Part 17: Disaster

ACT 2: Disaster

Ilyas’ Perspective:

“I have some news regarding Chen Kwang.” Edelyn recognized this man as Chief Pavak, the police officer who was in charge of the arrest.

“What are you here for?” Edelyn asked, her eyes were as cold as her distrust towards him.

“I am not here to capture you.” Pavak said. “Not anymore, at least. But Chen Kwang is fighting a Dozer right now.”

“And why would he need our help?” Jun Cheng asked. “He is stronger than all of us combined.”

“It’s not just a regular Dozer.” Pavak said, feeling rather shakened about what he witnessed with his own eyes. “A man with a lab coat… and some sort of Dozer that had regenerative abilities.”

“We should go.” Ilyas said, retrieving his sword which was at 70%. Not like the energy mattered to him anymore, since he would use it up again as quickly.

“Ilyas…” Edelyn said, as they hurried over to the Sports Hall in Pavak's car.

Meanwhile, Chen Kwang noticed how the room was getting more and more toxicated and pungent. It was almost like he was trapped in a coffin. The flowers started to bloom where the Dozer walked, and he was getting dizzy from the gas it emitted.

“Are you feeling alright?” The man said, wearing his gas mask that he brought with him. “Hmm, I guess it was dumb of you to think you can save that little Dozer…”

“Hibiscus Technique: Petal Slice!” Chen Kwang sliced the flowers immediately, but they kept growing more and more. It was almost as suffocating as being in a room full of dead corpses.

“It is futile for you to even try.” The man laughed out loudly, as the Flexidozer ran towards Li Peng’s Dozer.

“Tch, I guess I have to kill Li Peng’s Dozer now.” Chen Kwang said, slicing his needle swiftly at the vines that were covering it. “Sorry, but it is my duty to do so.”

“He might get it… that would ruin my plans.” The man cried, as he heard noises that came from outside.

“Alright, just in time.” He snapped his fingers as a bunch of Dozers started to come in from all sides.

“I hope you like a party.” He said, as the Dozers started to go in a frenzy, and ran towards him all at once.

“Too late for that, man.” Chen Kwang said, as he swiped his needle to the side, as Li Peng’s Dozer was destroyed.

“NOOO!” The man cried, as Chen Kwang used another roundabout swing that crushed one Dozer into the other. It finished them all in one strike, as he carried their bodies and hit it against the incoming Flexidozer.

“It is finished…” The man sobbed. “The Dozer we were trying to steal… It was worthless.”

“Now that your goal is gone, it doesn’t mean you can leave.” Chen Kwang said, putting his hands together in respect for Li Peng. “You guys… destroyed an innocent boy's life… just so you can use that monster to adapt it…”

“Hmm, you are pretty observant.” The man said. “I mean adapting something without a conscience, wouldn’t work for what he wants to achieve.”

Dozers started to crash through both sides of the windows, and Chen Kwang had no way to escape. He was going to destroy them all with his own two hands.

“I will soil my own hands, and strip off my badge of honor as a proprietor.” Chen Kwang said, removing the Hibiscus Proprietor Badge off his shirt. “Sorry, Adeline. I couldn’t keep the promise.”

The Dozers charged at him all at once, as he steadied his weapon, and concentrated it all on the technique.

“Hibiscus Technique: Blossom Slice.” He did a circular motion of his needle, and all the Dozers were cleanly sliced in half. He performed another technique simultaneously, waving his hands again as he closed his eyes.

“Hibiscus Technique: Petal of the Grand Fiesta.” He said, as he held his breath and swung ferociously at the incoming Dozers. One by one, they dropped like dead flies and all that remained was him and the Flexidozer.

“Not to be expected from one of the best.” The man said, as he walked towards him. “I guess it’s time we make our move…”

The Flexidozer arms started to grow into vines, wrapping the whole hall up with it. Flowers started to bloom, and the smell of toxicity spreaded even more. The pollen was flying everywhere, growing on anything it touches.

“Well, I guess it’s time we put an end to this performance.” The man clapped his hands as vines started to sprout out and darted towards Chen Kwang. His arms were tightly squeezed, and his needle fell to the floor. Flowers bloomed onto his body, as the smell was making him nauseous.

“To think you were bragging about defeating us earlier.” The man said. “You really are a nuisance. The least I can do is to get rid of you.”

“It’s fine.” Chen Kwang said. “As long as you don’t get what you want… my death wasn’t meaningless.”

“Hmm.. die.” The Flexidozer stabbed him in the chest with its vine, only to find it being split in half.

“You are late.” Chen Kwang said, as a white needle was seen on it.

“It’s time for us to leave then.” The man said, running out of the hall quickly only to be surrounded by policemen.

“Catch that man.” Pavak said. “Do not let him or that Dozer escape.”

“Tch.” The man said. “My mission failed all because of those guys. Well it’s no matter, this Flexidozer is over their level.”

“Hibiscus Technique: Petal Slice.” Chen Kwang sliced the Flexidozer but it rushed off outside quickly.

The Flexidozer modeled its legs into a rocket propeller, as it grew five times its size. The man hopped onto the giant beast, as it blasted off into the air.

“Did we arrive too late?” Edelyn asked, as Pavak faced Chen Kwang with a miserable look on his face.

“I still have my duty to fulfill.” Pavak said. “I’ll arrange for backup to capture that beast alive.”

“Yeah.” Chen Kwang said, as he was handcuffed by the police. “I’ve already given up my role as a proprietor.”

“As much as I am a policeman, I am also your good friend.” Pavak said, as he turned to the other three. “Go ahead and follow that beast. I’ll pretend I never saw any of you.”

They walked off along with Chen Kwang, as reports of the beast were made to all proprietors soon enough. It wasn’t long though, before the wolves were slowly disappearing in numbers.

“What should we do now?” Jun Cheng asked, as Ilyas decided to call Rahul on the situation.

After a long talk, the two groups decided to meet up to discuss what was the next step. They met at the train station and explained their sides of the story.

“I have informed Josh earlier about the situation.” Rahul said. “He said he would handle everything on his own now.”

“But to be honest, we barely contributed much other than running around, and killing Dozers.” Neva said sulkingly.

“Same here.” Edelyn said, as Neva felt like she ought to accept her as a colleague. To her, she was only frustrated at the loss of her friend, but now she felt like there was no point in seeing her as her replacement.

After all, she could not do anything at all to assist Blu. She was merely a coward who was scared of death.

“I think it is best for us to wait it out.” Jun Cheng said. “We are still not liked by the proprietors. We barely even have a clue on what is going on. Christian and Josh seem to be the ones with all the info anyways. The best thing we could do is to stay out of their business.”

“We are all tired.” Rahul said. “My armors’ broken as well. It will take a lot of funds and materials to get this bad boy back together.”

“I guess.” Ilyas said, knowing everyone was just finding excuses to hide their insecurities. He knew himself that he could not even wield his sword properly, and how he couldn’t contribute to anything.

“Let’s head to the library.” Edelyn suggested. “We can grab something to eat as well.”

The five of them agreed, as they headed to Hougang Library to cool off from the steam. They knew all in their hearts that they were only called to do the work that required their assistance. But in the back of their minds, the two culprits were running rampant and were probably going to cause more havoc.