Chapter 160: Times Up (2/2)

That humble life, to be honest, isn't the life for me

So why don't I have a little fun first? Before I ot what it takes, eh?"

"You think a te to impress the Underworld?" said Aldrich

With his hero career nuked, Hat Trick was planning on beco either a villain or a mercenary And he wanted to prove hi

Aldrich was a decent judge of people, and he kneithin Hat Trick's multi-colored eyes that there was zero morality there, zero sense of consideration for others, only consideration for the self

There was no doubt in Aldrich's mind that Hat Trick had the capacity to kill with cold blood

"Maybe it will Maybe it won't But at the very least, I'll get to feel a lot better bashi+ng in that tin can head of yours," said Hat Trick "While all of your little friends are out there fighting those disgusting fish freaks"

"Tell ht did you see broadcasted?" said Aldrich He questioned Hat Trick h to continuously talk, and that gave Seis Aldrich to get his own battle pieces ready "You should know I'et"

"The broadcast? Didn't pay much attention, really Only saw the end of it, when you killed the Locus after everyone did the hard work for you," said Hat Trick "I have no doubt you're still strong, though, so I won't go easy on you

And you're still weaker alone, especially with that old geezer busy handling civvies" Hat Trick palmed the crown of his hat in his palician ready to pull a rabbit out of it

"So, how about it, want to see another trick?"

"Go ahead," said Aldrich

Hat Trick sloved hand into the hat to take out a large rose

"Red," said Hat Trick The hat's band changed fro away into nothingness

Hat Trick's entire body erupted in flae-red now as he flashed a cocky smile down at Aldrich

"You have access to multiple powers…an incredibly rare ability No wonder you were in the A rank," said Aldrich with mock surprise He already knew Hat Trick had more than one power He just wanted to keep Hat Trick distracted by playing into his giant sized ego

"Of course," said Hat Trick "How else do you think I distinguished e E, D, C, even B rank rabble?

Do you think I rose through the ranks like so to this city and that, hunting this sfor interviews and sponsors?"

"I figured you worked your way up down from the E rank like any nor Hat Trick's pride after building it up and goading him into ically

Hat Trick's face distorted into anger, and as he spoke, flames started to crackle and roar upwards all around his body,tone of his voice "No! All of that ca to a flame, all of that, the fame, the credits, the deals, the women, all of it came to me because I was special! I deserved it all! I killed an A rank variant by myself, and after that, the world loved me! Everyone kne much I orth!

But you -," Hat Trick pointed a flaer at Aldrich "You, the newbie that doesn't know a single thing about how this hero game is played, you just had to screw it all up, didn't you? I knohat you think

You think you're doing the right thing here, aren't you? Exposing ain, idiot With this, nobody will have your back in this industry again You've dooot started!"

"Alright, ti now, puppet," said Aldrich An edge manifested in his voice, and Hat Trick paused in surprise for a moment at how utterly cold that voice felt

It did not feel human Even surrounded by intense flah his body

"Wh-what did you say toto generate a ball of flame

"I said-" Aldrich crossed his arms "Time's up"

"Yeah, for you-," Hat Trick raised his hands into the air, channeling an ever-growing ball of fire, but before it could grow into anything notable, a bright ball of green and blue light erupted behind hied and faded in an instant, allowing Hat Trick to see what it was

Hat Trick's eyes instantly widened in fear

It was the Locus