Seems even he is at a loss for what it is he's truly capable of. Truly, Alex Mercer is a being of pure limitless potential if given the chance to continuously grow without restraint.
"Well, that I would have to study myself. As an electric eel can produce electricity due to its own biology. I'd assume causing your body to go aflame is also a biological trait. And yet...as a skeleton. Yeah, even I don't know. Suppose there may not be any limits."—
"Yeah, though now I'm curious. How exactly does your body go on fire like that? I could get morphing your skin and all but fire??
There has to be a limit."
It still looked pretty cool though.
"Answer me Akiko, you do this to protect your family. Right? But how do you aim to protect them, and humanity from demons both at once? What if you had no choice but to choose one of the other?"
". . . . ."
Not a word escaped his mouth. Only an expression that shows as if he is analyzing her. Her condition, her scars, her injuries. Seeing as she even coughed up some blood. He could assume that she has sustained internal damage as well as external. —
Rather elusive, these days the demons are bolder, stronger, with terrible powers."
She coughs into her palm, and small speckles of blood spray out. Akiko clears her throat, taking a hankie out from her haori to wipe her mouth.
"Forgive me, I'm still in recovery."
How she aims to protect them along with humanity from the demons that has infested her way of life. But another thought came to mind, his sister. How he'd protect her, but she would be ashamed of him if he only protected her. And not the rest of the innocent. —
But before asking of that, he does begin to wonder about that demon situation of her's.
"The demons, they're growing bolder. Some even stronger than the last. Aren't they? I ask because I've never seen you this injured, compared to the other times I've seen you injured that is."
"You've never struck me as a negative thought to begin with. You've only ever been good to me with our conversations."
He see's how the bandages are in need of changing. How worn they are. But in this village of her's, he wonders how advanced their medical science truly is. —
His admission that he was thinking about her was a surprise; Akiko didn't think she held such importance to him.
"Your worries are noted Mercer, I didn't think I'd be on your mind. I am grateful that I am a pleasant thought rather than a negative one."
Even after all these years, the knowledge of medical practices has never left him during his life as a human years ago.
"Your bandages, have you had them for long?"
He asks with genuine curiosity. Moving closer for a more detailed look at the procedure that's been done.
"I left for quite a while, the thought of you didn't managed to escape my mind. So I came by to visit. But I have to say, you look as though you've seen better days."
His eyes wandered, looking intentively at the bandages around her face. —
Just as she was visited by a phantom of her last. Bloodied bandages wrapped half her face, but she knew who it was based on his vibrational signature.
"Mercer, still straggling around these parts? Didn't think you'd care for small villages like this."
That silhouette, the axe as well, and the all too familiar scent of copper in the air. Never did expect to see her again, it's been some time.
Did she just get done killing another of those so called demons? Or had she retreated from one? Suppose it wouldn't hurt to check. —
Akiko's silhouette can be seen in the distance. The afternoon's sun catches the edge of her axe, making it shine with a sharp gleam.
She's heading for a safe house. Medical attention is needed.
His body soon morphs, returning back to his normal self without all the fire and exposed skeleton.
"Well, it's not as though I planned it. Or plan to stay that way. I can always shape shift after all."
He also wouldn't likely say no to a hug from her.