The two stared at each other for what seemed like a decade; Alfredo dark and evil grin sent shivers down Lachlan's spine, it was like the predator had just found a new play toy. The surrounding researchers were trembling in their spots, unsure of what to do aside from just trying to not be noticed.

"So you managed to get out, that just made things a whole lot more difficult," Lachlan said.

"Indeed, I quite like this planet and I finally have the chance to destroy it." Alfredo's grin widened, his black eyes stared through the entire room, phasing through everyone's bodies. "Of course, that is after I free that damn bastard Jun from his prison."

Lachlan could already tell what the consequences of letting Alfredo out would have on the world, let alone if they double. "Unfortunately, I can't really have you do that; I quite like this planet as well and would rather not see it be destroyed."

Alfredo gave off a burst of maniacal laughter. "Of I know you would say that. Of course this room isn't exactly the best place for you to fight; you won't be able to summon those beasts of yours so easily."

The room really wasn't good for Lachlan, the ceiling was too low for Aaron and would still be rather uncomfortable for the Rocs. He would either have to bring Alfredo outside or deal with him here.

'But the people outside' Lachlan couldn't decide. On one side he was at a disadvantage while on the other side, there's nothing stopping Alfredo from killing people in the surrounding areas. Who's the say he won't just run off if he gets outside the room.

There was also Zhang and all the others upstairs. If Alfredo manages to pull off a sneak attack before he could warn them there's a large chance either some of them are going to die or get badly wounded.

'There's just too many risks of letting him leave' Lachlan decided. Although he wouldn't be able to summon Aaron or the Rocs, Alfredo couldn't summon his beasts either. It was just a pure brawl, one vs one.

"So, have you decided yet?" Alfredo asked with a chilling grin. "Of course I already know which option you've already chosen, so please, entertain me for a while, I need to stretch my muscles."

Alfredo tone of voice suddenly changed into curiosity. "I am also interested in something. If I weaken you enough or even kill you, would the other half come out and replace you? It might just straight up finish the awakening all the while skipping all the steps."

"Awakening?" Lachlan asked, slightly nervous as to what it entails.

"Kekeke, of course, the awakening. The moment one soul regains it's full strength, giving it the ability to create a body for itself and leave the host's body it was previous in. Granted this would just be straight up replacing the original body owner," Alfredo explained with a menacing voice, he sounded excited but that only furthered the fear in Lachlan's body and mind.

"Well I can't exactly let that happen," Lachlan said as he scratched his head. He got himself in a defensive position. "I suppose I'll just have to kill you first."

Alfredo disappeared from his spot, Lachlan's eyes constricted with shock as he raised his arms to cover his face. A powerful shot went through his entire body, almost shattering the bones in his arm. "Kekeke surprised you managed to block that." Alfredo laughed as he was about to pull back his leg.

Lachlan suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of Alfredo's leg, using his control over fire and encased Alfredo's body in a ball of flames. "Burn, burn into nothing but ash!" Lachlan used his full control and might to increase the intensity of the flames.

"Good! Good! More! More! Keep going I think I'm feeling something," Alfredo's laughter was still heard even though his body should be burnt up. The ball of flames suddenly burst, inside it was a ball of hair that had been covered by ice.

"Tsk." Lachlan knew the fight wasn't going to be easy, it was as though Alfredo's other half knew everything there was to know about abilities. Not to mention Alfredo himself knew all of Lachlan's strengths and likely more.

Some of the researchers near them finally snapped out of their frozen state and ran towards the elevator. They were trampling over each other to get there first, kicking, punching, and yanking on people to push them down.

"Haha," Alfredo laughed loudly at the sight. "Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to see. Fear and panic, the sight of people killing off others to survive." The elevator door finally closed and Alfredo's grin widened. "Unfortunately, I can't just let you escape like that so easily."

The sound of metal scrapping could be heard before something snapped. It was the elevator's cable, it had snapped before they were able to get out of Alfredo's range. The sound of screaming and crying could be heard through those doors as the elevator fell past the floor.

Johanson was on that elevator, she was the first one on since she was the closest to it. Although Lachlan wasn't sure whether or not she had been crushed to death by everyone getting in.

As for how the elevator cable snapped. Wasn't it obvious? It was Alfredo's doing, using his control over iron to snapped the cable. It also wasn't outside his range of capabilities to have brought the elevator down faster.

Lachlan disappeared from his spot, appearing next to Alfredo attacking him with a roundhouse kick. Alfredo put up his arms to guard and covered them with hardened ice, along that guard was a lot of small spikes that punctured into Lachlan's leg.

"Ah!" Lachlan didn't know why but the pain felt so intense, it couldn't even compare to the other times when they were training on the island. Whether it be punching open the coconut or just body strengthening training, nothing could be compared to the small hole punctures in his leg.

"Do you like it? That pain you're feeling right now is something caused by our bloodline," Alfredo grinned widely as he felt like a scholar. "Unfortunately, you can't use you. But if you just die and let the other half take control it'll be a whole other story."

Suddenly something wrapped around his arm, it tightened; constriction Lachlan's blood flow. Lachlan saw that it was Alfredo's fine strands of hair, they felt as though they were made of steel.

All of a sudden Lachlan felt a burning sensation. The hair that was wrapped around his arm with burning furiously yet not actually burning. Lachlan swiftly used his own fire control to cancel the effects, he raised his hand created a blade across it with ice, swinging down and cutting off a bit of Alfredo's hair.

Staring at his arm momentarily Lachlan could see deep burn marks, they were scorching hot and along with that special effect of that the other halves possess the pain was intensified. Lachlan quenched from the pain.

"Do you like it? Kekeke," Alfredo laughed. "I thought you would, you could see this as a training opportunity, strengthen your skin to resist my hair. At least that way you might have a chance at beating me."

Alfredo's other half was extremely cocky, as though it knew it would win no matter how easy it took it. There was also its irritating voice, one that both annoyed Lachlan's ears but also sent shivers down his spine.

'Suppose I could give that a try' Lachlan decided to go with something he hasn't done it a long time.

Holding up his hands the air began to freeze before forming large spikes made of ice, inside was a small pale blue flame that seemed to blend in with the ice. Lachlan created a few more, he desperately hoped it would work.

The dozen ice sharps flew off, Lachlan boasted their speed with his control over the wind. They broke the sound barrier immediately and shook the entire room, breaking all glass objects in that room along with it.

Alfredo's eyes widened with surprise. His hair swiftly extended out like tendrils, wrapping themselves around the shards to slow it down. But Alfredo's expression changed to shock and panic when he realised they weren't slowing down enough.

He slammed his feet against the ground causing the metal plates used to create the floor to rise up, he swiftly froze them solid and attempted to reinforce them.

The ice shards quickly smashed into them, they tore through the barrier like a sharp knife cutting butter and went straight towards Alfredo. His grin widened as his plan worked, the shards had slowed down considerably.

His hair wrapped around it and the ground morphed around his feet, he held his ground as the shards came to a complete stop right in front of his face. That's when he got a better look at them and noticed what was inside. His head slightly tilted with confusion.

Lachlan, on the other hand, was smiling widely. 'Explode!'

The ice shards in front of Alfredo's face quickly exploded all at the same time. The pale blue flames enveloped the space where Alfredo was standing, devouring his body whole. The explosion shook the entire hospital, the shards of ice have cut straight into or through the walls. The thick smoke covered the entire room.

"Kekeke, ahh you almost got me there," Alfredo's voice sounded out in front of Lachlan. "That was very smart, combining the ice shard's penetrative prowess along with the fire explosiveness. Unfortunately, it seems I still get the final laugh."

Suddenly the smoke broke apart, Alfredo's body was seen. His skin had been completely burnt to a crisp while his hair was completely gone, exposing a bold head. In his hand however was an ice shard of his own.

It was thin, almost the thickness of a single strand of hair. Yet the power it gave off scared Lachlan, he could feel that strength that the ice shard holds.

Lachlan's pupils constricted as the ice shard disappeared, he panicked and replied on instinct, moving ever so slightly to the right. His shoulder was suddenly hit, the shard went straight through like there was nothing there to begin with.