November 20, 2056
1:09 A.M.
Vicerole, Underground Settlement
Renee Luna
Like a chain reaction, a wave of shouts and frantic movement sweeps through the crowd as another Stalker appears, slipping through the breach above. Chaos erupts, driving people to scatter.
"Find somewhere to hide!" I shout at Aria before leaving her.
Making a b-line to the clinic, we push through the stampeding mass but are soon halted by a Stalker charging close behind them. With a quick gesture, I guide my companions into a narrow alleyway and continue pressing forward until we reach the front entrance of the clinic. Once inside, there's evidence to show that people left in a rush, as we begin navigating through the tight corridors, peering into every room we pass by.
Before long, we enter the next corridor where room B3 comes into sight, the room I remember Macy telling me the two should be in. However, as I reach the door and push the door open, I'm greeted with an unoccupied room. Not only that but there are no signs that there has ever been anyone in the room in the first place.
Did I mishear Macy? I couldn't have. This should be it!
I take a moment to sort out my thoughts before turning back toward the shards awaiting my next order. I hadn't realized till now but I'm in charge of these three and that means I can't be hesitating at times like this. Macy wouldn't be stumped by something like this, and neither will I.
"Let's keep searching the rest of the rooms. There's a possibility they could've-"
"Aspetta, per favore!"
It's not the voice that startled me but the gunshot that soon followed it. With guns raised, we take aim down the hall where the shot originated from.
"Blue!" I shout but get no reply.
Instead, I'm shortly answered by a spherical device being tossed around the corner where it rolls to a halt in front of me.
"Grenade!"
In quick succession, I push the shard next to me into an adjacent room before kicking away the grenade just as it explodes midair. I'm flung backward from the shockwave and hit the ground hard as my Protection Barrier flickers around me. I'm in a daze but shortly make out the outline of a figure emerging from the smoke as I grab my gun and fire a short burst at them.
They hit their marks but to my shock, the individual remains standing as the smoke clears, and I get a clear picture of the assailant. They're clad in armor from head to toe with their head being fully concealed beneath a helmet that shares a resemblance to the Stalkers. Before I can even recompose myself, another volley of fire erupts as the individual gets struck again by the other shards.
He finally collapses as the shard I pushed aside comes to my aid. He helps me up but just as he does another armored enemy appears behind him. I'm too slow on the draw and the shard in front of me is shot between the eyes. I return fire along with the others and land all my shots on their head but all it does is daze them as they stagger backward and fire an additional shot that rips through the shoulder of another shard. I hear him yell as he falls back into the room.
Acting fast, I unsheathe my blade and rush the attacker before he can recover and thrust at their center point. It cuts through but not deep enough as my sword now becomes lodged in the armor. I'm punished with a punch to the face and then a kick to the stomach as my opponent pulls out the sword and tosses it away. Drawing my pistol, I fire rapidly as they close the distance between us before crashing into me with full force.
I drop my pistol in the process as a series of punches land on my abdomen. I grit my teeth and attempt to stop their attack with an upward knee but that only makes them retaliate with a headbutt to my face. My vision goes blurry for a moment but in that time, they manage to get behind me where they begin to strangle me.
I struggle to get loose and begin to slam them against the wall behind us, but it proves useless. They squeeze harder around my neck and my vision goes in and out as I start to feel myself becoming weaker.
Reaching towards my vest, I pull out my knife before beginning to stab with full force at my opponent's right leg. It doesn't penetrate the first few stabs, but I soon find the sweet spot and lodge it through an unprotected area on their knee.
I hear him groan and release a bit of pressure off me which allows me to turn the knife around and thrust upwards into his arm. It goes in with ease and I finally manage a gasp of air before continuing to stab at the arm that eventually releases me from their grip.
Shifting my weight now, I pull him over me where he lands on his back hard before proceeding to stick the blade directly beneath his helmet. A spray of blood soon follows as he continues to struggle but with a final twist, I rip a piece of flesh from his throat and back away to catch my breath.
It doesn't take long for him to bleed to death and that's when I hear a cry that draws my attention back towards the corridor I was in. There on the ground, I watch as my fellow shard gets impaled through the chest. The armored warrior on top of her finally notices me and it's at this point I realize it's the same first one we encountered.
"You just don't know when to die, do you?"
Just as I begin to ready myself again, a golden orb flies past my head towards him before exploding on their chest plate, causing him to be launched backward.
I turn around and find Carel with her palm extended and her banner shimmering above her.
"Luna, are you alright?" She asks, coming to my side.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I say while checking on my peers.
No pulse... and peering into the room where the other shard fell into, I can see his motionless body as well.
"What the hell is going on?"
"I'll explain later. For now, go get your brother, and let's get out of here. Macy and everyone else are waiting for us at the town square."
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Outside, the sounds of gunfire and explosions echo throughout the cavern. Buildings are set ablaze and in the distance I make out the golden illuminations of Enhancements being cast. We have to hurry.
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"Hold on a second Luna, he's losing consciousness again."
We stop in between two buildings as I snap Carl back to reality.
"Hey! Stay with us. Just bear with it for a little while longer," I say.
"Yeah, come on bro! Wake up!"
Our pleads seem to work as his eyes open slightly up again. Carel had told me he was still in pain so moving this much all of a sudden must be taking a toll on his body. Add on the medication they gave him and we're basically carrying his entire weight.
Repositioning him back on our shoulders, we take a moment to scan the road in front of us and after making sure the coast is clear, we step into the light and begin to cross to the other side. It hasn't been long, but the path is littered with the mutilated bodies of the residents. Andino was right... us being here really did put everyone at risk. I just didn't expect it to result in this much violence and death.
"So, what's the plan once we regroup with the Company?"
"If they were lucky enough to find Andino before all hell broke loose, they'll have him lead us to another entrance to the cavern. There we'll-"
The sound of gravel shifting makes us turn in its direction only to be confronted by Macy and a squad of shards with her. If it weren't for Zoe and her banner, I think Carel would've blasted them instantly based on her quick hand movement.
"There you are," she exclaims before rushing to our position, "I got worried when you were taking longer than anticipated and started making my way towards the clinic. Are the three of you all that's left?"
"Unfortunately." I reply solemnly, "Were you able to locate the chief?"
"No. We searched as long as we could before the attack commenced and were forced back to the town hall. Cruz is in the process of finding another local to help guide us, but I haven't heard back from him either."
"He'll pull through, he always does," Zoe chimes in, "For now let's get back to the others before any more of those stalkers show up."
With a quick nod of approval, Macy turns to lead us back to the rest of the company but before I could even take a step, I feel a shiver run throughout my entire body. Around me, the others have stopped as well. Looking at their expressions I can see they feel it as well. The presence of a Divinity User...
The shuffle of gravel once more makes us pivot to its source where we spot a hooded figure approaching down the road. Immediately, I feel my muscles become tense as I recognize the clothing and set of armor they wear. Along with the engraved symbol... The Tempest.
I try to move my legs but like in my dream I'm overcome with fear.
"Divine Hail!"
Carel is the first to react as numerous golden orbs form next to me before shooting outward where they impact the Tempest's Barrier. To my horror, however, Carel's Enhancement proves futile as I watch him disregard the attack and continue to step forward.
"Divine Burst-"
"UnHoly Inverse."
With a swift gesture, he stops Carel's second Cast as she's momentarily stunned by the interruption. What follows next is an abrupt explosion that propels everyone in every direction. The blast causes me to soar through the air before eventually slamming me against the side of a building. I let out a gasp and fall to my side just as a spine-curling scream enters my ears.
Getting my bearings back, I spot Carel in the distance only to see blood gushing out of her mangled hand. She's in shock and doesn't notice the Tempest drawing nearer.
Forcing aside my fear, I draw my blade and speed towards the two before striking at the opening beneath his helmet. I don't land my hit however as they produce a blade from their cloak and parry me effortlessly. I recover and attack again but each one of my blows is deflected with ease.
"Divine Lance!"
From the corner of my eye, I see a golden ray flying towards us and at the last second, jump away as it makes contact with my assailant. It causes him to stagger just as a hail of bullets begin to rain upon him.
"Divine Bind!"
"Divine Javelin!"
The Tempest soon becomes tied in place just as the javelin erupts over him, releasing a plume of smoke into the air. The other shards continue to fire into the smoke as Macy and Zoe make their way to the siblings.
"Divine Heal! Get a tourniquet on fast!" Macy orders.
"That bind won't hold them for long! We should use this time to-"
With unprecedented speed, the Tempest dashes out from the dust and slashes across Zoe's eyes. Blood splatters into the air as she screams in agony but not before being catapulted through the entrance of a nearby shop.
With a sudden surge, the remaining shards charge forward, swords raised high as the Tempest's movements become a blur of steel and motion. One by one they are cut down by a series of deft strikes.
Two more shards rush forward as I spring into action as well. In a swift motion, the Tempest spins around, his blade slicing through the air in an arc, taking down the first two. Closing the distance, I strike fast, aiming at any weak points in the armor but he's too fast. Faster than anything I've ever faced. Compared to the Flag Bearer I fought in Rambell his strength is unmatched.
I can feel a faint smile playing at the corners of my lips. My heart pounds harder and faster the longer I stay locked in battle! I can hear a voice yelling my name, but I don't let up.
Taking a step back, I anchor myself in the ground before shooting forward with full force. I catch the end of his blade and manage to disarm him, but I'm caught off guard when they unsheathe a second blade.
With a single upward motion, he deflects my attack and cuts across my right eye. I fall to the ground, holding onto my face as blood begins to seep through my fingers.
"Divine Strike!"
I glance back up in time to see Macy collide with the Tempest with a metallic clang. Despite her best efforts, though, she's unable to keep up and is subsequently parried. She's grabbed by the throat and lifted off the ground until her feet are left dangling. She struggles and kicks to get loose, but it proves useless.
My eyes then widen as he draws his blade back to impale her. Clenching my teeth, I push myself up and hold my arm out in front of me. Unleashing the pent-up Divinity within me, I concentrate everything I have into the center of my palm.
"Divine Pierce!"
A radiant glow soon envelops my hand, pulsating with power before shortly being released as a burst of brilliant light towards him. But in a split second, the Tempest shifts his position unexpectedly, causing the beam to veer off course, striking Macy instead. As intended, the cast pierces the Protective Barrier with ease before drilling a hole through the center of her chest. As if the strings of a puppet had been severed, her body slumps, her expression void, as blood and entrails cascade endlessly downward.
Time seems to slow as I watch in horror, realizing what has happened.
"Macy... Macy!"
My cry goes unanswered as he tosses her lifeless body aside and turns to face me once again.
"Macy!" I shout again, my voice trembling with anguish.
What have I done... I- I-
No...
This can't be happening!
This can't be real!
Tempest...
You...
You caused this...
You killed her...
Murder him...
Murder him...
Murder him!
"Tempest!"
In a blinding flash, an outpouring of Divinity sends him reeling backward as I jet forward with unrelenting speed. Consumed by rage, I lunge with my blade aimed directly at his heart but just as my strike is about to land, he brings up his arm as the tip of my sword comes into contact with his forearm. With lightning speed, he then swiftly brings down his other arm, shattering the blade as though it were fragile glass, before landing a powerful blow across my face.
The sheer force of his punch launches me backward, crashing into a wall that crumbles upon impact.
I cough up blood as the Divinity in me begins to diminish.
With what little vision I have left, I see ahead of me the looming presence of the Tempest coming closer.
I can't move.
I want to scream but my jaw prevents me.
Is it broken?
"You insolent beast!" He's directly over me now, "You dare yell out his name?!"
Huh... that's strange... their voice... did it always sound like that? From this distance... it almost sounds female...
I don't know anymore... I can't stay awake much longer...
"You are a cancer that has no right to utter his name!"
His name...?
"Hey!"
Another voice interrupts our conversation as I watch him turn to face whoever has appeared behind him.
"So, you're a fan of cheap shots huh..."
Wait... that voice... is it...
I gather what little energy I have left and lift my head to confirm. And there, amidst the other dead shards, with dried blood around her eyes, Zoe stands with her battered banner glistening under the light.
"Well guess what you Divine Right piece of shit... I can still see you!"