It was long past the point of asking anyone to surrender. No one was willing to give in, especially once a special unit squad had arrived on the scene to the entrance of Triangle Corporation’s main office.
Chief Almuz was deep into the fray, calmly shooting Aecors and Federals at point-blank. Bullets nor swords couldn’t stop him, hardening his skin with gemstones and rocks.
The most important parts of his body, the back of his neck, forehead, and a spot over his heart were hardened. He would solidify different parts at will, making his armor on his arms and hands jagged and using it to slash anybody who came too close.
He was a one-man army, and behind him, he led the charge of the Atlaan’s special unit squad. Together they pushed them back into the building and the alleyways, cornering them all in.
Going straight for the jugular, Almuz set his sights on Azara. He brought out his standard-issue gun, aiming for her ankle, one of the few soft spots on an Alterian, and missed, the bullets bouncing right off her.
Almuz didn’t flinch and instead grunted in disapproval. He didn’t use the right kind of weapon to incapacitate Alterians. He reached into his holster and pulled out a plasma gun, shooting her in the leg.
The bullet didn’t go all the way through, but plasma bullets were enough to make her skin burn, leaving a sizzling burn wound where it hit her. Azara panicked looking around for the culprit, and he shot her in the other leg, causing her to fall to the ground, screaming for help.
Her call for help was answered, a large shadow cast over in the sky.
Adonis swooped down, barrelling his body into Almuz’s, pushing him into a building, flying through one of the glass windows of a jewelry store.
Adonis turned to look at the gaping hole left in the building that had the title Sampara and Co Jewelry and Bridal . From the rubble emerged a shiny golem, now his entire body nothing but geodes. Gripping the windowsill, all that could be seen were his glowing, ruby-red eyes.
Precious gems, earrings, engagement rings, and tiaras, shattered the remaining windows, pummeling anyone that was within view. Diamonds, emeralds, and topaz pierced Adonis’ fur, his red blood coating the gems sparkling in the sunlight, and he refused to fall, refusing to look weak in front of his enemies.
He stood in front of Azara, taking the brunt of the damage for her, and she ducked, reloading her gun. Fending off attackers from all sides, all they could do was barely keep up as there was a two-sided offensive, and Azara decided to play it safe.
“Let’s move,” she shouted.
Grabbing onto the side of Adonis, she wasn’t on properly before he took off, and it was an odd sight, a screaming woman being fired at, clinging to a large beast, swerving sporadically in the sky while trying to shoot at others herself.
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It was unintentionally a wonderful distraction, everyone more concerned about Azara than what was happening down below.
Almuz sluggishly dragged his heavy body across the hot asphalt, shouting that there would be no arrests tonight, wet gravel pouring out his mouth as he spoke. Aiming his fist in the sky, rocks, and pieces of asphalt soared towards them, and Adonis nosedived, careening towards the closest rooftop.
Almuz considered calling the Defense Program as backup, the last line of attack against the ensuing conflict to keep up the ruse of him upholding the law, but didn’t want to risk anyone killing Nero on sight. He could also call his benefactors, but three gangs in one area would exacerbate the fight instead of end it.
While weighing the pros and cons, a loud scream could be heard coming closer from the distance, like a small, annoying mosquito, working up the courage to pierce someone’s dry skin. Pumpkin had taken a plasma sword and ran towards Almuz, the element of surprise gone once she started yelling.
Swiping his left hand to the side, Almuz made the asphalt roll, and Pumpkin fell over, slid on the bloody black road, but still tried to aim for his ankle as she went down. Her sword flew out of her hand against the brute force of Almuz’s crystal leg, and she kept sliding, the road slick and wet, her entire body now covered in it, smelling of fish.
“I see the Mark of an Enemy on your arm,” Almuz grumbled. “ Traitor. ”
Her eyes went wide at the declaration, and then she knew, deep in her core, that this was more than a simple trap. Putting on a brave face, standing in front of someone who had a hand in her pain, she put her hands up.
“I make no arrests today,” Almuz screamed, rocks flying out of his throat.
With a loud screech, Adonis swooped low, clutched her by her left hand, and she was whisked away, giving him the bird.
Almuz was too slow to chase after them, and his problems increased ten-fold once a loud doom went off, and debris fell from the sky.
The Federals cheered.
The police groaned.
Triangle Corp was on fire.
Not a single day had gone by without Nero setting something on fire, and now Almuz sighed, found a nearby corpse, stole its phone, and called the fire department.