Code Collector

208 Then Who?

The skeleton was large, but Allen and his friends were many. Every time they step on a tile, it would light up. When they followed the pattern that the giant skeleton did, Allen received a buff from the tiles.

"Woah," Allen gasped in awe. He grinned and gripped his sword, slashing it forward and hitting the skeleton on the face. His attack left a crack on the skeleton's skull, making him smirk as he landed on the tile he previously stood on.

"That was nice," Jeremy cheered. "So, this is how you do it."

"Damn it!" Lian cursed. "They figured it out easily. But you're not going to defeat that skeleton monster anytime soon."

Liam raised his right hand and sent a dark blue aura from himself and into the skeleton. Allen and his friends watched as the skeleton roared and held its weapon tighter, this time it turned into a giant axe that had a shape of a bass guitar.

"If you can handle the tiles, can you handle the music?" Liam said. "Good luck to you and I wish you all the best death in the world."

"You're a coward!" Allen yelled. "You let other people do your dirty work. You're nothing but a coward, Liam. You even let your brother die."

Liam wasn't fazed by what Allen initially yelled at him. It was at the last part where he reacted by gripping his hands. "You don't know anything about what happened to me and my brother, so you have no rights to call me anything."

"You used him as a puppet," Allen growled. "You allowed your brother to join Barandilla and die."

Liam released a powerful force that shook the city. He screamed into the skies, his aura pulsating greatly. Everyone could feel the heartbeat-like motion of his aura.

"Lewis left me for dead," Liam growled. He blasted himself from where he stood and into Allen where he gripped the latter's collar and pulled him up. "Lewis abandoned our mother because of his selfish goals. He abandoned us, do you know how that feels?!"

"Lewis would never–"

"He abandoned you," Liam cut Allen off, stopping the boy from continuing with his words. "Do you think I don't know about the Fire Dragon Incident? How Lewis and your team abandoned you just because some stupid land cracked!"

"That's not true," Jeremy arued. "Nobody could've come to their rescue."

"The crack wasn't anything big," Liam said. "When the ground split apart, it stopped at three meters before it opened fully. I saw everything in Lewis's mind. I saw everything."

"That's not true," Allen shook his head. "The ground split apart rapidly. We couldn't do anything about it."

"You couldn't even remember the right memories up until a month ago!" Liam yelled. "I know everything, Allen. So, will you join me and rule this damned world or will you perish with it?"

"I.." Allen trailed off. His memories became hazy again. It seems like he wasn't remembering the right things. Like his mind was altered several times.

"Lewis was a coward and Lin approached him several times to help you," Liam said. "He refused every single time the woman offered to help, so I did what I did and pretended to be him."

"So that's why you got all of those high grade Codes," Allen chuckled bitterly. "You used your twin brother's identity to catapult your way to the top. You're the coward here!"

"I did what I needed," Liam said. "And if you don't want to join me, then fine. I'll just collect your Codes afterward."

Liam got off the disco tiles and went back to the top of the building. He sat there and sighed, reactivating the skeleton which now danced faster.

The skeleton also played the bass guitar which distorted their movements. If they try to copy the skeleton's movements, they would fall down and end up in another tile, messing the tune and colors up.

Roar!

The skeleton launched its attack, but Allen and the rest of his friends dodged it. It was easier to move when the skeleton would attack because then it would stop playing its instrument and their movements wouldn't be restricted.

"So, this is how you killed them, huh?" Allen chuckled as he stood from falling down after he dodged an attack. "What were their reactions?"

"It's the first time I used this Code," Liam said nonchalantly. "I didn't used this before. Too much of a hassle and it needed space."

"So how did you kill them?" Allen asked. "By another high grade Code that surpassed their level?"

"I don't kill people," Liam said. "I let my own people kill for me."

Allen yelled. He leaped from the tiles and into Liam. The skeleton couldn't catch him because of his incredible speed. He used six Codes at once to get past the skeleton and approach Liam, slashing his weapon at the man.

"You dare dishonor their lives and sacrifices!" Allen yelled. "How dare you?!"

"They're just silly people and we need the funds," Liam shrugged. He easily dodged all of Allen's attacks with his hands sitting tight on his pockets. "Barandilla wants to rule the world, so we have to slowly climb our way up."

"Why did you have to kill them?" Allen panted. "You killed them and didn't even feel any remorse whatsoever."

"Those people are the one who're evil, Allen," Liam said. "They would embezzle, rule gangs, even kidnap people. We just returned the favor."

"You mean even Drake and Louis committed those atrocious crimes?" Allen asked. "You're lying."

"Drake? Drake Nelson?" Liam scrunched his face. "Why do you think I could face him or even Louis?"

Allen was confused for a second. "What?"

"I wouldn't dare harm them," Liam said. "Those people are monsters. I wouldn't stand a chance against them."

"B-But aren't you Roger Huntsman?" Allen stuttered. "You're him, right? The Primordial Beast Bearer Hunter?"

"Alleen, I'm not that man," Liam denied. "My powers can't reach their level yet, especially Drake."

Allen dropped his sword. "But if it's not you, then who?"