P88 - Red and Blue

The arena groaned with sparks and falling dust, a battleground reshaped by violence. Where once their match should have taken place, Rikushi and Blaidd now lay sprawled on the fractured ground, bodies broken, breaths ragged.

Within arm's reach, Blaidd forced his head to turn, his eyes meeting Rikushi's.
"We have to... get up and protect them," Blaidd gasped, voice trembling.

Rikushi clenched his jaw, frustration burning hotter than his wounds. "We have little to no power left within us... I want to, but my body won't let me..."

"I have a way," Blaidd whispered, extending a battered hand toward him. His fingers shook with effort. "But I can't guarantee we'll be here after."

There was no hesitation. Rikushi clasped his hand firmly, their grips locking like a vow. His voice was steady and determined. "As long as we win in the end."

"I promise we will." Blaidd says as a surge rippled through them both. Their veins lit with threads of red and blue, intertwining like fire and ice dancing through their flesh. The ground beneath them shuddered as a power long-restrained began to stir.

Across the battlefield, Toku finally awoken. His blurred vision cleared, revealing Musi kneeling beside him, her healing aura glowing faintly, Gem beside her with healed hands. Para, Kaide, and Rumoto braced him, while needing to rest themselves, hauling him to his feet. Kuddle, Zamy, Tyrant, and Jin moved in, shielding the weakened from stray blasts, forming a small but unbroken line.

A blinding beam cut across the arena, halting the exosuit mid-step. It turned sharply, its glowing eyes finding TLK floating above, radiant wings outstretched, halo gleaming like a star in the gloom.

With a roar, the exosuit leapt skyward to tear him down--but before it could close the distance, four shots caved in. Faust and Reiku's shots ripped through the air, hammering into the machine and knocking it violently off course.

As it reeled, two streaks of black steel and white fury intercepted--Kuro and Kai colliding into its chest midair, driving it back down into the ground. The clash rattled the earth, sparks erupting from its armor.

But Tavrokh was already moving towards them. With monstrous force, he stomped down, kicking both Kuro and Kai away like broken toys, their bodies crashing toward Toku's regrouping force.

From above, the sniper's scope gleamed. A single stray shot cut through the chaos, striking Beau in the shoulder. He staggered, clutching the wound, as his light sputtered out. Casa, Ina, and Loth faltered beside him, their Divine Blast dissipating before it could be set off.

The battlefield dimmed under the weight of despair. Allies faltered, the enemy pressed forward, and hope seemed to teeter on the brink of collapse.

Yet in the shadows of the battles, a different kind of hope flickered to life--born not of strength, but of sacrifice. The redemption of two souls, entwined in red and blue, prepared to rise again.