So, I discovered that it takes a while for Patreon pages to be approved. If I'd known that, I would have done it sooner. I don't even know how long time it takes, but anyway... let's wait for approval.
In any case, I'll keep releasing in the meantime.
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--x--
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Following Han Xiao's advice, Ringo could now perform a figure-eight drift at 100 km/h. Han Xiao patted him proudly on the shoulder before going to sleep.
Ringo found the driving fun at first, but over time it only became monotonous. He slowed down and relaxed a bit. Even so, he was still going 60 km/h. For a drive through partially enclosed terrain in a nighttime forest? That was extremely fast.
Ringo ate some cereal bars while driving boredly until the sun came up. Then he stopped and woke Han Xiao, who drew his gun and looked around cautiously.
-It's okay, I'm going to the bathroom. - He grabbed a roll of toilet paper and a small shovel and set off before Han Xiao's still slightly dazed and sleepy eyes.
Han Xiao sighed and saw that the food "depot" had been raided again, making him roll his eyes. He grabbed a bag of jerky and an energy drink to eat, keeping an eye on his surroundings.
When Ringo returned, Han Xiao went the bathroom too. The pair refueled, and Han Xiao took over driving.
Ringo found the trip boring, so he went back to sleep under Han Xiao's conflicting eyes. Could he trigger a mission to get this skill?
Five hours later, Ringo changed shifts while Han Xiao slept, but that night, the pair discovered they were completely out of gas.
-Well, that's it, let's continue on foot. - Ringo shrugged.
Han Xiao nodded. -Let's change directions, it'll be harder to find us without the car.
Ringo agreed, and the pair quickly changed directions. They walked for another hour before stopping to settle in for the night.
-I'll take the first shift. - Ringo sat on a tree branch and spoke calmly, looking back in the direction they'd come from.
Han Xiao, tired from the journey, nodded quickly and leaned against a tree. The insects were annoying, but neither of them considered lighting a fire.
Until a few hours later, the sound of a helicopter was heard.
Han Xiao woke up quickly. Ringo looked up, surprised by the germinal's courage, but with his vision, he saw that the helicopter was flying close to the trees, too low to be picked up by the Stardragon's radar.
High above, beyond a group of armed men, a red-haired figure appeared in his view.
Ringo laughed happily and jumped down from the tree.
He could see that the group was wearing thermal goggles. He could hide his heat by turning into a cold-blooded reptile, but Han Xiao was still there, and it wouldn't do any good anyway, they had already been found.
Smiling excitedly, he took off his shirt while Han Xiao armed a sniper rifle.
-Don't shoot Hila.- He didn't fail to warn Old Han. He doubted he could kill Hila, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Han Xiao raised an eyebrow at him, finding it strange that he'd take off his shirt and make such a request, but nodded.
Ringo bent down slightly, his energy seeming to leak from his body and concentrate in his back. Target gene found, adaptation to human physiognomy complete, performance calculation complete, genetic reset initiated, physical restructuring underway.
He felt movement in the bones of his back, and a bulge quickly appeared like two large tumors, leaving Han Xiao startled. The next moment, his flesh exploded outward, a pair of giant black eagle wings protruding from between his shoulder blades.
His body seemed thinner, but still full of strong, hard muscles.
Smiling, he tried to take off a little and quickly got the hang of it. Under the surprised eyes of the group with binoculars, he flew toward them.
Han Xiao whistled in amazement and raised his sniper rifle, quickly aiming.
Ringo smiled excitedly, never taking his eyes off Hila. The pilot seemed frightened and wanted to turn away. Large-caliber bullets were already raining down on him without leaving a scratch, greatly surprising the pursuing group.
Ringo only took five seconds to reach the helicopter. Although he could fly, his skill was still that of a beginner. His hands transformed into the shape of a mutant eagle's claw as he slashed at the helicopter's blades.
Normally, an eagle would be cut in half if he attempted this, but the genes used in him were not normal, and he himself is a Rank D super whose body has been strengthened through an extreme process of damage and healing.
Just like that... the helicopter blades flew away, while his claws emerged unharmed.
The group screamed as an internal siren blared. Hila didn't hesitate before jumping.
The rest of the group soon followed, one of them being shoot on the air by Han Xiao.
Ringo flew toward Hila, still falling. She launched a jet of wine-red energy at him, but he ignored it and activated his active adaptation. He became immune to the energy before even being hit. Even the kinetic damage was very weak. Before Hila's shocked eyes, he clenched his fist and punched her in the stomach with all his might, as she used her energy to protect herself.
-Fist of Gender Equality! - Ringo shouted excitedly.
Not far away, Han Xiao nearly burst out laughing. He gave a thumbs-up excitedly, thinking Ringo was a real man.
Hila was thrown downward by the blow. Her eyes lost focus, her saliva flying, and she nearly passed out from the pain, the punch had hit her liver.
Ringo smiled, looking down, her wings still beating.
He felt an extreme attraction to Hila, but he also felt extreme anger for what he had been through. Those cold eyes... He knew, if given the order, she would have killed him, because of her sister? Yes, but that didn't change the fact that she had tortured him and accepted his situation.
After that punch, they were even. She'd pay for the rest inside the room. She doesn't like wearing black leather? He'd give her a reason.
He looked at the figures trying to counterattack Han Xiao, who was striking them while taking advantage of her disorientation.
He ignored them and attacked Hila.
His ears could hear the electrical current from the components she wore. He removed everything as she weakly tried to block it, and it broke effortlessly.
She raised her hand, and a bolt of energy struck him in the chest, making him take a step back. He was surprised. It was the first blow that made him flinch. His adaptation to her energy was still active, so it was just pure kinetic damage. He felt it slightly, and the health he lost was very low. His passive regeneration would heal faster than she could hurt him. Hila seemed to realize this, and her eyes went blank as she fell.
He had been preparing this blow for seconds, using most of his energy, but it only made him stagger.
She fell weakly to the ground, wondering what would happen to Aurora now that she was going to die.
Ringo grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. Hila didn't even look at him as she accepted her fate, her unfocused eyes thinking of Aurora.
But in the next moment, anger overcame her.
Ringo bent down and licked the blood dripping from her lips, a slow, provocative movement. Hila stared at him with a look of disgust and anger, her energy surging again.
Ringo laughed and teased. - Does that irritate you? I'm sorry, I didn't know you were so fragile.
Hila snorted weakly, and even though he didn't squeeze her hand, she still felt a little suffocated as gravity pulled her down.
-Kill me! - she managed to squeeze out through her teeth, the fear of being violated growing.
-Kill you? - Ringo looked confused, then realized something. - You think I'm going to kill you?
- What do you want to do? - Hila narrowed her eyes dangerously, thinking about his lustful eyes. She prepared to fight to the death before being violated, but thinking about her sister, her internal struggle grew stronger. Should she accept just to survive? Would he let her live?
Should she use her body as a bargaining chip? That thought alone made her furious and disgusted, but thinking about Aurora, she felt desperate.
-Don't worry, I won't kill you, nor humiliate you, in fact, I'll let you go. - Ringo said calmly.
-What? - Hila asked, confused and shocked, forcing the words out between gasps. - Are you going to let me go?
-Yes. - Ringo nodded slightly.
-Why? - She asked doubtfully.
Ringo didn't answer. He looked into her eyes, seeing that hard look in her eyes, but also the hidden fragility. He fell in love with that look, but he preferred her proud and haughty gaze. Besides, he could feel the surge of hormones in his body, his desire coursing over his skin. He couldn't help but blurt it out as he used his free hand to caress her chin. - You're so beautiful...
Hila pursed her lips and rolled her eyes without answering, her eyes still hard, but inside she was determined to survive, even if she had to pay with her body. For Aurora, she was determined, if he were to let her go, it was worth it.
Ringo smiled, uncaring. - I admit I want you. You have no idea how much I want you, but your body alone doesn't satisfy me. Your love already belongs to this little girl, right? - Ringo reached into his back pocket and pulled out a photo of Hila with a little girl with golden blonde hair.
Hila's eyes grew fierce and she tried to take the photo. Ringo didn't stop her, just watched her take it. - Stay away from her! - She yelled angrily, only to start coughing from the strain of her voice, still being held by the neck.
Ringo shook his head in amusement, then released her, watching her fall, clutching her reddened neck, still coughing, but still holding the photo tightly to her chest.
Ringo stared at her as she composed herself. He stared at her for a time, but he'd seen her many times before, her face already fixed in his memory. He sighed and spoke. - Wait for me, I'll get you out of there... along with your sister, at that moment, you'll be my woman.
His voice was clear and direct, indifferent. He wasn't asking her opinion, he was stating a fact, she would be his.
With that, he turned and walked away, controlling his body to avoid coming back and ripping her clothes off right there.
His eyes were bloodshot and his breathing was heavy, it took a lot of willpower to control himself now, so he needed to leave quickly.
Hila watched him leave with confused thoughts, doubtful, frustrated, furious, and deep down, a feeling she herself hadn't expected, hopeful.
The power of Six... if he can grow, taking them from Germinal isn't impossible.
Lowering her head to look at the photo, she clenched her free fist against the earth and sighed wearily. If he really succeeded, she didn't mind using herself as a payment. As long as Aurora could live free and happy, she could endure anything!
Hila was used to suffering. She wasn't in love with Ringo like a cheap fantasy. She understood the price and accepted it. Not even Ringo could expect that. But Hila was confident in his growth and could sacrifice anything for her sister, including herself. So, if he succeeded, she would become his woman.
Not for love, not for desire, a transaction. Her body for her sister's happiness was worth it, always would be worth it, for Aurora.
On the other side, Ringo arrived just in time to see Han Xiao finishing his conversation with the Germinal leader.