The haze of smoke scattered across the block, shrowding the area gloomily. Their eyes were on alert, scanning the environment with caution. Dread seeped into their bones, causing them to shudder with anticipation.

Pete started to sweat profusely since fear had seized his heart. He swallowed a hard lump and braced himself for an unexpected altercation as a rumbling noise echoed from a distance. He clenched his hands into fists, hardening them while suspense stimulated more fear from his heart. The rumbling noise suggested some rotational movement; it sounded like metal that started clicking against the ground. In due time, a can rolled from the smoke's mist, bridging the enormous space between them.

'Cling-cling-cling!' It moved after turning three hundred and sixty degrees. He stepped on the can to stop it from moving any further. And with just a stomp, he reduced it to paste while looking into the smoke. Slicer unexpectedly appeared and wrapped his hand around Peter's neck. Then, he carried him in the direction of the closest structure. Kuhn Lau cautiously scanned the area soon after that incident. His eyes also caught the absence of a fellow Guardian.

"Where is Pete?"

Fear coursed through their veins, unaware of what had happened. To make matters worse, Viper directed her gaze toward the ground. Much to her surprise, a puddle of blood shimmered there.

Her eye widened with astonishment, and so did her mouth.

"Kuhn Lau!"

He turned to face her, only to follow her gaze fixed on a puddle of blood.

"No! Slicer has him!"

They all began to panic. Fortunately, Indistructo had a plan.

"Leave this to me! I owe Slicer a beating of a lifetime?"

"Did you forget what happened to you the last time you took him on alone?!" Yung Fu exclaimed.

"Well, I'm a lot stronger than I was before!"

"You're arrogant as always, Nicholas. Your thirst for retribution will cost us our victory!" An infuriated Yung Fu exclaimed

"We are coming with you!" He stated, trying to protect him from his last mistake.

Max then interrupted, trying to defuse their arguments.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but umm... What are we going to do with the hostages that Slicer captured?"

Kuhn Lau turned to face him and said, "I'll put that responsibility in your hands. Go and set them free. But remember, Slicer did not leave them unattended. Therefore, whatever happens, ensure that all the hostages leave the building untouched!"

Max nodded in agreement while he continued to address him.

"Do not go alone. Vanessa will accompany you. You know, just in case things do not go as planned."

Max and Viper trudged towards the facade of the building.

***********

Meanwhile, Slicer placed his hand against his right cheek before pressing his face against ten different walls as he flew from building to building.

He switched to a different method at some point, clasping his hands under his chin like an eagle's talons. After that, he struck the tiles with his head. The rest of his body followed as his head kissed the tiles. As a result of that horrifying hit, a ring of cracks appeared around his skull on the ground

He cried out in pain as his face was covered in a field of grazes. Slicer raised him high, wrapping his talon-like hand around his neck.

"Foolish earthling. It must daunt you. That your ki blast failed to graze me."

Pete clamped his jaws with both suppression and even greater rage. He realized the seriousness of his actions and where they took him. He regretted starting the attack. Slicer freed him from his hold by delivering a roundhouse kick to the back of his spine just as he was about to hit the ground during his fall. Consequently, the latter was sent onto the streets throughout the building. He closed his eyes and surrendered to his fate as he fell. Until Indistructo snatched him up, Pete was cradled in his arms as a mother would to her baby. He gently let him go as his feet struck the ground. Slicer accelerated his descent to the ground. He made a crater when he touched down, exhibiting the characteristics of an asteroid.

Slicer then ignored his aloofness for the first time in a long time and laughed.

"Nicholas Tyson. Or should I say, Indistructo? I didn't notice you there. Last I checked, you were lying on the ground, burnt to a crisp."

"Listen, you piece of scrap; I'll make sure that you're the one lying on the ground this time!"

Slicer raised his brows, startled by his remark.

"Running your mouth will do you no good, Nicholas; this is a battlefield. And we use our fists to talk, not our mouths. Didn't they teach you that?!"

From behind, Ace landed on the ground nearby after taking a herculean leap.

"Look who has decided to join us," said Slicer with a scowl.

"Oh, I'm not the only one who decided to drop in," commented Ace.

Kuhn Lau emerged from the block's right side and was propelled by a white aura while he flew through the air. He then dropped to the ground and pointed the staff toward Slicer. Then, Yung Fu descended from the left side and touched down with his right foot while raising his left leg. He had assumed the posture of a crane kick.

Being present for this breathtaking scene caused Pete to smile as his brain rewarded him with a happy-making hormone. His fellow Guardians lined up beside him, ready to support him in this struggle. After that, Kuhn Lau extended his arm to him.

"It's time to get up, Peter. Our battle has just begun."

He pulled him up while he dusted himself. All five encircled Slicer, putting him in the center of the circle.

"Remember your training."

As their adversary observed, unperturbed by their objectives, they all nodded in agreement. Pete went for the initial strike again but tried to kick Slicer with a flying sidekick this time. Slicer dodged the intended attack by sliding under him. Throughout that, he kicked him on the back while turning, thus causing him to fly through a wall. Then, with just a leap, Kuhn Lau prepared to strike him with his staff; this appeared helpful, but Slicer was prepared and grabbed his staff.

He then hurled him toward a charging Yung Fu, who fired a ki blast in Slicer's direction. And as it seemed, Kuhn Lau was harmed by his ki blast.

"Kuhn Lau!" Exclaimed Yung Fu with concern.

Indistructo gnashed his teeth with frustration and charged at Slicer.

"Dammit! I thought that we were the ones who were supposed to have the upper hand!" He muttered.

He unclenched his hand and fired a laser beam toward Slicer. Right before Slicer could fall victim to the attack, he zipped away, using rapid movement. The laser beam struck Yung Fu from the other side when that happened.

"Yung Fu?!" He exclaimed.

He wrapped his hands around his head, realizing the gravity of his deed.

"You're all embarrassing, no doubt about that. You're unfit to be called Guardians when you can't even protect yourselves," taunted Slicer.

"Shut up, you piece of trash!" Ace shouted as he poised the scythe at him.

He went for the attack and intended to slit him open. However, Slicer blocked the attack using his blade, which recently was the lower part of his limb.

As the two weapons clashed, a flurry of sparks glistened. Ace tightened his jaws in frustration as he desperately searched for an opening to exploit. It would seem that what he desired was out of reach. Then Indistructo, his colleague, appeared and joined him. Indistructo made an effort to strike Slicer in the face. However, Slicer had the skill to grab his fist with his unoccupied arm while tackling Ace.

This fantastic assassin held his own against two of the strongest Guardians on the team. But it didn't take long for his impregnable exterior to fall apart. He was running out of time and had to find a solution to his predicament or risk being vulnerable. Consequently, he looked up to the heavens. A streak of lighting occupied his eyes, teasing the two for a devastating outcome.

"Oh hell, Nah! Not this again!" Exclaimed Indistructo.

Out of desperation, Ace punched Slicer in the chest with his other hand. The force of his punch incited a shockwave that repelled him thirty kilometers away.

After executing that massive blow, Indistructo sighed and touched his shoulder.

"That was a close call."

***********
Meanwhile, Viper and Max walked into the building's foyer. The lobby was enormous and had a delicate interior because of the contrast between the flooring's black and white scorch patterns. More specifically, the flooring made a chessboard design reference. The two walked past the reception building, through the corridors, and toward the elevator. While walking, they failed to realize they were watched from the second floor above.

As it would seem, twenty troops made up this group, and they sheltered behind the columns.

Max suddenly stopped in his tracks, and Viper followed, curious to know why he had stopped.

"What is going on?" She inquired.

"This is too easy. There is no way that Slicer left the entrance unguarded."

"Then what do you suggest that we should do?"

He quickly studied the area around him until he noticed a familiar signature behind a column on the second floor. He caught sight of a sniper aiming at them from behind the column. He focused his hand on the desired column and used his powers. Then, the kinetic rifle was drawn away from the trooper's hold. Max moved the gun toward him to catch it. The soldier then abruptly informed his comrades of the issue.

"We've been breached. Commence with the attack now!"

"We are surrounded. It's a trap!" Stated Max.

Viper called forth a group of vines from where they were. They were shielded by the coil of vines, which had widths similar to a hut, as a hail of kinetic energy beams pounded on them.

Max's eyeballs changed into a light blue pigment while he was inside the vines' forcefield, and as a result, he emitted a strong magnetic field. Like a group of love-struck males whose eyes were drawn away by a young woman's appealing looks, the enticing magnetic field repelled the kinetic rifles from their hands.

Finally, another coil of vines slithered around each soldier, giving them a much-needed hug. Instantly, their veins ruptured with tremendous pressure as their blood pressure increased.

Max then stared at the stack of kinetic guns arranged in a pyramid. When his eyes turned blue, the weapons levitated. They were stripped off automatically, piece by piece. He was then joined by the floating steel pieces, creating a suit of armor encompassing most of his body, from head to toe.

"Let's get on a move!" He said as they trudged towards the elevator.