__________________________________

The scene is marred by a cloud of dust and smoke. A dim light glows from below, originating from runes carved into the asphalt. Rosetta stands in to middle, his gaze casted skywards.

Rosetta: [So they have advanced that far…]

Gibson’s faction has broken ground in developing rune magic. Rosetta recounts the rune magic used against him during the recent encounter.

Rosetta: [Impact dispersion, material hardness, multiform energy extrusion, stealth, electron channeling… Their rune magic has advanced this far…]

Rosetta: “Gibson, you made some troubling allies.”

Rosetta: [The potential of their runes is the biggest threat. But for now, I should deal with the golem user..]

He brushes his hands together before placing them on the runes. The runes move from his palm and up his arm, organizing themselves into layered bands across his forearms. His spell completed, Rosetta sighs, foreseeing the events to come.

Rosetta: [So that person is an intimate golem user…]

Planning his actions to combat the golem user, Rosetta fumes at the consequences of his actions. Keeping the golem user in mind, he mutters an apology,

Rosetta: “It’s going to hurt more than anything. I’m sorry.”

__________________________________

-Ksssssss krak-

The large concrete serpent broke apart into rocks and dusts as its residual mana disperses everywhere. The section that was its head has been heavily gouged out. The heat from that attack melted through the concrete and asphalt, leaving behind a molten mess. The culprit stands before the fallen snake.

Clementine: “Ha.. Ha.. Hagh.. Ha…” [The bastard finally showed his true power.]

Sitting in its cockpit is Clementine, grasping herself while gasping for air.

Clementine: “Demon…”

Knowing that she cannot remain at the scene any longer, she grabs the controls and turns the golem away from the destroyed snake. She sends a signal to Seraph with her mana.

RAG: “Stealth mode initiated.”

-Bznnnnn-

The system responds accordingly. A fuel cell engine powers up and drives the golem forward. The runes on its armor fade into a different pattern of runes. As the runes activate, the entire golem begins to blur into a mist.

Clementine: [I’ve bought some time for now.]

She casts her senses behind her. The giant mass of mana that is Rosetta is still far behind her. Now that she has gained some room for thought, she begins to plan her next course of action. She begins recalling the events that happened prior.

Clementine: [Samael was hit but the runes negated most of the force. Still, his hull is crushed. Ramiel has evaded the Chinese forces for now.]

A slight pang of pain is felt in her chest at the thought of Samael’s damaged hull. Keeping those thoughts in mind, she assessed the damage on Seraph.

Clementine: [Dents and scratches. The runes from the right flank has lost function. And the lightning lance.]

She grimaces as she remembers the state of the weapon when she puts it away. The battle with the concrete snake has damaged it severely. It is still capable as a weapon. However, it will be no match for anything like that snake again.

Clementine: [Samael’s railgun, Seraph’S lance. They work nicely on Rosetta but he will be prepared the next time. Seraph lost his lance but still have guns and missiles. But those aren’t strong enough. What to do?]

She is in distraught. Rosetta must have adjusted to fighting her golems by now. Damage to two of her golems and Seraph without his main weapon. She cannot win this fight. Not against that limitless pool of mana.

Clementine: [Retreat. It’s the most viable option. I’ve confronted Rosetta directly. That fight has yielded plenty of information on him. And I’ve got the mana spheres in Ramiel too..]

She turns on communication to contact Nathan. However, the transmission picked up nothing.

Clementine: ‘Kh..”[Radio silence because we are in Chinese territory. But you are getting some good data, aren’t you, Mr. Gibson?]

She switches to a broadcast channel and sends an encrypted message. A request for a retreat. Nathan and the intelligence team will be responding soon enough.

-Krakooom-

Clementine: “Tch! Of course!”

-Brnnn VRAAAAA-

Regardless of how encrypted the message is, Rosetta will detect the broadcast nonetheless. The mass of mana moves forward at incredible speed. Clementine drops Seraph out of stealth mode and its fuel cell engines roars to life. Bracing for another intense battle, she notes the location of her other golems.

Clementine: [!!!] “No!”

Her focus shifts towards Ramiel. The direction Rosetta is heading is a straight line to it. Clementine pushes Seraph into high gear and speeds towards Ramiel.

Clementine: “DAMN!”

Ramiel currently has contained the mana spheres. With the high energy readings given off by the spheres, Ramiel’s stealth runes can do nothing to hide it. To target Ramiel is an obvious choice. Rosetta can destroy Ramiel and retrieve his spheres or capture Clementine as she moves in to defend it.

-VRRRRnnn-

Clementine: “Shit!”

-BAAM KRAASSSH-

A Chinese armored truck speeds out of the intersection, right into Seraph’s path. Clementine cannot risk avoiding it at Seraph’s current speed so she focuses mana on the runes on the golem’s front flank. The truck glances off Seraph. It swerves away and crashes on its side. The golem speeds on, unfazed or even slowed down by the impact.

Clementine: [Deploy Lightning Lance.]

RAG: “Weapon deployed. Warning, weapon in critical condition.”

-FWOOOM-

The sensors pick up a burst of air. Clementine’s heart jumps. She glances over at Rosetta’s direction. He has made his first move and unleashed an attack on Ramiel upon a clear sight of it.

-FtTHOOOM-

Clementine: “Damn!”

The attack shook the ground. The cockpit jolts and Clementine immediately pings for Ramiel’s condition. A narrow miss from a great distance.

Clementine: [Ramiel, reposition your retreat.]

RAG: “Acknowledged”

Ramiel’s ping shifts direction and the massive mana shifts its direction in turn. Within the next few seconds, Clementine’s path will intersect with Rosetta’s. She pushes Seraph’s engines to the limit.

Clementine: “Fuuh..”

She closes her eyes and lets out her breath. Opening her eyes once more, she arms the Lightning Lance and braces herself.

-Dooom-

In an instant, Clementine feels like she has entered a different dimensional plane. Time feels slow and dilated. Everything seems to fade out of existence, leaving a black void. Right in front of her is Rosetta. His black figure is almost invisible with the black void around him, a sharp contrast to the white bleached skull on his head.

-FnnZZZZ KRAKAKA-

The mangled form of the Lighting Lance lights up with streams of electricity. Her weapon armed and ready, Clementine bears straight at her enemy. Despite her instinct to check the surroundings of the strange dimensional plane she is in, she keeps her sight squared on the magician. Seraph thrust the lance forward, straight at Rosetta’s chest.

Rosetta: “Well done.”

-BAAAM-

Clementine: “Gu-HEK!”

Seraph strikes Rosetta at full speed. Upon impact, the dimensional plane jolts back to reality. Unexpectedly, the large golem, with its immense weight and size going at an incredible speed, is immediately forced back by Rosetta. Clementine is thrown forward in the cockpit. The runes on her pilot suit activated and nullify the inertial force in her body, sparing her from crushing forces.

Clementine: [To force Seraph back.. Just how much mass does he have?!]

She checks on Seraph’s condition. The miraculous runes have managed to keep the golem safe. Even its weapon arm, which has taken a significant portion of the impact, has not broken off.

-BAM KRSHSHSH-

Seraph’s weapon on the other hand, is pinned down under Rosetta’s arm. Streams of electricity jumps from the weapon to his body and yet the magician is unfazed. The light from the sparks illuminate his body and black runes can be faintly seem. Clementine recognizes these runes. They are the exact copy of the runes that lined her golems’ armor plating.

Rosetta: “Golem user.”

Clementine: “!”

Rosetta: “Please surrender immediately. I promise that removing your magic will be painless.”

Clementine: “Kh!”

-Vnnn Dakoom Dakoom Dakoom-

Seraph’s machine guns take aim at Rosetta and fire. The magician twists the Lightning Lance downwards to force their aim off the ram’s skull on his head.

Rosetta: “If you intend to resist, then be prepared for the pain of losing your golems!”

-BAM-

Clementine: “Damn!”

There goes the Lightning Lance. Rosetta chops it with his free hand and bent the weapon in half. Clementine quickly disconnects the weapon and retreat backwards. Next, the weapon canisters on the sides of the golem open.

-Fshfshfshfshfsh-

She fires her entire missile payload at Rosetta. The magician braces as the swarm of missiles strike him directly.

-BAAM KABOOM –

With her enemy briefly distracted, Clementine seizes this chance to escape. Slamming the engines into turbo, she drives Seraph away from the scene.

-VRRRAAAA-

Rosetta: “You again.”

Rosetta turns to face Samael who just appeared around the corner. Its railgun, charged and ready, takes aim at him and fires.

-BAASHZOOO-

Rosetta raises his arm to intercept the railgun’s projectile. A futile effort because the projectile tears the arm apart like paper.

Rosetta: “Ku-AGH!”

-FtBAM-

It strikes Rosetta’s side, goes through him and buries itself deep into the pavement. A huge hole is punched through Rosetta’s body, but it is a significant improvement from having his body blown to shreds. The mana spheres are scattered once more. However…

-VRRRNN VRRR-

The golem that was once persistent in attacking Rosetta is now speeding away in retreat. Noticing the shift in his enemy paradigm, Rosetta foregoes retrieving his fallen mana and starts the counter attack.

-VRRNNN-

Samael’s tires lost their traction and the golem flies toppling in the air. It flares up its jet engines but is swiftly caught by Rosetta’s enlarged arm.

Rosetta: “Like I’d let you go!”

He swings Samael overhead, smashing the golem against the road with all his strength.

__________________________________

Clementine: “Kh!”

-Booom-

She flinches just before the sound of the impact can reach here. Feeling the damage done to Samael as it happens, she feels nudged to a corner. Rosetta is more than she can handle. Fearing the loss of her golems, Clementine’s heart fell into prayer for a moment.

-Poon-

Clementine: “Nathan!”

She brightens up for her salvation has come.

Nathan: “I received your emergency broadcast signal! What is your emergency?!”

Clementine: “Yes, I called for a retreat! Give me a confirmation!”

Nathan: “…”

There is a short pause. In an instant, her feelings of relief swells up into fear and disbelief. Before he can say anything, Clementine desperately scrambles for a plea.

Clementine: “I am in no condition to engage Rosetta any further! My weapon options are depleted! Any of my current attacks does not faze him! I need to retreat now!”

Nathan: “We’ve received your request. But orders are passed down to continue the-“

Clementine: “I’ve collected plenty of important data on Rosetta! I’ve engaged Rosetta without restraint. I’ve also acquired plenty of those mana spheres! I’ve done my mission!”

Nathan: “It’s a direct order from Agent Gibson!”

Clementine: “My golems are getting killed out there! I’m not marching them to death! I’m withdrawing! Court martial me for all I care!”

Nathan: “Wait! I’ll-“

Nathan’s transmission is suddenly cut off. In its place, Clementine can hear the chatter of the control room back in America. Sensing danger, she quickly reaches out to stop the transmission.

“Clementine Greeves.”

Too late. Her hand freezes at the mention of her name said by her commanding officer, Jeroth Gibson.

Jeroth: “This is a direct order. Stand your ground and engage the enemy Rosetta.”

Clementine: [I can’t..]

She could not respond. All of her anger and desperation to withdraw her golems disappeared almost immediately. Gibson’s words become vivid in her mind, as if clamping down and not letting go.

Jeroth: “The Fire Lance will be dispatched to your location. I order you to utilize it when the situation calls for it. Engage with the mission objectives in mind. Use everything you got.”

Devon: “Gibson! What are you-“

The transmission cuts off abruptly. The cockpit is silent and the pilot sits frozen in her seat.

Nathan: “Miss Greeves. Here are the schematics for Fire Lance. I…”

Nathan’s last sentence trails off and the transmission ended. A window appeared on the screen detailing the operation of the Fire Lance.

Clementine: “Gh.. E-eh?”

Her eyes widens in shock as she reads Fire Lance’s description. She forces her reaction but can only choke on her tongue. Protesting will go against her mission. Gibson will not allow that. Her eyes shake in place.

Clementine: “Ghnnngh.”

Her hands reach forward to grip her controls. Tears drips down as she closes her eyes and clenches her teeth. The muscles in her arms tense as she tries to pull them back to no avail.

Clementine: [At least.. At least Ramiel.]

With her last dregs of concentration, she presents a reason for Ramiel’s retreat. As she did so, the grip on her mind eases.

Clementine: [That’s right. Ramiel have the mana spheres stored within itself. Securing the spheres means that Ramiel gets to escape from Rosetta’s reach as well.]

-Gachak Gachak-

Ramiel disengages all of its missile attachments. With the lost weight, it can escape further at a greater speed. Assured of Ramiel’s safety, Clementine sends her last command to it.

-VRRRRAAAA-

The golem speeds off away from Seraph in the direction out of the city. Clementine looks at the distant glow of its engines before facing her, no, Jeroth Gibson’s objective: full confrontation against the magician Rosetta. Seraphs picks up the missile attachments and connects them to Lightning Lance’s housing.

RAG: “Connection established to missile armament. Recalibrating systems for missile targeting.”

-VRRRRAAAA-

Clementine grabs the controls with all her strength and smashes them forward. Seraph roars it engines and speeds off in the direction of the monstrous mana convulsing in the streets.

__________________________________

Rosetta: “Your accursed armor!”

-BAM BAM BAM BAM-

Each blow sounds like an explosion. The ground tremors as Rosetta’s enlarge fist descends on Samael’s armored hull.

-fsshBOOOm-

Rosetta: “Gah!”

A missile struck Rosetta on his side. The explosion knocks him off Samael, his arms swaying around to keep balance. Samael’s sight of the magician stumbling is relayed to Clementine.

Clementine: [Samael…]

There. The time Rosetta recollects himself after the missile strike. That is the window where Samael can escape. Clementine twists her face in anguish as her order to Samael to retreat could not form into words and a different order is given instead.

Clementine: [Charge the railgun.]

As Samael staggers out of the road it has sunk in, Rosetta is recollecting his spheres that broke off from his blown side. Seething with anger, he casts his senses towards the missile’s origin.

Rosetta: [You are too far away…]

It was too far away to perform an accurate missile strike.

Rosetta: “You. You are one of its ‘eyes’, aren’t you?”

He stares down at Samael. The golem, free from the road’s restraints, stand its ground, ready for battle.

-fssssh-

Rosetta swings his arm at the incoming missile. His hand expands into giant claws that close in on the missile. And with his other arm…

-KABOOOM-

-BAASHZOOO-

Rosetta: “Kh!”

Shortly after Rosetta’s claws crush the missile, Samael’s railgun fires at close range. Rosetta manages to shield himself against the projectile with his other arm. This time, his runes has proved useful. The projectile shaves a thick layer off his arm but it misses his body entirely.

-fssssh-

Rosetta: “Damn!”

-KaBOOOM-

Another missile slips by Rosetta’s claws, strikes his body an explodes. A few black spheres fly out from the cloud of debris and smoke, scattering on the road. Exasperated, the magician lunges at the retreating Samael.

-BAM-

-BAASHZOOO-

Rosetta’s claws clench down on the golem. In response, Samael points its railgun upwards and fires. The enlarged palm is nearly blown off completely. Rosetta’s claws and what remains of his hands transforms to a more streamline form of rope-like restraints.

-KRSSH-

Plunging his feet into the concrete, Rosetta swings his arm overhead, whipping the golem off the ground.

Rosetta: “Get out of here!!”

With another whip motion, he flings it into a distant building. As he is doing so, another missile sneaks up from his side and explodes.

-KaBOOONM-

-BOOOMKRSSSSH-

Rosetta: “Argh!”

Clementine: “Kh!”

Her view from Samael spins around as her golem is tumbling through the walls and onto the street. Not letting another missile strike on him, Rosetta leaps through the building that he flung the golem through. Landing before the toppled golem, two concentric circles of runes glows on his back.

Rosetta: “My turn.”

Two long limbs emerge from the back of Rosetta’s shoulders. Looking similar to feelers, the limbs extend themselves straight and stiffen.

-BZZnnn-

A ripple of static can be felt in the air. The air feels electrified but it seems to be more than that. On Clementine’s side, she breaks her solemn silence.

Clementine: “!!!” [I lost Samael!]

RAG: “Hostile EMP deployed. Anti-tamper runes active at thirty seven percent capacity. Communication with other units lost.”

Clementine focuses with her mind’s eye. Pooling her mana to her senses, she calls out to Samael. No response.

Clementine: [My mana connection is severed!] “What’s going on?!”

Her thoughts wander towards an energy detonation. If Rosetta released an energy explosion, the mana will still linger and may interfere with her connection with Samael. Clementine quickly sends a connection request through Seraph.

RAG: “Hostile EMP is still deployed.”

Clementine: [No! Samael!]

Her guess is completely wrong. Panic begins to grip her heart. Her golem is now placed in a dire situation against the magician. With much anguish, Clementine directs Seraph once more to enter the fray.

-BZZnnn-

Rosetta’s feelers hum and vibrate in place. Samael realigns itself upright and bares its guns at Rosetta.

-Brrrr Dakkoom Dakkoom Dakkoom-

Rosetta: “Huu..”

He raises his hand to protect the ram skull on his head once more. He continues his approach as the bullets pelts his body.

Rosetta: “To still be able to fight even after you are severed from your master. You have formed a close bond, huh? I’m sorry for what happens next.”

-BAAMKRSSS-

Rosetta swings his other arm which enlarges into another large claw. It smashes Samael and locks the golem in its grip.

-KKRSSKK-

The grip of his claws has not let up. Samael’s armor plates begin to buckle and warp under the increasing pressure. And as if it could not take it anymore, the runes that line the golem’s armor begins to fade.

Rosetta: “Hmph!”

-BSSHKRSSH.

Seizing the advantage, Rosetta releases a second set of giant claws with his other hand. He sinks his claws into the golem’s frame and lifts it up in the air

-BAAM BAAM BAAM-

He begins bashing the golem against the road repeatedly. Each time, the sharp claws sink deeper into its frame until..

Rosetta: “GRRAAA!!”

-KRASSSZZZKSH-

When his claws is sunken deep enough, Rosetta forces his full strength on his claws and pry the golem apart. The metal alloy frame squeals as it warps and bends. The golem is torn open. Its cockpit, engine and electronics. All of it exposed.

Rosetta: “Fuhaa..”

-KRASH-

Dropping the mangled golem aside, Rosetta looks towards the side of the road.

-KRASHKRSHKRSH KRAKZZ-

He digs his claws into the side road and pulls out the main power lines underneath. Sparks of electricity fly out from the ripped cable. The streets. The buildings. The parks. All the light sources in the area turns off leaving a few city blocks in darkness.

-FWSSSSSH-

A dim glow illuminate the area in front of Samael. The light’s source, the metal cables of the power line heated to the point they glow and begin to liquefy.

-KRSHKRSHKRSH-

Rosetta pulls more of the cable out of the concrete. Using his claw, he shapes the melting metal. He pulls and stretch metal before flattening the tip into an rough edge. He breaks of his creation from the power line and raises a glowing makeshift lance.

Rosetta: “You will be destroyed here, golem.”

He approaches Samael, weapon in hand. The golem struggles and stumbles in retreat. In response, the magician stomps on one of its limbs, locking his escape.

-Bzzznnnnshuuu-

The feeler like limbs on Rosetta stops their humming and relaxes. The electrified feel from the air dissipates. It seems the magician has released his spell.

Rosetta: “Call out to your master.”

With his spell no longer active and interfering with transmission, a connection through mana between Samael and Clementine is established.

Clementine: “Eh?”

Upon receiving Samael’s connection, Clementine feels a surge of relief. However, her relief is cut short almost immediately as she discovers her golem’s mangled state.

Rosetta: “Rest in peace.”

-BAMKRRSSSHZ-

Before she can properly respond, Rosetta plunges his lance into Samael. Violently twisting and turning, he makes sure that the weapon tears the golems through and through.

-FWOOooOOoo-

A large pulse of mana erupts from within Samael. The intensity fluctuates randomly before dying down to a still silence.

Clementine: “Hagh!”

She clutches her chest. The pulse has passed by and her heart feels like it has been punched.

Clementine: “.. Samael?”

RAG: “Samael unit lost.”

The pain from her heart blooms and spreads across her back. Tears flow from her eyes once more. She quickly clutches her side and keels over stuttering.

Clementine: “Aaaa.. AAaa.. AaAaAAAAA!!!”

Her stuttering turns into an all-out scream. Gripping her sides with all her strength, her gut stings with pain. Her diaphragm has pushed all the air out of her lungs. Tears flowing out of her bulging eyes. Drool dripping from her mouth as she tries to scream with her empty lungs.

Clementine: “HIIGH!!! HAGH! GAaaAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

Rosetta is unfazed. Releasing his grip on his crude weapon, he steps back and solemnly watches the motionless and broken golem.

Rosetta: “It truly dies like a living being… I’m sorry.”

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