Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent!

The Iron Vultures surged forward, their footsteps echoing through the compound as they charged with an unruly determination.

Alex took a deep breath, sizing up the oncoming gang, while Mira flashed him a sideways smirk, her stance relaxed but ready for action.

She held her weapon loosely, as though she was toying with the idea of letting a few of the thugs come close before dispatching them with ease.

One of the grunts reached them first, brandishing a jagged blade and letting out a guttural roar, as if he actually had the capacity to do something.

Without hesitation, Alex sidestepped the clumsy strike, catching the thug's wrist mid-swing and twisting it until there was an audible snap.

The blade clattered to the ground as the man crumpled, clutching his arm in agony.

Not missing a beat, Mira kicked off from her position and spun, slicing a clean arc through two approaching thugs.

Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like, and the two men dropped to the ground without so much as a gasp.

She glanced at Alex and nodded towards Garmis, who was watching with an increasingly irate expression.

"Let me guess."

Mira quipped.

"He's not exactly thrilled with how quickly his little army is shrinking."

Garmis clenched his fists, his face twisted in rage.

"What are you waiting for?" he barked at the remaining two men.

"Take them down!"

Another wave of thugs advanced, this time flanking Alex and Mira from either side in an attempt to corner them.

Alex shifted his weight, eyeing the nearest enemy.

He met the thug's wild swing with a quick sidestep, his own fist connecting with the man's chest in a brutal strike.

The thug staggered backward, wheezing as he fell to the ground.

"Waste of time."

Alex muttered under his breath.

With an easy flick of his wrist, he seized another thug's weapon and turned it against him, sending the man flying backward with a clean shot to the chest.

Meanwhile, Mira had taken down three more thugs with ruthless efficiency, her eyes scanning the field as she approached Garmis.

She watched as the man's confidence waned with every one of his men that dropped.

Seeing his dwindling numbers, Garmis finally drew his massive great sword, raising it to shoulder height. The sword seemed imposing, especially in the hands of a B tier like Garmis, and he grinned with savage anticipation.

"Enough games."

He sneered.

"Let's see how you handle this."

He swung the sword, unleashing a torrent of energy blades in rapid succession.

Alex and Mira dove in opposite directions, the scorching blades narrowly missing them as they rolled to safety.

'Haha, he actually used the fire element!'

Alex found it amusing, since if the blades actually hit him, they would essentially do nothing to him.

The blades tore into the metal walls behind them, sending shards and debris flying.

Mira crouched behind a stack of crates, catching her breath.

"That thing's packing more heat than the average scum weapon."

She called out to Alex, her voice edged with annoyance.

"Looks like he actually has some heat to back up his words."

"No surprise there."

Alex replied, his voice calm as he assessed the situation.

"They've had free rein with all the recent chaos."

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Alex caught Mira's eye and gave a subtle signal, a slight nod to the left — enough for her to understand without needing words.

She raised an eyebrow but responded with a barely perceptible shrug, taking a cautious step backward, her gaze never leaving Garmis.

They had underestimated the Iron Vulture leader once, but now was not the time for risks.

While Garmis's B- rank and Mutant class would struggle to match him, Alex wasn't so sure it was the same case with Mira.

No unknowns. No openings.

"Make it quick, then."

Mira said with a wink, giving Garmis a wide berth as she retreated into the shadows, watching the fight unfold with the ease of a spectator.

With Mira at a safe distance, Alex allowed his expression to harden, abandoning the playful restraint he'd been holding onto.

In one swift motion, he drew Virtue's Edge, the blade humming as it came to life in his grip, a faint light flickering down its length.

He followed this by equipping his Evermoor Sovereign Armour, his presence suddenly intensified by the darkened red scaled plates and the intricate patterns that wove across the armour..

Garmis froze, his sneer fading.

'Why do thing suddenly feel so ominous?'

Alex's voice was quiet, deadly.

"Playtime's over, Garmis. If you're smart, you'll make this easy on yourself."

Garmis snarled, raising his sword as his own energy flared, the edges of the blade igniting with fiery intensity.

He lunged forward, his weapon swinging in a wild arc, intending to cleave Alex in two.

But Alex moved effortlessly, sidestepping the blade as it whipped past him.

He retaliated with a precise strike to Garmis's side, Virtue's Edge slipping through Garmis's armour as if it were paper.

The Iron Vulture leader grunted, staggering back, clutching the fresh wound as blood seeped between his fingers.

"You…"

Garmis's voice trembled, his eyes widening.

"You think this armour and a fancy sword make you better? I'll tear you apart!"

Alex chuckled.

"No."

He paused to let his reply sink in.

"I

know

it makes me better."

He advanced again, his movements calm, each step calculated and unwavering.

Garmis attempted another strike, this time embedding his great sword with a surge of fire energy.

He unleashed a barrage of scorching energy waves, each one laced with desperate fury.

The blades tore through the air, crackling and seething as they barrelled towards Alex, but he deflected them with fluid ease, Virtue's Edge slicing through the fire constructs like they were nothing.

Garmis's frustration mounted as Alex closed the distance, his strikes becoming more erratic, his movements a mess of rage and desperation.

He swung his great sword in a heavy downward arc, hoping to catch Alex off guard.

But Alex, anticipating the sloppy attack, caught the blade on Virtue's Edge with minimal effort, letting the impact ricochet off his weapon as he shifted his stance and retaliated with a brutal kick to Garmis's knee.

There was a sickening crunch as the man buckled, his leg collapsing under him.

"ARGGHH!!"

Garmis practically screeched.

"Get up."

Alex said coldly, watching as Garmis clutched at his knee, breathing heavily, his face twisted in pain.

Garmis's expression turned to fury, and he scrambled to his feet, letting out a guttural roar as he swung wildly, his movements a last-ditch effort.