[White-Jet]

While the glow wasn't distracting, the sensation of his arms undergoing a transformation almost discombobulated him. He struggles to stay focused as he fires off his buster towards Kazuma, completely unaware that the unleashed projectile was not the spread shot he had originally anticipated to fire upon his target.

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

X's buster had a one second pause as it shot the energy buster. A small sphere of energy formed during that one second and it spread covering an area the width of a average window, the blast having enough force to cause a definite stagger to the shooter. Kazuma did the only thing he could: air dash. His awkward angle made it almost an impossible dodge. The dash gave him a small boost into the air as he slightly swung backwards from the force. His red hot arm dangled below him. X's massive charge shot shot passed by behind him... but it didn't miss. It caught his back, part of his legs, and his arm. The air around the shot was hot and Kazuma fell, most of his back red hot. Landing, he began to roll towards the barrier, crashing into it slightly behind X. His hair (OOC: correction: not total obstruction but enough to hinder his ability to fight) had been mostly blown away.

The damage was clear and a victory ensuring hit too; his arm was vapourizes, the part of his legs were as well and the entirety of his back armour was gone along with his spine and several other internal structuriny but he was still active.

"Dammit X, pacifistic nature my ass. Why is it always my spine?" Kazuma said through grimace; his back in massive pain.

[OmegaMan]

Zero stared dumbfounded as the obstruction cleared away. He knew well enough about X's armor-acquiring specialty. But that massive Buster and its shot! What in the world had just happened?! When did X get that upgrade?!

"X?! When did..."

[White-Jet]

X stood in his spot, eyes wide and pupils near non-existent as he stares at the massive blast and aftermath he had caused.

"I...." he stutters, finally taking notice of the sudden change in his arm and buster's appearance.

It was just like before the Doppler Incident, when he encountered a parasitic ooze that gradually mutated his appearance, all the while hacking away at his functions and conscience.

Discombobulated, and terrified of a repeated fiasco, made worse by the recent modifications to his current structure, X attempts to tear the armor parts off, grabbing his buster arm and yanking at it with all his robotic might.

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

"Uh..." Kazuma turned his head to X and Zero. "... bye..." he said as he tapped his ear piece with his only habd, teleporting to [Athenian Hospital].

...

X's buster merely transformed back to his regular hand; there was no signs of the gunk infiltrating his mind or assuming control. All it did was give him a power boost.

[OmegaMan]

"Rats...! He got away...!" Zero noted after being distracted with X's unexpected enhancement. Thoughts drifted back momentarily to before the Doppler fiasco. The similarities could not be ignored. And from the looks of it, X felt the same way after trying to rip the buster off himself...! But after seeing it turn back to normal, Zero blinked in simple confusion. He deactivated and sheathed the Z-Saber before running over to his comrade to assess his condition.

"X, are you ok?!"

[White-Jet]

"I...." X muttered once again, almost sounding like a damaged record as he continues to feel violated and terrified of eventually losing control of himself to the gunk that had all but vanished from his being, "Let's just go back to base and get checked out by the LifeSavers...."

He obviously didn't want to procrastinate any longer; despite not having felt anything similar to when he was first possessed by a goopy life form, he still didn't trust that his ever changing appearance won't end up repeating the same fiasco that almost costed him his Hunting reputation.

[OmegaMan]

Zero nodded to his comrade. He could tell the blue Hunter was troubled. If history repeated from that other fiasco, then who knew what would happen? Zero knew from experience that they couldn't ignore something like this. The crimson Hunter activated his comm and signaled the Hunter Base.

"Alia, this is Zero. Kazuma has retreated. Return us to base."

[White-Jet]

X continues to stand his ground, physically scanning his entire body to see where else the parasitic substance has spread and what he plans to do once the benefits of higher power starts to deteriorate into a series of repeated history.

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

A message came from the Briefing Room and the two Hunter's were teleported to [IT Bay].

[OmegaMan]

[Zero to the IT Bay]