"Pretty much like that. You can take it that way," Eric said after a brief pause and a noncommittal nod.
He hadn't yet figured out Bradley's stance, so naturally, he wasn't going to show all his cards just yet.
But Bradley's expression hardened.
"I'm sorry. I don't think we have anything to talk about. Please leave."
Just a second ago he had been civil—now his voice was cold and firm, and he stood up to make his point crystal clear.
Eric tried to salvage the moment."Mr. Bradley, maybe just hear me out before deciding?"
"There's no need. I'm sorry you two made the trip for nothing."
His tone left no room for discussion.
Eric exchanged a glance with Rorschach. The two stood up without another word. There was no point in forcing it if the man clearly didn't want their help.
As they opened the door to leave—
Squeak.
Standing in the doorway was a broad-shouldered man in a black trench coat, cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, scruffy beard framing his wolfish grin.
Sabretooth.
"That's it? Looks like the conversation didn't go so well." He chuckled, his voice dripping with threat.
Bradley's face changed the moment he saw him.
"Victor..." His voice was tight, eyes flashing with fear.
He knew what this man was capable of. During their time together under Stryker, he'd seen firsthand the monster Victor Creed had become.
"What, not happy to see an old friend?" Sabretooth said, glancing at Bradley with mocking amusement.
Eric stepped forward slightly, his brows furrowed."Excuse me. You're blocking the way."
"No, no. Don't worry about being rude," Victor said, raising a finger and wagging it."The problem is—I'm the one being rude."
Eric's frown deepened."What do you mean by that?"
Victor said nothing. Instead, he grinned.
Then—Schlick!His claws extended, gleaming under the overhead light.
"None of you are leaving tonight."With a step inside, he shut the door behind him.
[New Quest Generated]Mission: Stop Sabretooth and protect 'Thunderbolt' Bradley from being killed.Reward: 100 Origin Points
The notification popped up on Rorschach's system panel, catching him off guard for a split second.
Then his heart pounded with excitement.
A mission!And missions meant rewards—progress, power, evolution. He didn't know exactly what "Origin Points" were yet, but that didn't matter.
Sabretooth... guess I'm gonna have to kill you after all.
BANG! BANG!
Suddenly, every metal object in the room lifted into the air—hovering like blades ready to strike, suspended by Eric's magnetic field.
TVs, appliances, utensils, nails—anything with metal.
It was as if a Patronus made of steel floated before him.
Eric's eyes were calm, sharp.
"I hope you make this interesting."Sabretooth's smile widened like a predator that had just found a challenge.
Then—with an animalistic roar—he leapt.
WHOOSH!
The metal barrage shot toward him like a storm of steel arrows.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Victor slashed with terrifying speed, claws tearing through the projectiles. TVs, drawers, shelves—smashed aside like cardboard. He was a beast of fury, charging through the storm with unstoppable momentum.
But Eric kept at it, sending wave after wave of sharp debris.
SHLICK!
A cluster of table knives found their mark—sinking deep into Victor's abdomen.
Eric's face lit up with a glimmer of triumph—it worked!
But the moment was short-lived.
"ROAR!!"Victor bellowed with rage, ignoring the wounds as though they were scratches.
He lunged forward in a blink, closing the last of the distance.
Eric's pupils shrank in alarm—he barely had time to raise a metal cabinet with a desperate heave of power.
CRASH!!
Sabretooth's claws smashed into the cabinet like a wrecking ball, caving it in and launching Eric backward like a ragdoll.
THUD!
He hit the ground hard, coughing up air, chest on fire. His ribs felt like they'd cracked, his vision blurred.
"Agh...!"
He tried to rise, but before he could—
"DIE!"
Sabretooth was already on the move again, claws gleaming, eyes bloodshot. He didn't care about Stryker's "dead or alive" policy—he always chose dead.
But just as his claws were about to strike—
FLASH!
A blur of motion. Sabretooth's eyes widened—
BAM!!
A powerful fist smashed into his chest with the force of a sledgehammer.
CRACK!
The sound of bones breaking echoed through the room as Sabretooth was blasted backward like a cannonball, crashing through the wall of Bradley's trailer.
BOOM!
He hit the ground outside, skidding through the dirt before finally coming to a stop.
The room fell dead silent.
Everyone turned to stare at Rorschach.
He stood there, arm still outstretched from the punch, expression calm—but his presence now thundered like a storm.
Bradley's jaw dropped. Eric blinked in disbelief.
This kid... was that strong?
-------------
To Read chapter in Advance patreon.com/ihatesakura