Selene wiped the blood from her mouth, eyes narrowing in rage as she locked onto Federov. Her face twisted in a sneer, fangs glinting in the moonlight. "You think brute strength is enough to bring me down?" she hissed, extending her arms outward. "Let me show you the true power of the Black Sun."

Suddenly, Federov felt his veins tighten, a searing heat crawling up his arms as though his blood was being pulled from his body. He staggered for a moment, watching in horror as thin streams of blood began to seep from the corners of his eyes and nose, pooling in his ballistic mask as it was drawn out by Selene’s dark magic. His vision blurred as his own life force betrayed him. His veins bulged.

Federov gritted his teeth, fighting against the agonizing pull. "You'll have to try harder than that, cyka" he growled, raising his arm to aim at her. His finger tightened on the trigger of his sidearm as he felt Periscope's data stream into his HUD. The AI's voice was cold and precise.

"Check fire." He told him.

"What are—" Federov spat, but before he could finish, Periscope moved in a precise mechanical blur.

The AI blindsided the Queen. His cold, metallic fist collided with the side of her head, sending her reeling backward. Selene gasped, the blood she had been manipulating dropping to the ground in dark splatters as her concentration shattered. Federov collapsed to one knee, coughing as he felt the magical grip over his body loosen.

"You dare!" Selene shrieked, her eyes blazing with fury as she faced Periscope. "You cannot touch me, you soulless machine!"

Periscope’s response was as cold as ever. "I have no blood for you to manipulate."

Selene's face contorted in pure rage, her claws lashing out at the AI. She moved with inhuman speed, tearing into Kilo-Frame's armored chassis, sparks flying as she ripped through wires and plating. Periscope’s body jerked from the damage, his left arm hanging limp, but he remained defiant, using his remaining strength to deliver another crushing blow to her abdomen, knocking her back once more.

"Commander, re-engage," Periscope ordered, his voice still calm despite the damage. The frame's hydraulics were compromised and he was reduced to 65% combat efficiency. He was no match for the vampire.

Federov, regaining his strength, stood up, breathing heavily, fueled by sheer adrenaline and fury. He ripped off his blood-spatterred helmet and tossed it aside, revealing his bloodied face. "You made a mistake, cyka," he snarled, wiping the blood from his eyes. "Now you're going to die."

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Selene, still reeling from Periscope’s blow, hissed and tried to grip him once again, but Federov was on her before she could react. He drove his shoulder into her midsection and emptied five rounds into her stomach, then lifting her off the ground and slamming her back down. The impact cracked knocking leaves off of nearby trees, and Selene gasped in shock, her once regal composure shattered. Federov didn’t give her a second to recover. He rained down a series of brutal punches, each one landing with a sickening crunch, breaking bone and tearing flesh.

Selene screeched in pain, her claws slashing wildly at Federov in desperation. One strike caught his side, ripping through his armor and drawing blood. He growled in pain but refused to relent.

"You… you cannot kill me!" Selene spat, blood dripping from her lips, but her voice was less certain now, desperation creeping in. "I am eternal!"

"Not anymore," Federov growled, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her off the ground. With a surge of raw strength, he slammed her down onto the forest floor, pinning her beneath his weight. She struggled beneath him, her hands clawing at his arms, but the strength that had once seemed unstoppable was fading. His hot barrel was pressed firmly over her heart.

"Any last words, vampriska?" Federov snarled, bringing his combat knife to her chest, his hand steady despite the blood loss.

Selene's eyes burned with hatred. "The Black Sun will rise… and your kind will burn." Her voice was a venomous whisper.

Federov didn’t hesitate. He pulled the trigger. A .50 caliber action express with a fragmenting body drove through bone and muscle with a wet crunch. At point blank, a trail of burning gases and powder followed the round into her chest. Selene's eyes went wide in shock, her mouth opening in a silent scream as her body tensed and then went limp. For a brief moment, the world seemed to still, the only sound the soft, labored breaths of Federov as he held the muzzle firmly in place. Her eyes, once burning with malice, glazed over, and her chest fell still.

Periscope approached, still damaged but functional. He glanced at the pile of ash that had once been Selene. "A satisfactory outcome."

"An inevitable one." Federov remarked.

But their victory was short-lived. As Federov turned to face the assault troopers, he saw that Persephone had gained the upper hand. One of the troopers lay dead, his body mangled beyond recognition, while the other was barely holding his ground, blood pouring from a deep gash in his side. He shouldered his rifle with his one good arm, firing determined bursts at his target.

Persephone, her fangs bared and her eyes glowing with malevolent glee, stood tall over her fallen opponent. "You thought you could kill me?" she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "I am the Queen of the Black Sun. I will live on long after you are forgotten."

Federov, exhausted but resolute, prepared to engage her, but before he could take a step forward, a shadowy figure emerged from the treeline—the mindflayer, its tentacles writhing ominously as it wrapped itself around Persephone.

"You cannot stop us," Persephone whispered, her eyes locked on Federov as the mindflayer’s dark mass began to engulf her. "Not now. Not ever."

Federov rushed forward, but it was too late. With a final, haunting laugh, Persephone and the mindflayer disappeared into the shadows, leaving only the fallen trooper and the scent of death in their wake.

Federov stood amongst the burning convoy panting. His fists clenched in fury so tightly, it was as if they were a silent of vow of what he would do if he ever got his hands on her.