Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ The Lynching Game (part 4)

Said the mercenary as he took a gulp from his flask.

Upon seeing how Oltevin was slipping into unconsciousness, he immediately splashed his friend's face with his vodka. The burning sensation of the alcohol on Oltevin's wounds instantly woke him up from his grave.

[Mercenary] - "We still got a bet going, comrade. Survive or I'll take your cut for this job. "

[Oltevin] - "Suka blyat, I'm not dying, I'm just tired. "

[Mercenary] - "Ha! I knew you were just pretending, you lazy bear. "

Suddenly, the room went silent. When Oltevin looked beside him, his friend was no longer amongst the living. 15 hours later, Oltevin was rescued as the lone survivor of his squad. Still to this day, his friend's flask stayed inside his pocket and will remain there until an occasion requires him to drink.

Back to Jerry, Mike has already seen through everything. With a disappointed look on his face, Mike moved a few towels and tablecloths toward him to cover up the dead bodies. All the while, he paid no attention to Jerry.

[Jerry] - "I'm sorry, master Mike. I really thought this was part of the test. "

[Mike] - "You didn't think this was the right thing to do but instead, you are only afraid of the consequences. Your evaluation officer told you to kill all witnesses, so seeing how success was just at your doorstep, you ignored all the morals I have taught you. You tried to justify your actions not because you felt guilty but because you feared my possible retaliation. "

Jerry recoiled in shock as he didn't expect Mike to dissect the truth with such brutal efficiency.

[Mike] - "Go now, you have passed the test according to the cyberknight evaluation criteria. I'm not your master anymore, friend. All that gold waiting for you is hopefully enough to warm this ice in your soul. "

Said Mike before walking away from Jerry.

For all the years after this last encounter with Mike, Jerry had tried to redeem himself. Jerry had shown remorse for betraying his master and since trained his brother Harry to be considerate of others as a cyberknight. Following Mike's previous teaching, Jerry gave himself a moral code which dictated that he should never kill those who are unable to fight fairly against him.

*Back to the present

Now stuck inside Jerry's ability, McCree and Oltevin had to think of a quick solution before they both got impaled by the approaching spikes. While Oltevin tried to think of a solution, McCree withdrew his pistol and loaded a magazine consisting of only propellant but no bullet.

[McCree] - "Guilt Extension: Southern Hospitality! "

In rapid succession, McCree unloaded his ability-fused bullets onto the approaching spikes. To Jerry's shock, McCree's ability generated air bullets with enough hardness to destroy his attack. However, both McCree and Oltevin were quick to realize that shooting at the spikes would only ever be a temporary solution as the shattered wood was immediately recycled into new spikes by the house.

[Oltevin] - "Quick, McCree, over here! "

Yelled Oltevin as he tore off the door leading to a food pantry.

As the spikes approached him, McCree quickly retreated into the cramped space with his friend.

[Oltevin] - "Replace that door with your ability, now! "

Without thinking, McCree quickly used his ability to fill in the doorframe with his ability. With a series of cracks, all the spikes instantly broke apart as soon as they hit the invisible door.