Chapter 512 (1/2)

Tatiana’s eyes shot open, then they narrowed. This was a yell she recognized, one she had heard far too many times in the past to mistake. The man Tooya was standing above Kari, glaring down at the fallen women. There was a fresh red mark on the side of her face where he had struck her.

Then things began to happen very quickly.

Her hands clenched into fists. There was a hand in hers, but it had slipped from her mind in the heat of the moment. Abruptly, she felt a flash of concern. Her Strength wasn’t something normal people could take, and she released the man’s hand. Hopefully, he would forgive her later.

Then everything was lost in a flood of red as Tooya raised his hand for another blow.

Ricky Stain was talking next to her. “Hey now, none of that at my party-”

Launching herself forward, Tatiana ripped through the 10 meters of space across the pool in a single step. When she landed, she leaped again and found herself next to the infuriated man and his grinning brother.

It was that grin that did it. It reminded Tatiana of grins she would rather forget.

Her Sinister Presence smashed outward with all of the fury she could muster. Intimidating Figure kicked on, as well as Ambitious Strength. The brother stumbled backward away from Kari, while Tatiana’s hand casually rose and stopped Tooya’s next blow.

For several seconds, Tooya struggled as the brother regained his feet. Almost at the same time, they realized what had happened. Their eyes narrowed in just the same ways; they were truly related, and the traits they shared were not ones that Tatiana would consider desirable. She suppressed the urge to strike to man and kept her voice even. Around them, the party was slowly grinding to a halt.

“Take a step back.”

Tooya seemed to finally realize what was happening, and why. And there was only incredulity in his eyes. “All this, for a fucking slut? She was-”

Tatiana flexed her hands, and her power gauntlets came out of her spatial watch and formed around her hands. “Back the fuck off, you prick.”

Across the pool, Ricky Stain was shouting. The brother drew a plasma pistol, but before he could get a bead on her, a hand grabbed his wrist and forced the pistol down. Griffith stood there, towering over the brother.

“No need to escalate this,” He said calmly. His gaze slid to Tatiana. There was a warning in his eyes. He would stand with her as long as she didn’t seek any retribution. His gaze traced her gauntlet, then flicked back to Tooya.

Then, as one, Tatiana and Griffith realized that neither had paid close enough attention to Tooya.

“If you don’t let me go, I’ll blow you the fuck to smithereens.” Tooya raved, waving around a plasma grenade in his free hand. Luckily, Kari seemed to finally come to herself, and she scrambled up and out of the middle of the standoff. Someone in the crowd caught sight of the weapons, and one person began to scream.

Then dozens joined, and people rushed away from the group standing around the pool.

“You’ll die too, I’ll only have a scar,” Tatiana hissed, hating that she would be forced back by this man’s idiocy.

His eyes were gloating and vicious. “You think I won’t-”

“No, you won’t.”

The man Baloo was there, and plucked the plasma grenade out of Tooya’s hand. No, he ripped it out of his hand, breaking several fingers in the process. The man began to howl. The grenade beeped as it engaged. Without a care, Baloo tossed the thing into the pool.