Meanwhile

July 20, 2075

1823 JST

The Angel's Den, Alnitak

Sonya Grey's Point of View

“Heh heh. Since your life shall be expiring soon, I shall let the cat out of the bag, as a parting gift, Invincible Sonya Grey,” Angela gloats as she continues to chase and fire from above.

Stay focused, Sonya. Keep running and keep using the trees for cover. Billy, Ruby, and Nala are counting on you to stall the enemy as long as you can. The children and elderly stand no chance against the Royals, so you’re the only thing preventing Angela from massacring another Kingdom.

“Luke was right, Angela. You never stop talking!”

“Oh, don’t be as jealous as a cat, Black Scorpion. I am the Royal’s elite enforcer after all, so it’s only natural that I be the apple of one’s eye, even among lowly peasants,” she continues to boast as she closes in.

She’s wearing a new helmet, so the only way that I can beat her is if I knock it off her head just as Luke did. Luke failed to deliver the killing blow, but I won’t make the same mistake!

“Huh?” I say. “Did you say something? Get closer so I can hear you better.”

“Underestimating peasants is a mistake that I shall never repeat; nevertheless, you’re not a hard nut to crack,” she replies in an arrogant tone. “I shall avoid any further unnecessary risks; by the same token, it is only natural that I continue to stand above you, in all figures of speech.”

Shit! Not good. There’s no more cover! Just an empty field. I didn’t even get a chance to use…

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Angela says as she lands on a nearby tree branch. “What can I say? Death is undefeated,” she states in a cold tone as she aims her rifle at me.

No…

What the?

What an explosion.

“An Explosive arrow?!” Angela questions in shock as she begins to hover in the air.

“A jetpack, huh? How interesting,” a woman’s voice says above the trees. “But I say it’s about time to even up the playing field,” she continues to speak in a confident tone as a small device gets launched into the sky.

It couldn’t be.

Nala launched her E.M.P. grenade!

“Impossible!” Angela cries out in confusion as she flies sporadically through the sky.

She crashed into a tree and landed on a branch! Now’s my chance!

I’ll use my Thunderbolt to grapple over to her location!

“How could a peasant acquire such technology?! This is inconceivable!” Angela shouts in frustration, unaware of what’s about to come.

Damn it! I tried to decapitate her, but she managed to pull her sword out and block in time. And yet, I still hold the advantage. She knows damn well that she can’t contest with me at close range, so she’ll try to get away from me as quickly as she can.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“What’s the matter? (She’s good, but just keep pushing her towards the edge of the branch! She dropped her rifle, but she still has many tools at her disposal! Don’t hesitate! She will kill you the moment you mess up!) You seem to be very out to lunch.”

“Silence, peasant!” She responds in anger as she continues to defend against my assault.

Almost… got her!

“Aww. (Fucking die already, Angela!) Cat got your tongue?”

“Impressive, for a psychopath!” Angela says as she leaps off the branch and begins to slide down the tree.

She pulled out her pistol! Get down, Sonya!

“Heh heh,” she says as she fires. “Only a fool would bring a knife to a gunfight!” Angela states as she lands on the ground.

If only I had some ammo…

“How about a spear?!” Nala says as she clashes with Angela. “The name’s Nala, and this… is Nina! She’s a certified ass kicker. Look closely, and you’ll see the engraving!” She continues as Nina begins to glow light blue.

“No! It can’t be! It’s a…” Angela realizes in horror as Nala manages to briefly break through her guard.

Wow!

Nina is unbelievable! Not only did she knock off Angela’s helmet, but she sent her crashing into the tree directly below me! It’s now or never, Sonya!

“Fuck!” Angela screams as she quickly regains her bearings.

Here I come!

What?! She stopped my sword and my momentum, with her forefoot?! Just how strong is she?!

“Halos represent holiness, Angela, and you are far from that!” Nala states as she rushes to my aid.

“Foolishness!” Angela denies in anger.

This is gonna hurt like hell.

My eye! She kicked me in my eye!

“I require no need for a Halo!” Angela explains as she begins to focus her assault on Nala. “Your Halo uses sonic booms to slay its foes!” she deduces as she quickly overwhelms Nala. “Such a Halo is too powerful for a rebellious peasant! Allow me to hold on to such a burden, lowly Alintak warrior!”

“Nala!” I yell.

“What the?!” Angela cries out as her upside-down body zips in mid-air!

A trap?!

“You’ve forgotten that this lowly Alnitak warrior has the homecourt advantage!” Nala states as she aims her bow at Angela.

“And you’ve forgotten that I have a fucking gun, peasant!” Angela reminds us as she begins to open fire.

Damn it! Gotta get behind cover! This … this tree is big enough to work!

“Heh heh,” Angela chuckles as she cuts herself free, and graciously lands on the ground. “Knowledge is power, foolish girls. No matter how skilled your martial arts are, or how powerful a Halo you possess, a gun is and will always be the ultimate form of defense! Now, it’s nearly time to wrap this nonsense up; therefore, I shall end this battle with an explosive present!”

Her grenade launcher.

“Knowledge is indeed power, Angela!” Nala yells as she uses Nina to reflect the explosive round back at Angela.

Gasp! She shot Nala!

“Peasants are so foreseeable!” Angela laughs as she narrowly dodges her grenade launcher round.

This is it! I have to use it and end this now!

“Hey, Angela!” I yell. “Catch!”

Lanze’s Halo, Kopflos, will catch her off guard, and then I can use the distraction to get in.

“Dishonorable peasant!” She startles as she narrowly dodges Kopflos.

“Don’t worry, Angela! You’ll reunite with him soon enough!” I yell as we engage in our final swordfight.

“Heh heh. You appear to be as mad as a hornet, Sonya Grey! Your knowledge of firearms is only natural, given your birth kingdom!”

“Just die already!”

“Foolishness! You cannot get rid of the star of the show so easily!”

Damn it! She cut my thigh! I thought I had the upper hand at close range. Angela is… too skilled of an opponent. I can’t… defeat her.

“You, however, equivalent to trash, are disposable!” Angela continues as she rushes in. “My role is to save all of humanity, and you are merely an obstacle in my prestigious quest!”

I fucked up.

Someone kicked Angela from above?!

“You’re not the only one who can hover, Angela!” Nala reveals as she lands, blood leaking out of her left ear.

Nala must’ve used Nina to hover in the air.

“Inconceivable!” Angela cries out in confusion.

Now, Sonya.

Slice off her hand!

“No!” Angela screams.

You can’t talk much shit with just one hand, huh Angela?

“Do it, Nala!” I yell.

“Impossible!” Angela shouts in fear.

“Think again!” Nala responds in anger as she leaps towards Angela, aiming Nina directly at her upper chest. “BEGONE, ANGELA!!”

Nina sent her flying!

“I’ll finish her off, Nala!” I say as I run towards Angela.

You’re the strongest opponent I’ve ever fought, Angela. However, you will always hunt us down and kill whoever gets in your way as long as you live. I know that your death won’t bring us safety, but it’ll be a hell of a start as we continue to make sense of this crazy world. Goodbye, Angela Blackwood.

“Commander!” Two Death Angels call out as they open fire.

No! Damn it! We were so close!

“Get her out of here! Our mission is complete! The Sin of Pride has defeated Hercules! Let the peasants deal with those incoming Seekers!” The reinforcements say as they rescue Angela.

Luke…?

“Sonya, watch out!” Nala warns from my six.