Dead Decoy

I sat at the park with Daisy and began to scroll through my phone about anything I could find retaining to the Sacred Verses and their mysteries. Daisy watched as I scrabbled through the internet and even the deeper parts of the web, but to no avail.

"I'm telling you Cloudy, you're not going to find anything on the internet, especially not something as important as this.." Daisy said and she held my arm up, showing me the marking.

"I have to know...This is a phenomenon I'm not ready for. A responsibility I wasn't prepared for. This unknown entity, connected to the Sacred Verses and possibly the Layers of Heaven clearly made a mistake.." I said and looked at Daisy.

"There are no mistakes..." Daisy said and looked into my eyes. "Mistakes and Coincidences are two different entities...You were chosen for a reason.."

"No I wasn't. Just like this entire situation I'm in." I said.

"It's Miracles."

Daisy and I looked at Leo who walked up. He looked at us and smiled.

"I used to be like you, Claudio. In a gang, moreso the Mafia and Yakuza....I lived a life of crime just as you have and while I haven't been as unlucky as you were, when I came into contact with a Wonder Shard that faithful night, I also wondered why I was chosen and still am looking for my purpose. All I can do is stay ten steps ahead of my competition and visualize myself on the board. You've become a King Piece. Your place on the board was already set and stone." Leo said.

I looked down and sighed a bit. "I'm not ready for this at all. I mean I still have to kill the System Wielders and I still have Ryan to dead with and my Darlings I need to keep happy and safe. All of this is just...a lot you know..."

"I felt the same way..." Daisy said and made me look at her. "When I first came into contact with a Wonder Shard it felt different seeing the world in a prospective that didn't feel...humane anymore. We now hold a bigger responsibility that no government or special agent can deal with. A power no human can truly fathom...but it is a burden we must carry as Agents.."

I looked at Daisy then looked at Leo and he nodded at me. I looked at Dearie and she smiled at me. I smiled and nodded. "Alright, but it's gonna take some getting used to..."

"You're never gonna be alone in this...I promise..." Daisy said and kissed my cheek then stood up.

I watched her stand up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go check up on Yuki. She's really been out of it since we had to kill Levina. When you get a chance, Arabella wants you to meet her in HQ." Daisy said and put on her hat.

"Gotcha.." I said.

Daisy blew me a kiss then warped away.

I stood up and looked at Leo. "Where's my dad?"

"He's talking with a few of his connections. Mind taking a walk with me?" Leo asked.

"Sure." I said.

Leo and I began walking along Oakland Park and he began to ask me a few questions about my life. Although it felt strange talking to my dad's rival about myself, Leo had such a soothing energy around him. He even told me about his life as a Mafia and Yakuza member. Leo was rather well grounded and pretty secure as person.

"I hear around that people call you a Miracle Child...Some used to call me that as well, but I take it as more of a compliment because I know I'm not supposed to be alive. The fact I am alive tells me that I still have a purpose to play and I want you to keep looking at it in the same way.." Leo said.

I looked at Leo and noticed his smile. I looked at the ground and smiled a bit as well. "I'll try..."

Leo looked at me and chuckled. He pat my back gently and walked forward. "Let me tell you, you're gonna become a well refine man once you hit 30, but always remember...it is lonely at the top so it's your choice in the end if you want to be at the top with all the glory alone or would you rather have back up and split the glory equally."

I nodded and kept his words in mind.

______________________

I walked into Arabella's office and noticed her sitting on her desk with reports in her hand. "Arabella, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes~ So Everleigh told me about your run in with James the other day and he got away, well we spotted James in Woodcrest and now would be the perfect chance to try out your new abilities." Arabella said and looked at me.

"If only I knew how to use it." I said.

"It's easier than you might realize, but since you're not Spiritually Awakened your spells will be significantly weaker. It's nothing to worry about. Anyway, James is in a hideout with his crew. Apparently he has a Darling being held hostage. I'll share with you the Darling's Data so you know who to search for." Arabella said.

[New Darling Registered!]

[Name: Evelyn Ray]

[Age: 23]

[Birthday: November 3rd]

[Occupation: Actress]

[Hobbies: Partying, Going on Tours, Drinking]

[Price: $1000]

"Apparently, she's being used as bait to drag us out for killing Daniel. We're gonna play their little game, but unbeknownst to them we have a little more firepower now." Arabella said.

"I see. I will handle it and save Evelyn. They won't get away with such a foolish act." I said and looked serious.

Arabella looked into my eyes and saw a faint glow. She smirked and bit her bottom lip. "Mmm~ Go show them what happens when you mess with us..~"

I nodded and made my way out of the office.

"Analysis: James will not be alone. If anything goes wrong, I will send a distress signal. You might have a new spell, but it doesn't make you anything more than a human." Dearie said.

"I know. I don't expect an easy win just because I got me a new spell, but I can expect my work to become more efficient." I said.

I took the elevator down then hurried out of the building then ran toward the location of the Darling that's being held hostage.

____________________

"Let me go! Are you fucking crazy?!" Evelyn yelled at James.

"Nah, I'm not crazy...those goddamn Agents are the crazy bitches! Wanting to take us down..? Killing our homie like that?! I should put a bullet through your skull just to show them how fucking serious we are.." James said and aimed his gun at Evelyn's head.

Evelyn grunted softly then watched as James lowered his gun. "You doing this won't make them like you any better! If you just actually made peace and treated us with more respect, you wouldn't be on the damn radar!"

James scoffed and looked at his snipers. "Whoever shows up...we're ready to gun 'em down. If they get past the frontlines, they'll have to answer to the fucking juggernaut.."

I made it to the location and looked at the warehouse. "She's in there?"

"Affirmative. Scanning the area now." Dearie said and scanned the area pinging multiple people. "Scanning complete. Report: 20 people and Evelyn are inside."

I looked at the ones on the balcony of the warehouse and noticed they had snipers with lasers. "What the hell..? How are they getting this weaponry? Must be Ryan's doing...think you can take out the snipers?"

"Affirmative." Dearie said and took aim at the two snipers then locked on to them and fired two lasers. The lasers went through their head and the two snipers dropped dead.

"What the hell..?" James said as he noticed his two snipers drop dead. "Everyone go on alert! It seems like we have company!"

I noticed the gang members going on alert then made my move. The gang members noticed me and took aim at me. They began firing bullets at me, but Dearie switched to Defense Mode and formed a barrier around me which blocked the bullets. I pulled out my gun and fired bullet at them and took down each member one by one.

"We're taking heavy fire! It's Claudio! He's here!" A gang member warned.

"Claudio..? You're having trouble with fucking Claudio?!" James asked then growled.

I took cover and swiftly reloaded my gun then had Dearie lock on to multiple gang members while I blindly fired and the bullets homed into the gang members, killing them.

I ran from my cover after Dearie confirmed their deaths. I noticed a bigger guy run toward me and he threw a punch. I dodged him and he went for a back swing, and I blocked, but the strength of the swing knocked me back. I groaned as my back hit against one of the smaller buildings. I looked up and noticed the man running toward me. He went for a stomp, but I dodged him and fired a bullet through his leg then another through his other leg.

"The titans always fall hard..." I said and put a bullet through his head.

James put the power suit that Ryan lent him then activated it. He looked at me as I walked into the warehouse. "Well well well..."

I looked at James in his power suit then looked at Evelyn who was on the ground, looking scared. I could see her gray eyes shimmer with hope of becoming free.

"So you're an agent now...Heh...now that's really interesting..." James said as he walked forward and had Darling floating next to him. "It was bound to happen since you've become their favorite...but now it's time that I put you to rest like you're supposed to be."

I glared at James. "Holding people hostage now? Is this how low you pathetic hood rats get?"

"Hood rats! Now that's a new one coming from someone who used to fucking be one! Sitting all high and mighty on your throne, living the high life and now you're suddenly better than everyone else. Get real with yourself!" James said then held his hand out toward me. He began charging up an energy blast. "Say goodbye, Claudio."

He fired an energy blast at me but I dodged it by diving out of the way then grunted lightly as I hit the ground. I stood up and prepared myself for a fight.

"Warning: James's defense is too powerful for melee combat. Proposal: Allow me to hack into his power suit and weaken his armor." Dearie said.

I nodded and braced myself. James propelled himself toward me and went for a spinning kick, but I managed to evade him in time then ran off. James propelled himself toward me once again and went for a power right hook. I ducked under his right hook and my eyes widened when I noticed his knee rising. I groaned as he struck my face with his knee.

[Hacking: 79%]

I groaned as he kicked me into a stack of large wooden crates. I crashed through them and the crates fell on top of me. Evelyn yelled my name and struggled to break free from her chains.

[Hacking: 100%!]

James noticed his power suit shut down and was surprised. "What the hell?! What's going on?!"

I slowly got up from the crates and grunted softly as my body was in a bit of pain. I noticed James's suit was powered down. "Shoot him with a Laser Blast!"

Without hesitation, Dearie fired James with a laser blast, blowing him away. James groaned as he rolled backwards and his suit crumbled to pieces. He stood up and glared at us.

"Analysis: James no longer has his power suit. Proposal: Kill James." Dearie said.

James walked forward and Darling began creating Live Decoys of James. "You think you've won?! I've already tired you down so it's only a matter of time before your body fails on you!"

I walked forward and crackled my knuckles. "You talk...way too fucking much!"

The decoys ran toward me but Dearie switched to her Mirage Barrage Program then began to swiftly take down the decoys with ease, leaving only James. James was surprised to see Dearie having more than one Program.

I went for a roundhouse kick, but James dodged it then groaned as I hit him with a back kick then followed it with a pivot right hook. He groaned as he stumbled backwards. He yelled and tried to punch me, but I dodged him and struck his stomach twice then put all my anger into my left hook. He stumbled around then I grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into a stack of wooden crates.

"Eat shit!" I yelled and went to slam his head again, but he elbowed my stomach, pushing me away.

He went for a sweep kick, but I blocked it then chopped his side then grabbed his arm and put him on the ground. He groaned as I began to pull his arm while stepping on his back.

"No one's coming to save you now..." I said coldly then broke his arm.

James yelled in pain and rolled on his side holding his broken arm. "Fuck!! Why?!"

I watched him suffer in agony and made him roll on his back then stomped on his chest. "Last time you got away with luck on your side, but now your Fate is set and stone. You won't go out in a pathetic way like Daniel did... I'll let you see something special."

I held my hand out toward his face and began to concentrate. The marking on my arm began to faintly shine as I concentrated on casting Light Blast. A sphere of light formed in front of my hand, causing James to look astonished. I stepped away from James.

"I'll let you get a running start." I said.

James hurriedly got up and ran off in a panicked manner.

I watched him and launched the sphere of light at James then the sphere hit him, causing an explosion to happen. Evelyn stared at me in awe and watched me.

I grunted softly and panted softly.

[Owner: James Hilton is dead.]

[Unit: Darling is now inactive.]

[VIP EXP +100]

[Obtained Live Decoy Program.]

I walked toward Evelyn and began to free her of her chains then helped her up. She looked at me and hugged me tightly with gratitude. I winced slightly in pain, but hugged her back. Evelyn was now safe and I had another Program under my belt.

[(2)Darlings have now become available.]

_____________________

"Great job!~ You saved Evelyn and obtained Darling's Halo! Now that's some efficient work!~" Arabella said and giggled.

"Wait he did it all on his own?!" Daisy said in awe.

"I did." I said and grunted when Daisy excitedly hugged me. I blushed a bit and closed my eyes. "I get it, I get it...you're excited but do you have to hug me so tightly..?!"

Vesta looked at Darling's Halo and smiled. "It is a beauty..~"

Darling's Halo was a green double crosshair with a four needles inside a smaller circle in four cardinal directions. Her Halo was able to spin as well, but I was sure that all halos could spin.

"Well, that's another System Wielder down! Only 15 left. Keep it up, my love~" Arabella giggled softly.

"I...will..." I said as Daisy held me.