in the world did he get this stuff, if one would have to say but this what Mike had already prepared in these streets or more he just put some numerous weapons and traps within his range of the school where routes he mostly uses.

Hitting it to the sharpshooter's leg he screams in pain.

"Argh!!"

Seeing his state like that Mike smile in ecstasy as he enjoys his time hitting this guy who gives him such trouble.

"Do! You! Know! How! Many! Pebbles! Or! Cans! That! Injured! Me!? HUH!?" Every word he says he hits the sharpshooter all over his body.

"Gargh!! Sorry! Sorr- cough!" Pain envelops his whole body it's a horrible sight, more worst than the dog stampede earlier.

"HAHAHAHA! Don't worry! I'll only hit you the same as you hit me!"

The sharpshooter is just at the ground he can't do a thing he's not an expert in close combat so the only thing he can do is to defend himself.

No one can help him because he already left the group earlier.

He regrets that he underestimated this boy this must be his punishment.

(Someone, help me!) Stretching his arm towards the darkness he hopes for help to come in this dim street.

(You should take responsibility for triggering my switch to this level!... Gargh!)

While enjoys himself drowning in such excitement, a fist suddenly appears from the darkness punching his wounded cheek in surprise.

The punch blows Mike away from where he's standing that one would think that he was hit by a vehicle than a punch. But the scene is so clear as the sound it made is so heavy that the sharpshooter even feels the pain Mike receives in sound alone.

(Why always my face!)

The punch is powerful but Mike able to endure it as he stands from the ground.

Normally people would fall unconscious from that kind of punch but Mike stands up showing his tenacity.

Looks like one of the five from before arrives in the scene in a nick of time.

Spitting some blood to the ground Mike glares at the one who gives him such a punch.

Before Mike notices, he's already surrounded by four sides as the other three from the five fill-ups the possible place where he might escape.

The metal bat from his hand is gone as he lost grip when he got punched.

"Get him, Leo!" One of them shouted at the guy named Leo.

"Yeah! You better avenge what this brat did to our guy!"

"Quick! Call others!"

"Leo! Leo! Leo!"

(Getting surrounded by four. Sharpshooter is not included.

The one who punches must not be taken lightly like those thugs that you can find in the streets. This must be the first I encounter this sharpshooter and a heavy puncher, are they from outside?

The pain from my injuries is too much.

And I'm about to run out of breath.

What a great day to be alive!

Bring it! I'll show you all how powerful I am!)

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