After using Blinkstep to exit the restaurant, Richard wasted no time in engaging the tactical team members stationed near the armored vehicles.
Though he possessed Enhanced Durability plundered from Luther, it was only a Beta-level power.
Compared to ordinary humans, his current physical resilience provided some bullet resistance.
However, this didn't make him invulnerable to all firearms.
Though he hadn't fully tested the limits of his "Enhanced Durability" yet, the original Richard's memories indicated that Luther's power could only withstand common bullet impacts.
Armor-piercing rounds or high-caliber sniper fire could still penetrate his defenses.
Upon reaching the exterior, Richard immediately unleashed Gravesong .
The silver-white Masamune moved like a thread of light, delivering four consecutive slashes that instantly killed the four tactical team members in his path.
Though he'd dispatched only four soldiers, his action stunned everyone present.
The remaining soldiers were particularly shocked when they witnessed the aftermath of Richard action
The Masamune hadn't merely sliced through the four team members—it had also cleaved through the armored vehicle beside them.
Under the horrified gaze of the soldiers, the reinforced vehicle was cut into several sections like a watermelon, rendered completely useless.
The armored vehicle—designed to withstand rifle fire and boasting excellent defensive capabilities—proved as fragile as fruit against the Masamune, destroyed in an instant.
Seeing their armored transport and four comrades fall to Richard's blade, the remaining soldiers didn't hesitate. They raised their weapons and opened fire.
RATATATATATATATA!
Intense gunfire erupted across the parking lot.
The soldiers' reactions weren't slow by any measure, but unfortunately, they remained merely human.
Despite their rigorous military training, they couldn't match Blinkstep speed.
Before they could even pull their triggers, Richard had already activated Blinkstep, vanishing from his position and reappearing more than thirty feet behind them.
Zanshin!
Richard switched tactics.
As he swung the Masamune, five or six crescent-shaped energy waves—purple-rimmed with white centers—streaked toward the soldiers at incredible velocity.
SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!
Though the tactical team members wore bulletproof vests, they offered no protection against Zanshin's energy projections.
The crescent waves pierced through their bodies effortlessly, ending their lives in an instant.
From the moment Richard exited the restaurant to his execution of Zanshin, barely two or three seconds had elapsed.
Yet in that brief span, more than ten soldiers had fallen, reducing their numbers by over half.
Though seven or eight soldiers remained, their elimination was merely a matter of time for Richard.
Just as he prepared to dispatch the survivors, Inessa appeared before him in a blur of motion.
"He's my prey. Stay out of my way!" she commanded the remaining soldiers.
The moment she finished speaking, Richard was struck by an invisible shockwave that sent him flying toward the street.
Refusing to suffer such indignity, Richard activated Blinkstep again.
Before contacting the ground, he flashed back to the restaurant parking lot, regarding Inessa with newfound wariness.
Though her attack hadn't seriously injured him, it demonstrated she wasn't to be underestimated.
He'd initially assumed her power merely deflected attacks.
Now he realized her ability was more versatile.
Besides deflecting enemy attacks and weapons, she could project her repulsive force offensively. She possessed three distinct powers?
As expected of an agent!
So far, Inessa had demonstrated mental charm abilities, attack deflection, and teleportation with unknown range limitations!
Though the number of powers didn't directly equate to strength, mutants who manifested multiple abilities typically possessed significant combat potential.
While Richard assessed Inessa, she likewise observed him with growing interest.
Seeing him summon the Masamune and teleport had surprised her.
But watching him efficiently dispatch over a dozen trained soldiers with his blade sparked genuine fascination.
Though mutants occasionally awakened dual powers upon first manifestation, such cases were uncommon.
Rarer still were those who could display refined combat proficiency mere days after awakening.
Mutant abilities were indeed innate.
Yet this didn't mean mutants could effectively weaponize their powers immediately upon manifestation.
Forget combat applications—many mutants required extensive time just to adapt to their basic abilities after awakening.
Though she couldn't explain Richard's exceptional combat prowess so soon after awakening, one thing became increasingly clear to Inessa: her interest in him was growing rapidly.
She had already begun imagining scenarios where she could "train" him under her supervision.
After studying Richard for several seconds, Inessa raised her right hand and launched an attack.
As her hand rose, an invisible shockwave shot toward Richard like a cannonball.
Though he couldn't see the force Inessa released, Richard's instincts screamed danger.
Without hesitation, he activated Blinkstep again.
The powerful shockwave missed Richard as he vanished, instead striking a car behind his former position.
BOOM!
The parked vehicle flew from the restaurant lot into the busy street, crashing heavily onto the roadway.
Unlike the earlier shockwave that had merely sent him airborne, this attack carried significantly more force.
That's an incredible power! I want it!
Without hesitation, Richard gripped the Masamune, preparing to execute Octaslash.
However, just as he readied the technique to quickly dispatch Inessa, a tremendous crash came from the restaurant.
The next instant, Sabretooth was hurled through the air.
CRASH!
The feral mutant smashed through the restaurant's glass facade, landing heavily on a car hood more than thirty feet away.
Though the identity of Sabretooth's attacker remained unclear, the distance he'd been thrown indicated someone with formidable repulsive force—likely one of the agents.
Under the watchful eyes of Richard, Inessa, and the others, Sabretooth quickly regained his footing.
For someone with Sabretooth's healing factor, being thrown through a wall or struck by bullets posed minimal threat.
Though not truly immortal, he proved exceedingly difficult to kill.
Richard shifted his attention from Sabretooth back to the restaurant.
Has she created a portal and escaped?
Noting Blink's absence from the restaurant, Richard guessed she had used her powers to flee.
Blink's abilities weren't suited for direct combat but provided exceptional escape options.
If she couldn't be captured immediately, she could easily evade pursuit.
"Was that girl your girlfriend?"
Inessa's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
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