Chapter 42: Facing coco 2
Amid the chaotic battlefield, where debris littered the ground and the distant sounds of conflict echoed through the city, Coco stood at the center, unfazed, as if the destruction surrounding him was merely background noise to his contest. Tyson and Blue, their metallic armors battered and worn, circled him, red targeting reticles appearing on Coco’s frame within their helmets.
Tyson lunged first, his sword thrust forward as he swung with all his might. But Coco moved with a fluid grace that made him nearly impossible to track. With a swift sidestep, he dodged Tyson’s blade effortlessly and countered with a brutal punch to his side. The sickening metallic crunch echoed as Tyson’s body crashed into a nearby wrecked car, the impact ringing in his ears. He staggered, breath ragged, as his vision blurred.
Next, Blue rushed forward, his fists crackling with energy from his powered-up guns. But once again, Coco moved like a shadow in motion. He caught Blue’s punch mid-air, twisting his arm with a force that made Blue wince in pain. Before Blue could even react, Coco drove an elbow into his chest, sending him to his knees with a painful crash.
"You’re wasting your time," Coco muttered threateningly, swinging around to deliver a brutal kick to Blue’s chest. The impact propelled Blue across the concrete, struggling to catch his breath. "You can’t defeat me. Not like this."
Tyson pushed himself up from the wreckage, his vision still blurry through the helmet’s display. The red marker continued to highlight Coco’s position, and in the corner of his HUD, a hologram revealed the damaged areas of his armor and the usage of his nanoparticle reserves—now at 31 percent. He clenched his fists. It was no longer just about fighting. One more powerful hit and he’d have to take manual control of his suit.
Coco glanced sideways, recognizing Tyson’s determination. The White Ranger was at power point 15 yet still stood his ground. Additionally, Tyson stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Blue, who was close to 27 points himself. It was truly astonishing to Coco.
He had never dared to face an opponent above 40 at power point when he was at 15—except for when a Lieutenant-ranked Ranger nearly destroyed him and Edward, their stubbornness pushing them into a battle they weren’t prepared for. That fight had been a lesson in humility for both him and Edward.
Coco glanced at Tyson, a slight smirk on his face. "You deserve my attention," he pondered, but a sudden movement interrupted him before he could continue. He ducked quickly as a katana sliced through the air and landed in his grip.
"Alex!" Coco exclaimed, his voice full of surprise.
"I’ll tear you apart!" Alex growled through his helmet, pushing the katana forward with all his strength. But Coco’s metal hands caught the blade quickly, stopping its advance.
"I expected nothing less from Edward’s son," Coco chuckled darkly, his gaze shifting to Alex. "Last time I saw you, you were a crybaby... but now it looks like you’ve matured."