(Libertatem 1, 59 / 6:15AM)

The world became upside down.

Having his head be the first body part to plow through the reddened clouds, ash and smoke molested his windpipe and nostrils as it forced its way into his lungs. Like a fallen angel being kicked out of the heavens, like a mythical creature born out of God’s experiment.

He felt truly free.

Exiting the red smoke clouds, he saw the entire city with his body inverted.

(Luke’s thoughts) So this is the world from below…

The chilled air caressing the edges of his jacket and pants, blew the ends of his fabric clothing as he still held the metal water bomb that he tucked under his jacket. Unable to draw breath, he dueled the monstrosity that was to the left of him.

And with his own sharpened eyes, the creature that brought hell toward the land of the living flamed the entirety of the east side of the downtown district, with its flames melting the hardened cement like it was ice cream.

(Luke’s thoughts) And I have one shot…

Reaching the halfway point of the building, Luke’s eyes began to widen as he looked down onto the fastening ground. Opening his mouth, the ride-side bang that covered his right eye uncovered itself as both of his red eyes stared at the asphalt ground that awaited him.

As the sounds of voices, all replayed a neverending movie that displayed the past six years of his life.

(Boris in Luke’s thoughts) Gamblers and soldiers are a lot alike.

(Joseph in Luke’s thoughts) You’re not ready.

(Luna in Luke’s thoughts) Then instead of being strong, how about strategizing a bit more?

(Hope in Luke’s thoughts) You didn’t kill him, Luke.

(Fred in Luke’s thoughts) Do I … do you still miss your mom?

(Stan in Luke’s thoughts) I’m sorry…

(Gwen in Luke’s thoughts) All I want in life … is to go to Paradise.

All of these voices playing at a fastening pace, Luke began to close his eyes as the wind tried to force them open.

His body not letting out a bead of sweat, nor letting out a groan from his vocals, for once his body was as relaxed as the clouds that he had passed.

And in one single whisper, another voice silenced the other voices that replayed over and over again.

(Mary in Luke’s thoughts) Live for me!

Luke opened his eyes.

While he swung both of his feet backward, making a backward kick with all of the force inside of his legs. In that one single moment, a spark lit up not just from his beating heart, but from—

The metal canisters that were lodged onto the back of his new boots that he wore.

In one single burst, two bolts of flame and fire sprouted out from the ends of the boots, propelling a compelling force that battled against the force of gravity. As he was hundreds of feet from hitting the ground, his boots that were supposed to push him upward…

Propelled him into the ruined buildings that were now right in front of him.

(Luke) Ah!

His heels being the engine and his legs being the steering wheels, Luke swayed and maneuvered back and forth against the concrete and brick buildings. As if it were natural for him, he avoided every building since the motion of the boots wouldn’t stop for anything.

Having his feet being the ones to guide him despite them being on the rear, Luke noticed an incoming building that popped out in front of him.

With little time to dodge.

(Luke) Oh no!

An old window awaited his arrival.

A reverb service bell rang all around his soul, and his blessing became activated by will as he soon clenched all four of his molars in a grinding close. Tucking his entire body in…

He welcomed the old window with mind, body, and luck.

Despite the world going in present motion, his blessing made it seem as if he was going on a rollercoaster, as he made sudden evades and turns to avoid the tables and broken down doors. Feeling the edges of the obstacles with just the skin of his clothing, he didn’t let a breath draw in while going through the entire floor of the building.

Coming out from the other end of the building, glass shards scraped against his skin as his bloodied knuckles and hands dripped down onto the ground below. His rocket boots still in motion, he turned his stomach so that his feet were still pushing him in the same direction while seeing the building that he was in.

(Luke’s thoughts) That was close!

Looking in the direction of where the water pump facility was, right next to it was none other than the fiery monster that emitted its lethal flames. Noticing that the fiery monster had soon stopped, Luke bit down his lower lip, followed by the air around him fastening as he kicked both of his feet back again.

Which sent his rocket canisters to second gear.

(Luke’s thoughts) Time to finish this!

______________________________________________________________________________

She bent down on both of her knees, clasping both of her hands together.

The flames of her magma body dimmed, she hunched her body forward as her face soon began to look down onto the water pump facility that was right below her. Not letting out any malicious intent or smirk coming out from her mouth, the monster continued to keep her stance in check while ignoring all of her surroundings.

(Sidney’s thoughts) Just like last time.

Her knees began to melt the asphalt and concrete that she put pressure on, along with the many buildings withering its chemical paint away.

Gripping her hands more tightly, the fiery flames that were dimmed from the beginning soon ceased to shine.

She slowly turned her head upward as she kept her muscle face still.

Turning her head to the left of her, her eyes caught the whiff of a young man with light brown hair who held a heavy metal container tucked with both of his hands.

No light emitting out from her eyes, she unclasped her hands as she laid them motionless to the ground beneath her. Staring at the young man intently, the crevices of her magma skin eyes started to slant.

(Sidney’s thoughts) I guess I steered his whole life huh.

Leaving the water bomb tucked in his right armpit with his right arm, he used his left to pull out a little red gun that mimicked that of a toy gun from a dollar store. Bringing it up toward the air, he had his finger on the trigger as he pointed it up high with his tippy toes stabilizing himself.

Pulling the trigger, red smoke rushed onward out of the barrel of the plastic red gun.

Sending the red smoke flame up high, it lit the darkening morning sky that didn’t let the morning rays come forth because of the hellish clouds. With the smoke flare being up high in the air, it then died off as it struck the top of the black clouds.

(Luke’s thoughts) Hope that gives us the right signal.

She soon used her right leg to push herself off the ground.

Having one knee still on the ground, she also used it to push herself off as she stood up straight with both of her hands motionless to her magma skin thighs. Looking down on the young man, the fiery monster had its slanted and pushed-up eyes onto Luke.

Who happened to have his face and body drenched in a heap of sweat, his palms starting to loosen the grip upon the metal bomb.

(Luke’s thoughts) Honestly, the idea seemed far-fetched, even for me…

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His breathing fastened, he noticed that the monster's right arm pulled upward, bringing her arm and hand up high in the air. Gluing both of her bare feet onto the holed asphalt, she steadied herself as the crevices of her eyes pushed down in just the snap of a finger.

Also in that single snap, she hurried her open-palmed hand onto him.

The flames of her skin began to open up again, her magma skin soon turned from hardened lava rock to actual magma that ran down her skin. Her right palm closer and closer to the defenseless Luke, he crouched down on both of his knees as he slouched his chest forward.

(Luke’s thoughts) Is it going to work?

Her now fiery hand was right on top of him.

Luke’s entire soul screamed out in danger as a hearing of a reverb service bell shingled across his body.

Closing his eyes, he awaited as he let his body succumb to the beauty of lady luck, his arms, and hands that were wrapping the metal water bomb still gripped toward him. Hearing his beating heart that didn’t implode from inside of his chest, even his breath was picked up from his ears.

As he then opened up his eyes again.

(Luke) What the…

The change of place was different, as before he was right in front of the monster.

Now, he was in the back of her.

Her hand came full force onto the stone asphalt and debris, creating a loud boom that thundered the sky and air. With the shockwaves riddling the entirety of the city as if a small earthquake had formed, the top of the debris that he was now on shifted and churned.

Not only did his eyes catch a whiff of change, but his lower waist felt like two arms that were wrapped around him in an iron grip.

(Luke) Next time, be a little bit faster okay?

(Luna) How about not jumping off of a fucking building next time!?

Turning her head rapidly toward the tanned beauty and the light-haired young man that were in the back of her, the flames of her body glowed ever brighter as the heat caused them both to take a step back.

Their clothes trapping the heat inside, Luna unwrapped her arms around Luke as she took out two metal batons that were holstered onto her hips. As the heat started to drench both of their bodies in a sultry sweat, Luke glanced at her with narrowed eyes.

(Luke) You know you can’t fight her with those.

(Luna) Does it look like I already know that?

Her magma hands soon curled up into fiery fists. Having her flaming eyes glued to the two of them, the monster took a single step forward as the shockwave of the step caused the debris on where they were on top to crumble.

Noticing that the stone started to collapse onto itself, Luke huddled the bomb close as he raised his voice.

(Luke) Quick! Grab hold of me!

Barely in time to put back her metal batons onto her holsters, she quickly wrapped around his lower waist without question. Falling from the mountain of stone that they were both on top of, it gave Luke the chance to kick both of his feet backward, as the metal canisters from the back ends of his boots surged forth.

(Luke) Brace yourself!

(Luna) W-Wait what—

Both of them flew up high in the air, avoiding not only the motion of the fall but also another deadly attack by the monster.

Her fists slammed onto the area of which they were originally at, Luke looked down to see the burning fists melting the stone into waxed cream that resembled glue. His boots sent him up toward the monster’s chest level in height, his entire body strained itself by a weight that was similar to his.

A weight that managed to ally itself with gravity.

(Luna) Put me down! Put me down! Put me down now!

Unable to even hit him let alone be angry with him, her entire body clung onto him as if her life depended on it.

With Luke’s eyes continuing to analyze the monster, she arched her head forward while opening her mouth to let out a shriveling war cry. As the monster’s breath reached the flying Luke, he let the motion of his boots circle back and forth with Luna in tow.

(Luke’s thoughts) Where could her weak spot be? Diego and the others said that her chest area was a no-go.

(Luna) Put me the hell down now! Now! Now! NOW!!

Ignoring her pleas and demands, her eyes widened as he continued to glide through the air as if he were oblivious to her wails and cries.

Luckily for him, another red flare of smoke came forth from another building that was right near him, with the red flare of light unable to reach the top of the hellish clouds. Squinting at where the light was from that direction, he noticed that a couple of helicopters were on standby in a building that wasn’t affected by the burning heat.

(Luke) It’s them! Look, Luna! It’s them!

(Luna) Place me there now! Do it or else!

(Luke) Sorry Luna, but it’s all according to plan.

(Luna) What fucking plan!? We don’t even have a plan you—

(Luke) Just bear it for a couple of minutes.

Continuing to grip his body, she let out a trailing hiss from both ends of her teeth.

While ignoring her little fuss, Luke looked up to see another red flare coming from near the building that the group of helicopters landed on.

(Luke’s thoughts) Is that the others?

A white flare glistened the night sky, with the flare being the most west out of all of them.

Looking toward where the military complex was, the group could be none other than David and the others who continued to hold down the fort. Letting out a small smile, the entirety of the little improv that everyone was a part of was now coming to its fulminated conclusion.

(Luke’s thoughts) I guess Benn, David, and the others in the complex are sitting this one out…

Looking toward the two main groups that awaited the coming battle, Luke pulled out a little metal earpiece that was inside of his jacket, putting it right beside his right ear. The sound of wind being filtered by the device, static soon started to pierce his ear as it cleared off, leading to a voice that trailed out of the piece.

(Jack) L-Luke. Is this thing on?

(Luke) Yeah, it’s on. Can you determine her movements exactly?

(Jack) Sort of. She’s hell bent on trying to kill you guys. But it looks like she’s ignoring her main objective…

With Jack being a support guide, Luke let out a single long breath out of his pink lungs. Feeling his body loosened, Luna clattered her teeth followed by her grip on him starting to worsen by the second.

Turning his head back onto the wide-eyed Luna, he gave her a reassuring smile that caused Luna to stop her squirming.

(Luke) Don’t worry Luna. Once we end all of this, then I could help you lower yourself down.

(Luna) You better!

Luke motioned his head forward again as he saw the monster still eyeing them like an annoying housefly. Turning his feet, he made sure that the direction of which he faced was none other than the fiery creature that blocked their path.

Like an angel, like a bird, he was free and he was fighting a demon. A demon that long tormented the planet that used to be a planet free from sin.

Well, that’s what he thought at least.

Soaring toward the monster, he sharpened his eyes while keeping his body straightened and relaxed so that Luna wouldn’t have a hard time trying to keep still. Not only that, but it was also useful for her so that she would be able to teleport without feeling nervous or frightened.

(Lieutenant) Form up!

A platoon of soldiers and elite soldiers alike awaited on the ground that was in front of the burning monster.

With a total of barely 50 to 60 soldiers, many of the common Joes looked down onto the ground with darkened faces and gritting teeth. Unable to even look up at the monstrous sight that was in front of them, their wielded guns trembled as they couldn’t even lift their hands to aim down. Miles and Hope ran on the stone ground towards the deathbringer.

(Miles) Remember to heal any soldier's Hope!

(Hope) But Gwen! She needs immediate care!

Miles stopped right on the edge of the street, the tip of his boot hitting the curb as he kept his eye on the fiery monster in front of him.

Turning around, both of Hope’s eyes began to fill up with water, her right hand gripping the handle of her combat. Clutching her weapon firmly, the metal began to creak, her nails scraping off whatever dust that stuck on.

His voice quivering, his feet loosened, he couldn’t turn around; he couldn’t.

(Miles) We don’t know if she’ll make it Hope…

(Hope) But she needs our help!

Miles turned around to face Hope, his eyes shaded in a cloud of darkness with strands of his hair covering the top of his eyes and forehead. Clenching both of his teeth, he kept his head down, while the monster’s stomps only rumbled the soles of their feet evermore.

(Miles) Hope, please. I haven’t said this to Luke since I know he can’t handle it, but she won’t make it.

A single tear trailed down from her right eye, her tear soon dropping hovering on the edge of her jaw.

(Hope) How can you say that … We don’t know what will happen.

(Miles) I know Gwen’s our friend, and I won’t stop you if you decide to help her. But there are soldiers who need our help too.

(Johnny) Waiting for your cue, Miles.

Miles turned around. Seeing both a blonde haired young man and a cat-girl standing many meters in front of him, he raised his right hand to them.

(Miles) Johnny! Elizabeth! You’re with me!

(Johnny and Elizabeth) Got it!

(Miles) Stan. Good luck out there.

(Stan) You too man.

Miles turned back towards Hope, her tear-jerked eyes only trembling more and more as she kept her stare into his. With a slight quiver within his voice, a single trail of sweat swept down from his right temple.

(Miles) So are you coming, or not? Make your choice.

Hope felt a tingling sensation in her legs. Pressing her lips, she looked towards Miles, giving him a firm nod.

(Hope) Okay … I’ll go with you.

Separated into three separate groups, Hope went off with the many soldiers who were low on morale, while Miles, Johnny, and Elizabeth formed their little group away from the platoon.

Meanwhile, Stan, Gary, Fred, and Diego were all alone with nothing but weapons and gadgets that they still carried.

With many of them on their podiums, they awaited the signal that would be bestowed by Luke and only Luke, as all of them looked up into the flying star that circled the angry giant. Infatuated with the young light brown-haired man, everyone held in their breaths as the heat from the creature raspied their throats.

(Hope) Remember to give it your all!

Pumping up both of her hands in the air, she was right next to the Lieutenant who placed her right next to him.

With the platoon of soldiers stationed in the front, they saw the three other soldiers going in the other direction. As Miles was in front of them, he wielded his typical dual-wielding sawed-off shotguns, his fingers laid to the sides of the guns.

(Miles) The platoon is there to concentrate fire on her stomach and chest, while we and Stan’s group are aiming straight for her legs!

(Johnny) Do you think it should give Luke an opening!?

(Miles) It’s the only way!

For the group that was toward the opposite of Miles’s group.

(Stan) Get your best gadgets ready!

The four of them took out respectively a pistol, revolver, razored whip, and an assault rifle.

Wiping away an abundance of sweat, Fred used his right arm as it got coated by the salted water. Looking up at the fiery inferno that he ran away from six years ago, all three of them let out huge gulps down their throats.

Except for Diego.

(Diego) Don’t worry Stan. You know me when it comes to these streets.

(Stan) Thanks, Diego. Gotta thank Hope for fixing what she can.

Stan looked down at his right hand which was molded in white bandages.

Unable to grab anything with his recovering right hand, he placed it back inside his pants pocket. Wielding an assault rifle with his left hand, he already had his pointer finger laced on the side of the gun.

(Fred) Good thing that Hope somewhat healed it to the betterment of her ability.

(Stan) If I’m being honest, I thought I was about to lose my right hand for good.

(Gary) If you’re lucky, you might be able to barely use it for the upcoming months. Almost like your body has been given a new hand you know, have to train it from ground zero.

(Stan) Hopefully.

The four of them looked upward into the night sky, seeing the dazzling light show that circled the fiery beast.

Propelling their heels to push off the asphalt of the street, every soldier sucked in a big breath that clocked and turned every corner of their lungs.

(Stan) Everyone knows what part they do.

(Miles) This is it.

(Lieutenant) Buckle up, soldiers!

Squinting his eyes as his vision blurred from the movements of his own body and rocket boots, Luke turned his head back toward Luna.

(Luke) Luna, take out the red flare gun!

Using her right arm, she tightened her hold around his lower neck while her legs cradled against his thighs. With her left hand, she scurried into Luke’s inner jacket as her knuckles grazed against the many objects and gadgets that were locked up tight.

Feeling a plastic gun, she quickly pulled it out and pointed it up high in the air, the wind blowing against her face.

Pulling the trigger, a large red flare lit up the already early morning sky, the smoke glistening onto both of their faces.

(Luke) Get ready…

Because the battle between the weakest and the largest commenced.