MTLNOVEL Chapter 1707 Keeping Time
--- Hunter ---
Hunter didn’t really know what to do about… all of this. Trvis was extremely corrupted if you just looked at his body. There was already no hope for him… but his mind seemed remarkably intact considering the state of his body. It was hard to know how necessary a fight was for now. Hunter had limited ammunition when it came to the ’good stuff’ and nothing less was likely to damage Trvis.
Well, that and her plan with Strdl wasn’t working. As the silence stretched on and the girl slowly inched off to the side Trvis kept one eye on her, following the path she tread easily despite the fact her aura should be in full force. So Hunter decided to just ask. "How come you can see through my aura?"
"Hmm? Aura? Oh do you mind the stealth field you are attempting to generate?" Hunter nodded at Trvis’ questions. "Quite simple really. A large part of my mind is in the present of course but many are still looking at possible futures. I can see each of the futures where Strdl attacks and the attack position keeps changing so I simply move in line with that,"
Hunter swallowed. *That shoes a much greater understanding of his powers and a far more comprehensive look at the future then I imagine. I still doubt it’s possible for him to have perfect understanding of the future… which I suppose was already admitted. The real issue is that I don’t know if Trvis is managing to look through possibilities rapidly or can see a more wholistic tapestry.
That sort of power is NOT something a weak individual is likely to have. If I had to guess he’s at least Rank 4 and probably Rank 5. I really do not have the ammo for this. Waiting for Meg… it might be my only reasonable option unless I want to try to call in some major backup.
So delaying is likely the best tactic. If I can stall long enough either Meg will find a way to kill him or he’ll lose his mind and I can hopefully take him out then. Beasts are my specialty… but people? If he can still think? I can foresee a number of issues. Dodging being the main one.
If he’s smart enough to dodge by either remaining cautious and dodging it all or if his glances into the future are accurate enough to know when and what to dodge… that would also be a major issue. So… delaying tactics.
What am I meant to distract him with? I was too quick to simply give away the lack of results. It may have helped in the moment, and possibly explains why he still hasn’t attacked but now I don’t have anything to offer in exchange for other information, even if what I really want is to buy time.*
"That… I’m not quite sure that my ability should be so easily seen through even with that much," stated Hunter. Trvis just stared back unconcerned. Hunter considered what to say next. She was considering a bunch of options… but her lack of proper social graces meant her ’best’ question was. "Why are you so willing to just take your time here?"
"I established earlier that I want to live as long as possible. Not fighting you is the smart thing. Of course, once my mind starts to collapse things may become different. I have not yet decided if I plan to run or fight you here and now," stated Trvis.
"Why not just run if you want to stay alive?" asked Hunter, genuinely curious.
"I have more power here. Something I’m sure Meg, or 23HX502 will realise if she arrives sometime soon. You are bound to hunt me down to without fail. You will simply not stop and your team usually comes along with you. Running might mean I live longer assuming I can keep fleeing…
"But I am unsure how energy efficient that would be. In the futures where a fight breaks out with at least two demons things get exceptionally fuzzy. Here in this place saturated with my power I am confident I can hold you off until my mind goes. Once it’s gone… I don’t know what I want to do," explained Trvis.
"Didn’t you want to live?" asked Hunter.
Trvis let out a long hiss of air… that was actually coming from the various gaps in his monstrous body. Jets of air exploded out of various flaps of muscle that were lifted by the compressed air. "Of course I do but… my thoughts on my continued survival after my mind deteriorates are mixed. I didn’t lie earlier but the issue is complicated.
"If afterlives exist would it be better to surrender myself to you before I am completely gone and hope whoever runs that place can repair my soul? It’s not a risk I’m willing to take while I remain functioning mentally but as things deteriorate… perhaps that calculation changes?
"I can see futures where I make that choice… though they feel hollow from where I am in the timestream right now. As if I simply made the choice because it’s an outcome I wanted to see, not that it’s one that’s realistic or one I would agree with when the time comes. Then again, perhaps I am projecting. I do not sense thoughts in these futures of mine. It is part of what makes searching for a cure so difficult,"
"Ah, that… hmm…" mumbled Hunter. "I do not know what to suggest,"
"I am happy for you to remain silent. As much as this is an attempt to buy myself time, it goes the same for you. You are unlikely to take risks without provocation and I have garnered your academic interest. You have never seen one so corrupted and yet so sane have you?" asked Trvis.
"Not sure I can claim you’re sane considering what you proport to have seen, what with looking through years and years’ worth of time… but yes you are correct. I have no strong moral compunction against killing you but I simply do not know if I can. The issues with your clones remaining dead are known to me even if I did not stick around," stated Hunter.
"Perhaps I am insane but my thought process has never been clearer. Not perfect of course, but it has never been clearer. I suspect I have gained much wisdom and a shed much of my anger and arrogance. As for the clones though… I genuinely have no idea what the heck happened with that," stated Trvis.
"Wait what? How can you not know?" asked Strdl.
Hunter jumped slightly at the interruption having somewhat forgotten about Strdl. At some point she’d retracted her aura as well. *Hmm… is there something odd going on?* Looking at Strdl was a bit of a worry. She seemed exhausted, far more tired then she had been before and Hunter wondered if continuing to buy time would even be safe. *Is Trvis intentionally trying to be hard on her? I do not feel the effects of his passive time powers… but is that the same for Strdl?* Enjoy new stories from empire
"The moment of my… transition into what you see before you is a blank spot in the river of time. I cannot gaze upon it and the clones simply appeared chasing Ronldo afterwards. I hated scum like him and I can see part of myself wanting to go out and chase him away… but that was before. Now I see he is but a small man. Still no idea what happened to the clones though. It also seems like you’re friends are unable to completely deal with them," stated Trvis.
"What do you mean?" asked Strdl.
"A small trick was worked out to reduce their numbers but it requires at least three of them to work and only reduces the number by one. So they are stuck with two remaining regardless of their attempts. I honestly wish them luck in removing them. They are unsightly things," stated Trvis.
What the heck am I meant to take from that? Is he telling the truth? Should I ask about where everyone else is? He seems to know that Meg is attempting to come here but I don’t know how closely he can monitor everyone. Urgh. His mostly blank facial expression is hard to read and I was never good at these social games. Should I just shoot him?
Just as she thought that, Trvis twisted around to stare at something behind his body. Hunter wondered for a split second if he’d reacted to her intention to simply shoot him and be done with it but soon the wall started to bulge and crack like an overfilled water balloon with a coating of wax. Trvis glared at the spot, causing it to shrink for a few moments before a spot directly above him cracked open to reveal Meg, Lily and Pebbles coming down on him.
Hunter pulled out her gun, but waited for Meg to make the first move. Just in case.