Chapter 48: White Miracle
[ Zetens 45/100 ]
Ned gasped on the ground, clutching his bloody hands against his chest. His breaths came in short, ragged bursts as pain wracked his body. His mouth was smeared with red, a testament to the beating he'd endured.
"Ned! Hold on!" Atlas sprinted toward him, his body a blur of speed. He dropped to one knee, immediately channeling his Neba into Ned's battered form. His hands glowed faintly as the Neba seeped into Ned, the wounds on Ned's hands and torso knitting themselves together slowly.
"I'm fine," Ned muttered, though his trembling voice betrayed him. "Worry about that bastard."
Atlas's jaw tightened, his sharp eyes flicking toward their enemy, Geno.
The towering man stood several paces away, his fists shimmering with a green Neba. His knuckles had transformed into jagged emerald, catching the light like fractured jewels. Beneath his feet, the ground was a chaotic mess of craters and shattered stone, evidence of his raw, destructive power.
"You're not going anywhere," Geno growled, slamming one fist into the other with a deafening crack.
Atlas rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing. "Stay here, Ned. I'll handle him."
"Be careful," Ned said weakly.
Atlas dashed forward, his movements a blur of speed fueled by his Neba. Geno swung his massive emerald fist at him, but Atlas ducked beneath it, his agility unmatched. He retaliated with a powerful kick to Geno's side, sending the man stumbling back.
"You think your speed's enough to stop me?" Geno barked, slamming his fists into the ground. A wave of destruction rippled outward, shattering the earth and sending debris flying.