Without opening the communication channel, I could only guess what they were thinking upon the situation suddenly evolving to this.
Are they cursing me or are they cursing me? Surely what has just happened made them curse me to death. Who told them not to check if that was a clone or not?
Well, one thing was for sure though, these three weren't the source for that danger which my Adaptability was still sensing.
It's here but it's not them. They're only a subordinate, probably only Rank S or SS at best. Their abilities aren't that great even or the Metagen wasn't specially made for them.
Err… Who knows? I haven't fought them head-on and I quickly dealt with that one once the chance showed itself to me.
But three Core Pilot level subordinates, there's a possibility that they were raised here or they came from either of the factions involved. Whatever their background is, an enemy is an enemy.
There's nothing limiting someone to Pilot another Metagen after all. I could even Pilot theirs and use it better if they would let me.
Should I steal them?
Err…But the girls wouldn't be able to use it if it's Meta Energy exclusive. I had Nysia take a sample of my Flux Energy for her Researchers to study. Since it also has the property of Meta Energy, if they could make a Metagen which would allow the other three Energy assimilated to it along with the Meta Energy to be used then Yuko and the others would also be able to Pilot a Metagen.
The Darkgens did it with their Dark Energy, why not my Flux Energy, right? I'll look forward to that.
Waiting for the right moment, I already deactivated the Energy Amplification. Which means, I'm recharging myself through that unconscious guy, if they didn't manage to pull him out or cut the thread off, he would soon be depleted of his own energy.
Well, they're still busy with my clones. Even if they're weaker if it's just for stalling for time, I could confidently say that I'm a master at that and my clones also moved like me albeit not as good as me.
During this face-off, unlike before where the clones purposely ate their attacks, they were now accurately dodging and coordinating by themselves even in their damaged state.
They could also use my skills but the result was also reduced so they could only irritate the two, wasting their time before the clones naturally dispersed due to its duration running out.
Once the clones disappeared, the silver Metagen went over to the fallen ice-blue Metagen, unaware of the Energy Thread still latched onto it.
With both of them wary that I'm still around, the golden-winged Metagen stood in front, guarding the two.
A little while later, the cockpit of the silver Metagen opened and revealed a woman, probably in her early 20's with purple hair and a silver flexible tight suit which covered her whole body.
She hurriedly stood up and jumped from her Metagen to the ice-blue Metagen whose energy was still being drained. She's shouting something while worriedly looking for the emergency button to open the cockpit from the outside.
I was already about to rush in and take down that Pilot when a distress signal was suddenly sent to me from Nell's Metagen. With the screen blinking in red, it showed Nell's appearance who's currently disheveled and with blood running on her forehead.
"Sir, we're surrounded. We can't move anymore. Pasuta and Oni are unconscious, Dali and Sen are standing at the front trying to shield us. I… my Meta Energy is already depleted. We need help…"
Right. They're not Heroes who were overpowered from the start, even with the plan I cooked up, their Meta Energy reserves are bound to be depleted and the enemies also have their abilities they could use.
Regrettably, it has only been five minutes since we separated but they're already out of commission. I guess that's the true extent of a group of only Rank A and Rank B Pilots, they couldn't magically overcome the difference in numbers.
I guess I got too used at supporting Heroes and my companions that I forgot that those five were normal people here. They couldn't create a miracle when outnumbered 5 to 1.
"Wait for me. I'm coming over."
I responded and pulled the Energy Thread off the ice-blue Metagen and the notification of the Energy Drain interruption rang out.
[Energy Thread has been pulled out of the target]
[Energy Drain has been terminated.]
I couldn't care less for it now. If I engage the last two this time, I wouldn't be able to save those five. It's a shame but I told them they would live if they believe in me. And I don't really plan on them dying on me. If they died, those chasing them will be focusing on me next.
I might have fooled these Pilots earlier but now that they know I have some tricks up my sleeve, they would surely be ready for it. Sneak attacking right now wouldn't produce as much result when I sneak attacked that ice-blue Metagen.
Retreating from the place. I controlled the Purple Haze to fly through the sky and look for the 5 Elite Members' location. These Specialized Metagens could be dealt with later and from that purple-haired woman's expression, whoever's Piloting that ice-blue Metagen is someone special to her. Her lover or a sibling, who knows. I'll use that to my advantage later.
From the sky, it's easy to see where they were surrounded. With the five of them huddled together, another bombardment from those surrounding them would be enough to turn them all into smithereens.
Since I'm still concealed, I looked around and found the Darkgens still at a distance, just watching those Metagens try to kill my team. Behind them was another Metagen and one look was enough for me to determine that it was the one who's giving me the warning signs not to engage.
From the database… there's also no data about it. But from how it stood from there like someone looking down on us, a Rank SSS+ like me.
I see. That's why it's ringing an alarm. If any of the Heroes of this world was faced with that, they would lose.
Ah. Well, let him watch. For now, I have to take the five out of that dangerous situation.
[Energy Amplification has been activated]
[Energy Burn has started.]
[Burn Rate: 27 units of Flux Energy/second]
[Gained 27% increase in all abilities, skills and energy effectiveness]
[Will expire upon Energy Depletion or deactivating Energy Amplification]
Activating Energy Amplification, the Purple Haze appeared from its concealed state.
[Energy Thread has been successfully connected]
[Energy Drain had started]
[Draining Rate: 16 units of Meta Energy/second]
[Will be interrupted if the thread is cut or pulled out.
I targeted the one closest to Sen and Dali and successfully latched my Energy Thread to it before four clones separated from me and dived down to take on one or two Metagens at the outer circle of their encirclement. Each of them spewing out the smoke from their backs.
Apart from the two who got hit by the Flash Draw earlier, every Metagen was here.
[Energy Incarnate Transformation has been activated]
[Transformation Cost: 7 units of Energy/second]
And to further strengthen me. I transformed into an Energy Incarnate, however, it couldn't be channeled through the Purple Haze.
A Metagen is a lump of metal after all. The Transformation is only applicable to my main body. In any case, what I needed from it was the increased control over Source Energies.
Inputting the series of commands to the Metagen, the Purple Haze which was concealed again after creating the four clones dived down and landed in front of Sen, Dali and the other three slumped down behind them. Generating Energy Shields, the Purple Haze threw those to the five.
With another set of commands, the Purple Haze raised its hand and the surrounding energy was stirred and a whirlpool of energy was seemingly formed. Just like what I used when my Incarnation was sparring with Erin.
The whirlpool of energy sucked in the surrounding Meta Energy and which created a vacuum of it. For a second, the enemy Metagens' abilities couldn't be activated. Using that opportunity, the Purple Haze waved its hand down which made the whirlpool of energy plunge down and cover the five Metagen behind me.
"Absorb it to repair your Metagens and replenish yourselves!"
Through the screen which showed the faces of the five Elite Members, renewed hope appeared from their expressions. Nell and the other two who were unconscious earlier were also energized as they started to bathe with the amount of energy I gathered for them.
We need a little more time before Nysia arrives. Then…
The four clones who were still battling it out with their targets converged with us in the middle. From 5, our numbers were doubled with me and my clones' addition. Though those clones were surely weaker, they're the best at stalling for time. However, I have to recreate them after their duration ends.
With that in mind, I threw more Energy Threads to latch on more Metagens though some cut it immediately or jumped away from it, with this kind of battlefield, my clones went and locked them down.
With three successful Energy Threads, the siphoned energy from them became enough to sustain Energy Amplification and Energy Incarnate state.
Two minutes later, the five Elite Members stood up from behind me. Though it didn't repair them to 100%, it's enough to get them back on their feet.
"Alright. Are you guys ready? The same strategy as earlier. Don't hold back and let's stall for time!"
Well, that didn't sound encouraging but that's what we needed to do at this moment.
"Yes, sir!"
Even if they're already banged up, the five of them saluted from the screen.
"Let's move out!"
Along with that command, with my four clones in the lead, we broke out of the encirclement.
Those Metagens with the Energy Threads lodged into them were dragged along us, creating another obstacle to the pursuing Metagens.
From a distance, the two Specialized Metagen started to join the fray.
For the next 40 minutes. We circled the place without letting us be cornered again.
Dispelling Arrows, Energy Drain, Energy Barrier, Magic Missiles and Phantasmic Doppelganger.
I rotated through these five skills to impede them from getting close as well as maintaining the rate of siphoned energy to sustain my buffs that burned through it.
When we reached 50-minute mark after our escape from that encirclement, a green communication signal lit up on my screen.
Upon opening it, Nysia's beautiful face appeared in front of me.
"Daisuke. I'm here!"
With a worried voice and expression from the screen, I could see her Metagen, the Sanguine Aegis, sped up from the distance to our location.
The disturbance it created was enough to make the Metagens stop and look up along with us.
"You're finally here, Nysia."
Seeing that worried face, I smiled at her through the screen to ease that up.
The five Elite Members who were staring at their screen and watching the conversation between us had a dumbfounded look on their faces.
Out of all the members of the League, It was the Head that they looked up to who came to our rescue. Of course, that worried face she showed and the way she called me was what made them stare dumbstruck at their screen.
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