Tag team and Conclusion

The crash at the bar still echoed in Lucy’s ears. She had barely had time to react, and already the air was heavy with oppressive electricity. Axel, standing in front of her, still radiated traces of the energy released in his previous attack. Lucy stared at him, open-mouthed, unable to believe what she had just witnessed.

“Well, well...” a mocking voice interrupted her trance.

Violet, with her twisted smile and a sadistic glimmer in her eyes, stepped forward. Her energy whip crackled like lightning, glowing in the dimness of the place.

“So, Axel really is Axel after all,” she said, dragging out each word with a mixture of amusement and malice.

Lucy was still in shock. The image of Axel defending with such power left her paralyzed. But there was no time to process it. The whip whistled through the air again.

WHACK!
The blow struck Axel’s shield.
WHACK! WHACK!
Another and another, each strike rumbling violently.

The shield resisted, but every hit showed small cracks, a trembling glow. Axel, brow furrowed and sweat sliding down his forehead, muttered in a low voice:

“Lucy... run. If you stay here, she’ll hit us both.”

She hesitated, but finally moved aside. Instinctively, she tried to form a chain of energy—her usual weapon. As she extended her hand, only a faint spark appeared and vanished in seconds. A hollow feeling struck her chest, exhaustion creeping in.

“What’s... what’s happening to me? Oh, right...”
The answer hit her like a hammer: she had spent too much healing Alma earlier. That effort was now taking its toll.

Meanwhile, Violet laughed loudly between lash and lash.

“This is delicious! I didn’t think I’d have the pleasure of fighting you again, Axel.”

The shield vibrated, shaking under the force of each blow. Axel clenched his teeth, resisting clumsily but firmly.

Lucy, now off to the side, forced herself to think fast. She closed her fist, gathered what little energy she had left, and a small sphere appeared in her palm. It wasn’t a massive attack: it was small, precise. A needle of light.

She waited for the exact moment and fired it at Violet’s hand.

The beam pierced like a scalpel, paralyzing the muscles in her arm. The whip faltered for a second, her guard lowered. It was just an instant, but enough.

Lucy lunged forward and, with all her strength, threw a punch directly at Violet’s face.

The blow landed with a sharp crack.
Violet staggered back, surprised.

Lucy, chest heaving, muttered with a smirk:

“Looks like someone else’s face is the one that’s going to need reconstruction.”

Violet’s smile twisted into a dark expression.

“I see you’ve learned my tricks well...”

Lucy took a deep breath and replied calmly:

“Yes. But while you used them to harm, I learned to use them to heal. I became a great doctor.”

Violet touched her cheek, laughing.

“But you still hurt me.”

Lucy lowered her gaze for a second and answered:

“It was what needed to be done.”

The tension rose when Violet tilted her head and said venomously:

“Just like that time...”

That memory was a low blow. Lucy closed her eyes for an instant and snapped back:

“Shut up. I won’t let your words break me.”

She turned toward Axel.

“Axel! I need you to step back.”

But he shook his head, raising his already weakened shield.

“No. We fight together. I still feel like I have energy... I can be your shield.”

Lucy hesitated, but seeing his determination, she nodded.

“Alright, Axel. Follow my lead.”

Violet faked an exaggerated sob, bringing her hands to her chest.

“Oh, how touching. What a beautiful duo. But I’ll let you know—I can handle both of you.”

Suddenly, her body lit up. She channeled pure energy into both hands, and from each palm emerged crackling whips.

“See? I’m still a superior master of energy, Lucy.”

Lucy straightened, clenching her fists.

“Maybe... but I gained more than power. I gained things you’ll never understand.”

The battle resumed with brutality.

Violet spun with deadly grace, lashing one whip at Lucy and the other at Axel. He resisted clumsily with the shield, each strike forcing him back. Lucy, on the other hand, dodged with agility: she knew Violet’s rhythm, she had trained against her. Even so, she knew they couldn’t keep up that defense for long.

The thought weighed on her: “Axel’s energy runs out fast. I need a plan. She’s stronger than me. But... she’s not invincible.”

In another corner of the battlefield, the scene was even more desperate.

All the soldiers lay on the ground, wounded, disarmed, some unconscious. In the middle of them, Martín was the only one still standing, staggering, gasping, wielding a sword made of pure energy. In front of him, Gori showed barely a couple of scratches.

“This is... entertaining,” said the android with inhuman calm. “I’m sure all this will be useful to Alexis.”

Martín gritted his teeth, trying to buy time.

“What exactly are you? Because I’m not fighting a simple robot.”

Gori tilted his head.

“I suppose it doesn’t matter if you know. Alexis never forbade me from speaking. I am... an android. I have a human brain, though I remember nothing of my previous life. I possess the emotions and personality of a man, but my whole body is robotic. According to Alexis, human intelligence is superior to artificial intelligence... at least, for now.”

Martín stepped back, voice trembling but firm:

“Then... if you have a human brain, do you agree with what you’re doing?”

Gori shrugged.

“I have no memories. Morality is irrelevant to me. I only enjoy testing my abilities.”

Martín raised the sword one last time. He saw no way out. All he could do was resist until Lucy and Axel finished their fight.

Gori approached, calmly raising his arm.

“Time to end this.”

Martín closed his eyes, resigned. The blow never came.

Back in the main fight, things were getting worse. Axel fell to his knees after a lash struck his leg. The shield shrank, weakened. Lucy screamed at the sight, just as a second lash tore across her arm, ripping a cry of pain from her throat.

With what little energy she had left, Lucy tried to heal herself, closing the wound just enough. But Violet was already preparing the next strike toward Axel.

At the last second, Axel raised the shield and resisted. And then... it happened.

A wave of energy burst from the shield, like an explosion of light, pushing Violet several meters back.

Lucy stared at him, astonished. That attack... it was the same one she had seen when they fought Tyfo.

“Axel! That thing you did—can you do it again?”

He looked at her, panting.

“I think so. Isn’t it the same thing you did?”

“Yes... but to be honest, I don’t have enough energy to do it again. I’ll give you what I have left. Maybe between the two of us we can beat her. No... we will beat her.”

Axel took a deep breath, nodding.

“Alright.”

Recovering, Violet let out a roar.

“Enough games! You’re starting to annoy me!”

Lucy placed her hand on Axel’s back and transferred her remaining energy. He felt the warmth spreading through him, that familiar tingling.

“You’ve already come into contact with my energy before,” Lucy explained quickly. “You don’t need to assimilate it much. Close your eyes, focus on the shield...”

Axel obeyed. The shield vibrated, taking on a sharper, more aggressive form.

“Good, Axel. Now... run at her and unleash it all!”

He roared and charged at Violet. She, surprised, tried to counterattack by infusing even more energy into her whips. One of them clashed against the shield, but it was weaker than before.

“Now, Axel!” Lucy shouted.

With a cry, Axel released all the accumulated energy. Rays of light burst from the shield like spears, striking Violet full in the stomach.

The blast hurled her through the air, crashing her to the ground, incapacitated.

Lucy exhaled, smiled faintly... and collapsed. She was losing consciousness. But before hitting the ground, arms caught her.

“Lexus...?” she whispered, barely conscious.

“Of course,” he answered, serious. “I’d never let anything happen to you. I know very well when you’re in danger.”

Lucy managed a weak smile before closing her eyes.

Nearby, Axel fell to his knees, exhausted, stunned by what he had just done. Hands held him up.

“Very well done, Axel,” said Luz, looking at him with pride. “You surprised us all.”

When they lifted their gaze, they saw the other scene: Gori lay defeated on the ground, with Pedro’s sword buried in his torso.

Pedro wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and commented with disdain:

“Martín... you disappointed me. This little robot wasn’t strong enough to give you so much trouble.”

Martín only gave a weak laugh, trembling as he stood. “What a monster you are, Pedro,” he thought.

The battle was over. Lucy and Axel had shown a new level of teamwork. But in the shadows, someone else was watching.

In a silent room, Alexis stared at the screen transmitting the fight.

“Interesting...” he murmured with an enigmatic smile.

Gori’s test had ended. And that Axel... had awakened his curiosity.