OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 171: A Smackdown

A glob of fire reached Emir in an instant...

Or at least that is what appeared in the outside world as he stared at the bullet for a while, almost yawning at how slow it was.

With a simple shift to the left, the shot missed his head by a mere inch, as he didn't waste a single movement.

Kiera didn't waste a moment as she chanted:

"Stellar Guidance!"

'What's that?' He inwardly wondered while watching her aim her gun straight at him.

She pressed on the trigger, and multiple shots rang out of the barrel, all covered in flames. Emir slowed time once again and watched as the bullets readjusted themselves from their previous path and headed straight towards him.

'Tracking then...'

With that thought crossing his mind, he decided to finally attack.

"Flash Step."

Disappearing from his position, he now stood behind her, and before she could turn around to defend herself, he lightly tapped her shoulder.

"Dead."

But Kiera didn't reply and immediately jumped away from him while turning around.

Not bothering to aim her rifle directly at him, she fired off multiple shots to his left and right, going wide and attempting to trap him.

Emir didn't even slow time as he simply chanted:

"Aetheric Shield."

The globs of fire came at him from both directions, hitting the shield with a long bang!

But that was all; the bullet easily bounced off, leaving his protective barrier unharmed. 'How do I make this hard for me?'

...I should try to only use my TP ability.'

Emir made a snap decision, and in an instant, he rushed forward.

Even without channeling Aether into his body, he covered the distance in just two strides.

Kiera was ready, her stance firm as she unleashed multiple close-range blasts of fire directly at him.

Emir's lips curled into a scoff as he nimbly sidestepped the blazing projectile, which sailed harmlessly past his left shoulder.

Without a pause, he pressed his right foot down, launching himself upwards.

In mid-air, his body spun, his left foot twisting him 360 degrees.

In the blink of an eye, the heel of his left foot was now aimed at her head.

Kiera's instincts kicked in, her body arching in a nimble dodge that saved her from the impending blow.

Yet Emir seized the opening.

With a seamless shift of his weight, he pivoted on his left foot, extending his right leg.

His precise strike swept across, targeting her legs.

Her balance shattered, and she tumbled backward, crashing head-first onto the ground. Emir wasted no time.

Hovering over her fallen form, he poised his left foot above her neck.

The world slowed as he watched the fire bullet veer back towards him, the tracking still active.

"Off," he commanded, now looking down at her.

Her response was immediate, as the tracking flame vanished into thin air.

With his two feet now on the ground, he extended his right hand and said:

"C'mon, your people are about to get here; you don't want to show them this sight now, do you?"

Grabbing him by the forearm, Kiera pulled herself up.

"I didn't expect to hurt you or even attempt to challenge you, but that was just... embarrassing."

Emir chuckled at her words.

"Don't worry, you've actually used your abilities pretty well, but you can't expect anything more than that... The weak need to band together to challenge those stronger than them, so who knows, I might find you guys together a bit... tough."

"Yeah right." She scoffed while patting her butt.

Just as those words echoed in the training room, the doors were shoved open as five excited and terrified gang members entered the room.

"Speak of the devil... Alright everyone, form a plan with your captain; I'll be waiting."

Leaving those words behind, he stepped to the other side of the arena, the furthest point away from the entrance.

Emir watched as they all huddled together, whispering about.

He pretended not to listen to their words, as he could still easily hear them discuss from all

the way across the room.

Sometime later, they all brought their hands together and let out a loud:

"OOORRRAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

'Are they in a sports team or something?'

He inwardly mused as eyed them stand in formation, with Jack and Kiera at the back, Evan and

Hiro at the front, leaving Sarah and Leo in the middle.

They all stood with tensed bodies as if they would attack at any moment.

But many seconds passed, and nothing happened.

They all silently stared at Emir, not moving an inch, as if death was standing in front of them.

And it wouldn't have been an exaggeration.

To someone on their level, Emir is the literal embodiment of death, as he would only need a few moments to kill them all.

"Scared?" He asked, leaning on his left leg while throwing his rucksack to the side of the

arena.

They all flinched as they heard his next words.

"If you won't come to me, then..."

'Flash Step.' He inwardly chanted, appearing right in front of the unmoving Hiro almost

instantly.

Hiro's face looked to be so shocked that his brain might've yet to register Emir being in front

of him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Immediately slowing down time, Emir looked to the back of the group, watching as globs of flames headed in his direction, led by two Aether-imbued bullets, shining brightly almost

blinding his eyes.

'Jack is a Ranger, huh...'

Knowing that the Ranger's specialty is in accurate, powerful, and quick shots, he immediately

shifted his body to the right, dodging the first two shots aimed at his head.

And as the tracking flames arrived, he decided to reveal a bit of his strength.

But before he did so, he noticed Hiro finally regaining composure as his eyes lit up with determination and fear subtly ingrained.

The others had the same reaction, as if the shots from Kiera and Jack were their wake-up call.

Inwardly scoffing, Emir pressed his feat hard on the ground, flying over the arena, almost

reaching the roof.

Then he subtly chanted:

"Platform."

Forming a hidden Aether construct above him.

He then twisted his body mid-air and launched himself off it, barreling towards their group

as he screamed:

"LET ME SEE WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"