Arc 2 - Chapter 56: Culmination of Genesis

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 6:15AM)

His view became upside down.

Plowing straight through the red clouds, he felt smoke molest his throat down to his lungs. Feeling his clothes ripple, and his skin to prickle, he forced the smoke like air to plow his lungs. Like a fallen angel kicked out of heaven… he broke through the cotton like clouds.

And saw the whole city inverted.

—Wow…

He felt truly free.

In slow motion, the whole world slowed down for only him. The chilled air caressing his body, he held the water bomb with tightened fingers. Unable to breath, unable to speak, he settled his inverted eyes on the beast.

Along with the fastening—

—Concrete…

Time flowing naturally, he found himself reaching the halfway point. Settling his eyes to the ground, it was only a matter of time before he’ll kiss the ground.

Widening his eyes, feeling his breath parch, he found it growing bigger and bigger. Closing his eyes, he heard a collection of voices. Voices that replayed the past six years of his life.

[Gamblers and soldiers are a lot alike.], [You’re not ready.], [You’re not strong, hell, you’re weak; but you’re smart.], [It’s not your fault…], [… Do you still miss your mom?], [I’m sorry…], [All I want in life … is to be in Paradise.]

All playing in a rapid sequence, they all overlapped with one over another. Even when the wind tried to pry his eyes open, no sweat trailed out, and now grumble hummed.

As a single voice broke through the others.

[Live for me!]

He opened his eyes.

Swinging both of his feet back like a scorpion, he bent his knees the most he could. For a split second, a small spark lit up not from his heart …

—But from his boots.—

In a single burst, two flames sprouted from the canisters lodged in his footwear. Propelling himself against gravity, all the momentum that he gathered inverted upward. Thousands, hundreds, he was dozens of feet from being a stain on the ground…

But with enough force, he directed his trajectory;, to the buildings right in front of him.

“Ah!”

His boots being the engine, and his legs being the steering wheel, he swayed against the random building in a single maneuver. Just as he did this, he dodged another set of buildings, ones that were riddled with brick and stone. Letting his luck dictate his life, all of fate was within the canisters of his boots. As if it were natural to him, every set of brick and stone that was against him, was avoided.

Feeling the excess adrenaline, he then noticed—

He didn’t have time.

“Shoot!”

Grinding all four of his molars, he honed his blessing with full tenacity. Tucking his entire body like a ball … he welcomed an old window with mind, body, and soul.

With everything traveling at present speed, his blessing pushed him into a never-ending rollercoaster. Going through the office-like hallways and cubicles, he evaded and maneuvered across endless rooms. Feeling random edges scrape his jacket, feeling it ripple his pants, even his boots felt the tinges of stone and brick. Holding in his breath, he tightened all of his muscles the longer he traversed…

Until he came out through the other end.

Shards scarring his skin, as well as his cheeks and forehead, he was lucky that it didn’t get into his eyes. Having his rocket boots in motion, he soared high in the air, away from all the buildings that gave him an impending sense of doom.

—That was close!

Feeling the air slam against his face, he looked toward the direction of the water pump facility. Inhaling the toxic smoke, while his skin sweltered in sweat, he stared straight at the fiery beast. Being half a mile from the facility, Luke bit down his lip, and kicked both of his feet back again.

Fastening his speed, he glared at the beast … who made his life hell six years ago.

—Time to finish this.

________________________________________________________________________

She began to near the facility, as her footsteps thundered the very planet she stepped upon. The flames of her magma dimmed, she focused her eyes on the facility. No smirk, no grin, she had no emotion upon her monstrous face.

Melting the asphalt, liquifying the concrete, everything beneath her withered into chemical paint. Pushing her fingers into her palms—

—Her flames rose up from her head; and turned her head left.—

Feeling a sense of doom, she kept her face still, and caught her eyes on a man with rocket boots. Having light brown hair, he cradled a large piece of metal onto his chest. Staring at the young man intently, the crevices of her eyes began to slant.

Moving the bomb into his right armpit, he pushed his left hand into his pocket. Without warning, he took out a small red toy gun, and brought the barrel up to the air. As he stalled in the air with rocket boots, he shot out a red smoke flare. Lighting up the darkened sky, it was the only source of light to be reflected against the clouds.

—Hope everyone saw that.

Keeping his balance well in check, he kept his eyes glued to the beast whose head was peeled to him. Instead of heeding to his plan, she instead walked forward.

Every footstep shook the core of Terra. Luke, who saw that she wasn’t paying him any attention, kicked his feet back and pushed his boots into second gear. Feeling the air ripple against his skin, he barely held his eyes together as he charged.

By just etching closer to her, he felt the heat radiate off from her body. Flames flourishing and flowering her skin, it was clouted in a hellish inferno. Steering his body to the right, he began to make his trek around her back.

—I have to go full throttle.

His clothes sizzled, and his hair was on the verge of going up in flames. If he were to stand near her body for a minute, his skin complexion would be the same as Luna’s. But it wasn’t long before he reached right in front of her.

And because he was in front of her, she ceased her walk. Looking like she wasn’t going to attack, she remained her red eyes on his, and saw him…

He took out a simple piece of fulminated mercury.

—Here it goes!

Grabbing it with his left hand, he had his fingers smudged on the crystal. Pulling his arm back, he felt his very muscles be extended, or even stretched. Throwing it with full force, his very strength sent his balance to falter.

Barely keeping his eyes on the crystal, he saw it soar, and it—

It disintegrated, without even touching her skin.

Her eyes dead, even the flames from her body began to dim. Even when his comedic timing was great, he soon began to lower himself, all the way toward the ground. Once his boots clamped a piece of debris, he scoffed up a grin.

As he fully glared at the beast in front of her.

“You want a piece of me! I hope you were happy when I—”

In the flash of a second, she lifted her foot up high. Without dodging, without moving, he stared straight at the gargantuan foot that was burdened in flames. Just as she brought it down like a guillotine, he felt the heat flourish his skin … and he closed his eyes …

And opened them up back again.

Bringing her foot down on his last original position, a cloud of dust scoured the area. Along with the debris trembling repeatedly, it was as if a small Terraquake was created from her foot. At the same time, he felt two arms wrap around his waist.

“Next time, be a little bit faster okay?”

“Next time, don’t jump off a fucking building!”

Their clothes glued to one another, Luna unwrapped her arms from his waist. With the heat beginning to swelter their bodies, their throats screamed for the paradise of water. So much so, they both took a step back.

“I got here from jumping from building to building, using what’s left of my teleportation blessing. I feel like I can’t run any more.”

“Not to worry, you won’t have to.”

Seeing the monster beginning to walk forward, it left Luke to snap with his left hand. As he did so, he tapped the floor with his right boot, which scrambled off bits of debris from underneath.

Widening his eyes, he softly nodded, yet kept his eyes peeled at the beast who walked.

“Luna, grab around my waist. I think I know a way to make her distracted.”

Without question, she wrapped her arms around his waist, even when her cheeks flustered a pinkish red. Once she felt them lock tight, he then spread both of his boots far apart.

“Brace yourself!”

“W-What are you—”

Both of them flew, high enough for their hair to flutter in the wind.

Every finger within her hand clutched onto his jacket. Having a diamond grip on him, her face went pale. Unwilling to look down, all she was left with is to cling onto him like a lifeline; literally.

“Put me down! Put me down!”

Kicking his feet back, he pushed his boots into another gear upward. Heeding to no one, the beast was already closing the distance between her and the facility. Squinting his eyes, he allowed a glint of sweat to trail down his nose.

—Where could her weak spot be? They said that her chest and heart were a no go…

“Put me the hell down! Now! Now! NOW!!”

Ignoring her pleas, he analyzed the monster’s movements. Seeing that she was finally stopping, he knew that she was about to reach her final endgame.

Luckily for him, he glanced to his right, and found a red smoke signal coming from a random building. Being near the Zirardge tower, and with the signal reaching the bottom of the clouds, its message was shown clear as day.

“It’s them! Look Luna! It’s them!”

“Place me there now! Do it or else!”

“No can do. You’re going to be helping me distract her.”

“I! Don’t—”

“I’ll give you a donut after this.”

“You can’t win me over with—”

Without finishing her statement, he then resumed his flying. Having her right knee be submerged on the asphalt, her flames dimmed down a whole notch.

But glancing to his right, he noticed a numerous amount of blinking red and white lights. Along with the air being rippled against, it was none other than a pair of helicopters.

—I wonder who’s in that helicopter?

At the same time, another flare brightened the sky, one filled with white. Taking his eyes off of the helicopters, it looked to be from the military complex, where the other half was holding out. Feeling like Plan B was boiling up in the oven, a sense of hope began to flutter his stomach.

—And I guess everyone else is safe from their missions.

As the groups began to assemble, he felt the need to take out a walkie talkie from his pocket. Using his left hand, he raised it up to his ear, all the while he kept his eyes peeled on the monster.

Seeing it close her eyes, it looked as if she was trying to conserve her energy. Considering that she was rampaging for a couple of hours, she needed time to bring out a burst of it.

“Luke? Are you ok? Just what the hell are you thinking man?”

“Sorry if I worried you guys, I just needed to reach her fast. Anyway, can you read her movements?”

“I’m trying, but her head is too encrypted. It’s like trying to read two different minds…”

With Jack being support, Luke pushed out a large breath from his mouth. His body loosened, Luna dug her fingers ever more, leaving his jacket to slightly tear from her nails.

But even so, Luke didn’t wiggle from her tightness. Glancing toward her, he gave her a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry. Once this is over, I can settle you on the ground.”

“You better!”

Kicking his feet back, he launched his boots into second gear again. Feeling the air push against his face, it made his cheeks and eyes narrow and slim, but that wasn’t important.

Flying straight toward the monster, he sharpened his eyes and relaxed his body. And as they charged … Everyone began their assembly.

“Form up!”

A platoon began their run toward the water facility.

Having a soldier count of fifty to sixty, many of them had darkened faces and gritting teeth. Unwilling to look up at the monster, they all trembled, and held their rifles like they were cradling a baby. And as they ran, Miles and Hope went along with them.

“Remember to heal any soldiers Hope!”

“But what about Gwen?!”

He ceased his run, and stalled the heels of his boots on the floor. Turning around, he saw both of her eyes widened, as worry filled the gate of her irises. Unable to look into her blue eyes, his resorted to the ground.

“We don’t know if she’ll make it…”

“But we could try! We could still rescue her! What if we…”

Hope couldn’t finish her sentence, and trailed the last of her words with solemn lips. Having a grip on her pistol, it only led Miles to darken his face. Even when he felt the world shake, even when the heat began to increase, he kept his eyes ahold of asphalt.

“Jack’s right … I hate to admit it, but he’s right …”

A single tear rolled out of her right eye. Biting her lower lip, she took a step forward.

“H-How could you say that!?”

“Then … how about this.”

With his hands occupied with his shotguns, he placed his right into his holster. Extending out his right hand, his fingers trembled the more he stalled. Seeing her about to cry, it only quivered against his jumping throat.

“Fifty soldiers or one friend. I’m fine with whatever outcome…”

Hope felt her knees go numb.

Throughout her life, she hadn’t made many decisions. In fact, she was pleased that she wasn’t within the spotlight. Her whole life, someone made decisions for her, whether it be someone higher than her, or someone equal to her. But given a choice, a choice that could turn the tide of battle, it left her to sweep with static.

Until she recalled—

[I also want to be a soldier. A soldier that helps others in need, a hero to other soldiers like support units or medics.]

Pressing her lips, she softly nodded.

“Okay … I’ll go with all of you…”

“Alright…”

Running with Miles, they soon grouped up with another duo. Elizabeth and Johnny, who recovered from the previous battle with Mia, all ran with the platoon with their weapons in tow.

The four of them looked up at the beast, who had already knelt down near the water facility. Seeing a small line of fire circling around her, it was none other than Luke. From them, to even the soldiers, all of them were infatuated at the physics at hand, and the bravery he commended.

The Lieutenant ceased his run, along with the rest of his soldiers. Seeing them all run ahead, he quickly turned around, and held his hands behind his back.

“Alright! Get ready maggots!”

The four of them felt the heat from the beast, heat that felt like an oven was opened in front of them. But even so, they didn’t stop, they couldn’t.

“That platoon is going to concentrate fire on her stomach and chest! We’ll aim for her legs!”

“Do you think it’ll give us an opening!?”

“It’s the only way!”

For the group on the other side, it was the typical reserves that worked behind the scenes. Being none other than Stan, Fred, Gary, and Diego, the four of them ran. Despite the three of them remembering their escape, remembering that hellish day that flashed within their minds…

They were running toward the danger.

“Get your weapons ready!”

The four of them took out a pistol, revolver, razored whip, and an assault rifle. As they looked up at the beast, they all quenched their breaths, and allowed saliva to drown their throats.

Except for Diego.

“Don’t worry Stan. You know me when it comes to these streets.”

“It’s not that. It’s just myself that I’m more worried about…”

He looked down at his right hand, and saw his wrist clouded in a mole of bandages. Unable to grab anything, unable to grip even the easiest of objects, he pushed his right hand into his pocket. Keeping it in there, he wielded his assault rifle with his left, his finger on the side of the gun.

“Good thing that Hope somewhat healed it.” Said Fred.

“If I’m being honest, I thought I was going to lose my right hand. At least it’ll be able to use it normally in a week or so.”

The more they ran, the more they felt their breaths corrode their throat. And yet, they stared at the morning sky that was burdened in reddish clouds. But it wasn’t just them.

With every soldier propelling their feet forward, their boots clambered down on the ground below.

“Everyone knows what part they’re playing.” Said Stan.

“This is it.” Muttered Miles.

“Assemble the railguns!” Yelled the Lieutenant.

Meanwhile, Luke was halfway from reaching the beast, with the heat becoming even more blistering. As his vision began to blur, Luke glanced in back of him, and catched a face that was bridled in paleness.

“Luna take out my flare gun!”

Using her right hand, while clutching his body with her left, she scurried it into his leather jacket. Grazing the many objects he had, she quickly felt something plastic.

Taking out the toy gun, she pointed the barrel toward the heavens. Pulling the trigger, a large red flare lit up the clouds.

“Get ready…”

Because after all, the battle between the strongest and the weakest—commenced!

________________________________________________________________________

As the monster closed her eyes, she imagined herself in another world. A world free from sin, a world in which … she could be herself.

Now becoming a monster, all that was left of her, is to do her mission.

Just before she began to glow, she sensed a slight pinch within her shoulder. Glancing to her right, and saw a single star-like object coming toward her. Looking like a man with rocket boots, he had a stowaway upon his back.

With her cultivating disrupted, she knew that any attack was a means to defend. Being taught this by her own leader, she pulled her right arm back, and tried to swat them away like flies. Too fast for her own good, all the flames that furried her right hand, began to swell and trickle both of their bodies—

He was gone.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing!”

Jack watched from the sidelines, and had a walkie talkie against his face.

“Keep her distracted, before Miles and his group do their thing!”

“Got it!”

As Luke circled around her like a housefly, her attacks were only dwarfed by Luna’s teleportation. As they vanish and pop, Luna felt her own body beginning to slug. Going around her, her flames from her skin narrowly grazed the tips of his jacket.

Conserving her flames would require her to focus, focus on the energy that she harbored. With someone flying around her, it only led her to disregard her duty and focus on them..

“Got to do better than that bitch!” Yelled Luna.

Sweat mingling from the corner of her eyes, she grounded her teeth as she spoke. Clinging onto Luke, he himself honed his blessing with all his might. The heat grazing their faces, down to their boots, they sufficed in unholy sweat.

But luckily for them, their game of whack a mole was nearing its end.

“Johnny! Elizabeth! She’s distracted! Get her!”

““Right!””

Barely reaching her right foot, the heat that she gave off only parched their skin. Having his hands on his machine gun, Johnny had his left hand on the center, and the butt in his armpit.

And having his finger on the trigger, he scalded the barrel with feather bullets. With his suppressor taking away most of the noise, all of the lead traveled toward her heel. In that instant, she yelped, and glanced down at the small insects below.

“Elizabeth! Now!”

Running past him, she spread both of her arms out, and strained the ground with her heels. Her palms spewing out clouds, the freshly made vapor circled and intertwined her wrists, but it wasn’t long before it accumulated greatly. Taking a step forward, she gathered the mass of over a hundred cumulonimbus clouds.

Thrusting her hands in back, she thrusted what she had toward the beast.

‘Oh wait…’

At the same time she threw her clouds, the beast had already made her move.

As she hammered down her right hand, Miles was the first to run straight toward her. Raising his hands to the air, and having his palms facing the sky, he then summoned a blue light that sprinkled around them. Creating a diamond like dome, his body was already heaped in sweat, but even so, Miles tightened his abs.

“Go cloudy!”

Keeping her glaring eyes on her achilles heel, it circled and enveloped everything that was injured. Without hesitation, it was like celebrating the new year with fireworks, with the target being her heel.

The beasts’ hand collided onto Miles’ shield. With a mighty boom pulsating their eardrums, smoke and dust encapsulated the area that reeked with ash.

‘Damnit … that hurt…’

Getting up from the floor, Johnny ran toward both of them. Looking like the beast was pulling back, the dust began to clear for Elizabeth and Miles.

“Elizabeth! Miles! You two alright!?”

Elizabeth noticed that the shield was gone, leaving her to glance around. And just as she decided to look down, she noticed a man resting on the ground, with debris littering his hair. His whole body pale, blood riveting from his lips, he used all of his stamina.

“He’s knocked out!”

“But at least you’re safe. Both of you.”

No time to celebrate, the two of them looked upon the beast that stared them down. Since black clouds were made of water, they eventually evaporated and whistled away.

Trying to raise her foot, the beast narrowed her eyes—

—No sensation dawned on her foot.—

Lava poured from the wound, and she held balance in only one foot. Keeping this in mind, she began to mold and craft, allowing the lava to bend within the realm of her own. Just as she was about to finish healing—

No warmth was bestowed for her left.

Feeling nothing, she couldn’t even move her leg from the glued cement. Turning her body around, she caught a whiff of four men, who held blue canisters. Looking like they had already thrown them at her, she glanced down at her…

Ice clamped all around her ankle.

Seeing that she was completely trapped, she flamed her flames and began to scream. Straining her vocals, Stan and his group shielded their ears.

“That should keep her contained.”

Having vials upon vials of pure white air, the logo bestowed upon them was a black and white skull and bones.

With no time to waste, the four of them began their run. Her flames rising higher, the heat doubled, leaving their clothes to steam and their hair to smoke.

Running toward a little alleyway, the four of them took solace in the cool shadows. Meanwhile, all she could do was assemble her right foot, and keep her eyes on the ice that froze her foot. Raising her right hand, and balling it into a fist, she then rammed it down like a—

—“FIRE!!”—

A tsunami of mana pierced through the morning air.

Miles and Stan, both leaders of their own groups, found themselves ducking in place at the volley above them. Even with Miles being unconscious, Hope had begun to heal him. Hearing the whistling of mana, she took out a small needle, and prickled him on his arm.

“Here…”

Placing her hands onto his forehead, yellowish light fluttered his skin.

Meanwhile, gushing lava poured from her chest down to her stomach. Unable to move, she raised both of her arms up high, and blocked her face. As the bullets pierced through her hands, and even her arms, all of her strength and stamina were used to regenerate her upper body.

Creating the biggest game of tug-of-war, the platoon that the Lieutenant carried, and her regenerative abilities, were at equilibrium. Instead of hanging in back, Stan’s group leaped out of the shadows, and carried another batch of vials.

Running up toward the beast, they saw her right foot burdened in flames.

“Throw them now!”

In unison, the four of them slid their right foot back, pulled back their arms, and then threw like baseballs.

Smashing along her right ankle, the ice soon began to mold onto her right foot. Along with the mana bullets beginning to dim, it was the perfect chance for the four of them to run back to their hole.

‘Just got to … keep on running…’

Both of her feet superglued to the asphalt, another ear-piercing shout shambled the morning. Piercing everyone’s ears, her raspied magma stalled in her throat, with a line of lava riveting down her lip. And as for Luke, his ears rang from the sudden scream.

Even when her screaming stopped, tinnitus rang in both of their eardrums. And because they flew, they were unable to protect their ears.

“Shoot! They need to stall a bit more!” Yelled Luke.

“Huh!?”

“I said they need to stall more!”

“But her guard’s down!” Yelled Luna.

“Huh!?”

“I said her guard’s down!”

“That’s true! But she’s radiating too much heat! Trying to reach her would be like flying into the sun!”

“Huh!?”

“Don’t worry about it!”

Placing the butt of his sniper into his armpit, Jack had himself holed up within the helicopter he rode. Barely able to see through his scope, it made trying to read the beasts’ thoughts much harder than before.

Until Jack had an epiphany.

‘Wait a minute…’

The more he remembered, the more he analyzed the beast's body. From her toes up to her head, every single body part had been struck and hit. Recalling the defensive retreat, the Lieutenant had ordered barrage after barrage, but there was one thing. When she was bombarded by bullets, they all struck her legs up to her chest.

But he never heard of reports of shooting her head. In fact, in one of the bombardments, it was reported that she blocked only her face.

‘So her weak spot … is …’

Lowering down the barrel of his sniper, he then gripped it with only his right hand. Using his left hand, he brought out his walkie-talkie, and brought it up close to his lips.

“Luke! Tell the soldiers to aim for the head!”

“What!?”

“Don’t worry about it. There is one person who is listening to this.”

“Huh!? What are you talking—”

“The head is the weak spot? Consider it done.”

Behind the Lieutenant, was another man, a man who wore a fedora with bowl-cut hair. Having a walkie-talkie within his left hand, it was raised up to his left ear, while his other covered his right.

Seeing the soldiers cease their firing, they allowed the barrels of their rifles to rest. Unlike last time, they didn’t want to overheat their rail guns.

“Tell your troops to target the head.”

“My soldiers are resting their rifles. And besides …”

The Lieutenant lowered his voice, and pressed his hands against his lower back. Taking a peek at the beast, he couldn’t foresee her face, given by the sole fact that she had blocked it with her arms.

“I think I already came to that conclusion…”

Seeing her body completely engulfed in flames, and her feet still glued to the ground, the ice began to falter. Trying desperately to break free, desperately to get rid of the ice, she flamed her flames ever so brighter. Their mana bullets unable to pierce through, all of her body was regenerating to the greatest it can. Even when magma flowed down her mouth like a river, he tilted his head down.

Hope, Elizabeth, and Johnny all stared at the monster, who began to be free. Along with Stan’s group, the seven of them knew that it was a matter of time before she’ll escape.

‘If only we had some weapon to deplete both her upper and lower body. Our bullets don’t work, and we don’t have the firepower to—’

—A thousand whistles screamed through the sky.—

Everyone stopped to turn west. Whistling replacing the sound of wind, they all reflected the lightshow with their very eyes. Like old lightning, it brought death to whoever was unfortunate to be in its path. Making a singular arch, it barely grazed the bottom of the clouds, before projecting right toward…

“Looks like God’s on our side…”

“Holy shit … they’re coming from the military complex.”

Jack spoke through faint words, as the helicopter began to fly away from the beast. Luke, who stalled and stared at the incoming lights, traced the smoke that spewed from behind. While he kept an eye on the smoke, Luna noticed a collection of red flares flying up toward the sky.

“Luke, those flares. Do you know anything about this?”

“I never planned missiles… or can it be …”

From the other end of the city, was a group of men and women collectively.

Some of them wearing leather jackets, as well as tuxedos, the two groups clashed together amidst a field. Right in front of them was a missile silo, lining hundreds of meters in length and width.

“Jesus… Did you build this?”

“You think I’d have the brains to do so? No.”

One of the agents, a man with below average height, raised his right hand up to his fedora. Taking it off, he gripped the top of it with only his fingers, and had it hover over his thigh.

“I needed one of your men to build it. That strange kid with silver-hair.”

Next to Briggs, was a man wearing a leather jacket and a different hat. His hair ruffled by what he wore, he kept it firm. The two of them, along with the rest of their groups, saw the lights flutter from a distance.

‘Consider this our way of helping, Luke.’

Moving his hand out of his pocket, David raised his left hand to the front of his hat. With only his pointer finger and thumb, he tilted it downward, and allowed a simple nod due East.

Returning back to Luke and everyone else…

Still clutching the water bomb within his right hand, he turned around and flew away from the beast. Not wanting any part to be in the missile's direction, he zipped and soared like a bee escaping a rainstorm.

Including everybody on the ground, all of them hunkered down and dropped to cover. From the Lieutenant and his soldiers, Miles’ group, and Stan’s group, the three groups all squealed their eyes shut upon the awaiting hellstorms. As soon as the missiles struck, a flash of light burned their faces…

—And brought a shockwave that trembled their bones.—

Their ears rang, as the soundwaves collided within their eardrums. Once light began to fade, all of their eyes softly unsqueezed. With the heat already flushing onto their skin, smoke plundered where the monster once stood.

Swaying away chunks of dust, smoke, and even remnants of ash, they all stared with silence. Coughing vibrating the area, grim and dirt soaked deep into everyone’s lungs, except for the ones in the air.

“Look! Luna!”

“Oh shit, finally!”

What laid in front of everyone, was nothing more than a monster with only a head. Her heat already faded, her skin cooled like lukewarm lava. Unable to move, well, she couldn’t…

Considering she had no body to begin with.

From her toes up to her shoulders, all of it was cleaved off the face of Terra. Her head being the only thing remaining, a rivet of magma flowed from the corners of her lips. Looking up towards the heavens, she had her eyes widened the most it could.

Leaving Jack to take a small peep into her mind. As soon as he did this, he grinned, and pulled out the walkie talkie that he had in his left hand.

“She’s overridden with fear! This is your big window!”

“On it!”

Thrusting his feet back, the first thing that he did was pin his destination to the ground. Feeling his body zip through the air, feeling it strain his cheeks and forehead, Luna grappled onto him with digging nails. Slowing down, he barely touched the ground, but it was for a split second for Luna to get off.

And feel the concrete with her boots.

‘Fucking finally!’

Pushing his boots into overdrive, he sped toward the dimly lit head with glaring eyes. Allowing bits of memories to play, a small release of his frustrations was displayed by his teeth.

Just as made a touchdown on her forehead, he settled the soles of his boots firmly on her cooled lava skin.

Meanwhile, Boris paled his face.

“Wait a minute … Lieutenant! Pull back everyone!”

“Copy! RETREAT!! Fall back! NOW!!”

No hesitation, no further questions, everyone who wore dark camo sprinted far from the head. Along with Miles’ and Stans’ groups, they both ran away with burning calves. Feeling their feet blister, they fastened their breaths with every step. Even when the air was ghastly toxic, it didn’t slow them down.

All the while, Luke glared into the beast’ eyes, and tried to dig his fingers deep into the bomb.

Recalling the familiar scene, he allowed the faint memory of his mother’s last words to replay. Stuck under a heap of rubble, all because of the debris that the beast had caused, it was poetic…

—“This is the end.”—

Using his left hand, he twisted the bottom of the bomb counterclockwise, which allowed hiss to spew from the top. Thrusting his right arm back, he slid his left foot, and arched his body to perform a pitch. Pulsating every ounce of muscle within his shoulders, he threw it down into the hole.

Jumping off from her forehead, he and Luna made a beeline away from the bodiless beast. Blistering their feet within their boots, they trampled their lungs the longer they breathed.

“There they are!”

Everyone hunkered down in the alleyways, or rather the biggest one to contain all of them. Being in the middle of two buildings, they were all kept at a good distance from the head. For one, the two buildings were sufficed in brick, and second, the buildings were tall enough to give them cover.

The second last group to reach the alleyway was Miles’ group, as Johnny and Elizabeth carried the dark-complected man. With Hope in back of them, she glanced to her right, and saw Luna and Luke sprinting with all their might.

“Hurry!”

Both Luke and Luna didn’t look back. Feeling their hearts pounding their chests, they pushed onward and onward—

Until they vanished.

Blackjacked hundred of meters forward, Luke was lucky that he instinctively grabbed onto Luna’s hand. Being teleported right in front of Hope, the two of them narrowly reached the hallway.

“Get us out of here!”

As for Jack, he grabbed onto the handlebar of the helicopter, and strained his boots against the floor. With the aircraft fastening away from the beast, he closed his eyes.

While everyone held their breaths. Silent, frozen, the wind from the North stopped blowing, leaving only a deafening melody…

—Until a glint of light burdened their peripherals.—

Everyone covering their eyes, even the buildings that they sheltered in failed to block some of the light. As Luke gripped Luna’s hand, she did so in return, and awaited the—

Then came sound.

Then the heat.

Then the flames.

The three entered within the same timespan, and they had no choice but to open. As the blinding light dimmed low, all the soldiers hurdled close to one another, hunkered down from the flames. From up top, and both their right and left, their saving grace was the buildings enclosing them.

But some flames were closer than others.

In no time, Stan’s group took out the last of their blue canisters. Throwing them up high, and to the sides of the buildings, it froze and created a diamond like shield. With absolute zero being their weapon, the flames that tried to break through caressed the ice like tentacles.

“Holy…”

“Let me back you guys up!”

Elizabeth raised both her hands upward, which sprawled black clouds from her palms. Soaring up to the edge of the two buildings, the ice that blocked the caressing flames soon mixed with the clouds. As they melded and formed, it unleashed a protective layer of mist, mist that was garnished in ice.

Because mist is water, and clouds are mist.

“Is it going to…”

But the wall nearest the flames, or rather the building, was on its last hinges.

Turning their eyes to the wall, they saw it glow a bright red. Looking like the bricks were about to melt, the flames from above continued to be held back by her frozen clouds. With no way to protect them from the incoming heat…

“I—”

—A blue shield surrounded everyone.—

Casting a dome around them, it stretched from one end of the alley to another. Having a needle stabbed within his arm, it looked like Hope had pulled the same trick during the bar holdout.

Keeping his breath from faltering, he placed his right knee on the ground. Unable to take in his surroundings, it was like he was possessed, as red harbored every vein across his scleras.

Blood riveting down his nose, and even his eyes, he looked like he might faint from overuse.

“I got you Miles.”

Using all of her strength, Hope’s sweat lingered down her temples. Both of them working together, Miles had his shield held off the flames from the bricks. As the buildings began to crumble, melt under the inferno, he strained his vocals…

Allowing time to flow ever so slowly.

From the youngest to the old, soldiers from all ranges huddled together. Above and in front, all of them didn’t allow the heat to force their eyes open. Feeling like the world might fall apart, all of them returned back to a time where it was … peaceful …

The memories began to flood.

Luke remembered them all. The many times he stayed up late with Jack, the many times he got lectured by Jenny. Or the many times he helped out Miles, or the times where Miles snuck in soda without David’s permission. From the times where Luna forced him to bring her donuts, to the many times she walked by his side. The times where Hope would be jealous. The times where Luna would be angry. The times where Benn would hover around. The many times—

To him, they were the family he never had.

From the moment he left that penthouse, the moment that day happened, everyone was robbed off of him. But at last, one person brought him a miracle, the miracle of giving him his second wind.

A wind to soar with boots, a wind to travel and guide, if he was twelve years old, he already dubbed his goal finished. But he wasn’t finished. No …

It felt like the prologue was at its end.

Would he soar to the heavens? Soar to the pendulum of stars? If so, then how far would he go?

[I want to be a soldier.]

—Thank you Gwen…

Time flowed to the present.

With only three people holding down the fort, Miles, Elizabeth, and Hope gave it their all. Their bodies straining from the excess strength, the excess stamina that they had in reserves, they felt red lingering their eyelids.

As some of them opened their eyes, one few particular men glanced up at the buildings. The heat and wind winning the battle, the industrial brick from up above…

“Look out!”

—Came down like rain.—

Similar to the beginning, Luke, Stan, and anyone who was in the robotics club widened their eyes tenfold. Seeing a barrage of debris rain down, it left them no choice but to shield their eyes.

And cover their faces with their arms. Cradling themselves, the memories that flashed from that hellish day resurfaced like jumpscares. With his vision fluttering away like a TV screen, he could only hear the faintness of words…

“Hey…”

Feminine yet strong. Strong yet feminine. That was a way to describe—

“I’m sorry…”

Amid the howling darkness that brought insanity, someone wrapped themselves around his body. Not wanting to let go, not wanting to ever let go, Luke felt his whole world fade—

To white—and silence.