“Damn, we’re now enemies on both sides.”

Trisha kept looking to where Questria had disappeared to. Within the smog numerous lights flashed.

“Don’t worry. Xe’s an expert when it comes to taking down enemies in the dark. That’s hirs..”

“Ivan!”

“Shit!”

The ground quacked.

Trisha’s ears buzzed. She felt her body shake as Ivan quickly leapt away. An explosion occurred right beside them.

RRAAWWWWWWRR!!!

Ding!

The ground rumbled.

In a daze, she gazed up to see two colours melting into a firework.

The two powerhouses were fighting so close to them.

A scintillate from The Seraph’s halberd.

Signaling the release of dozens of projectiles which wove into incalculable patterns at random, some of them headed in their direction.

Ivan shifted Trisha to a hug.

He contrived his integration– the drones converged together into one large shield. Tech circles formed from the central core, expanding outwards.

Ivan pulled Trisha close o his chest.

Light expanded. The impact shook the ground and a thunderous roar blared. The shield took the full brunt of the attack.

Everything felt so light. Limbs weak, lungs airy.

Trisha was just.. blank. Her body pressed against his, this pleasant warmth.

How familiar.

It’s just like back then.

Even though she had grown so strong.. in the end..

He was still the one to protect her.

The stream of projectiles ended. Smoke rising from the ground, creating a vile molten smell Numerous indents riddle across the pavers.

“Are you alright?” Ivan quickly examined Trisha.

The angel nodded blankly.

He wiped the tears away from her eyes.

GGGRRAAWWWW!!

Ding.

“They’re getting closer. We need to move.”

“Um.. Ivan.. I can.. walk.”

Trihsa knew she was holding him down. If he didn’t need to carry her then.. it would be less taxing on him.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Her legs wobbly, Trisha tried to stand.

“You’re not okay.”

The way he sees it, she’d only be able to limp, not run.

The shield broke apart and returned to being miniature flying shield drones. They shifted around to provide the best protective coverage.

It wasn’t just Trisha that has grown the past year.

“You should’ve taken another route!” Questria who was rushing towards them shouted.

“Hey well.. I didn’t know that chaos would fall on us.”

“We need to get out of here before...”

GGRRWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.

BOOM!!

“Ah!?! These fucking..”

The Rakshasa which The Seraph threw down from the air landed a couple hundred meters in front of them. Some of the frozen human statues crumbled.

An unusual red cloud of dust began to spread across the battlefield.

“Not good.”

Demons had no issue with this. But to angels, this red fog was poison.

“This way!”

“No wai..”

Ding.

Both Ivan and Questria staggered. Trisha fell from Ivan.

A heavy pressure bore down on them.

“Fuck. We’re sandwiched.”

“Get up, get up! Trisha, don’t let the smoke touch you. Run to The Boundary, we’ll catch up!”

The Seraphs use an unexplained pressure to incapacitate demons.

The Rakshasas used poison gas to disable angels.

The red fog was closing in.

Questria tried to support Ivan.

“No. I..”

Ding.

The Seraph brandished its halberd.

Trisha couldn’t even walk properly. Even if she wanted to run.. she couldn’t

The Seraph glanced at the two demons. The pressure on them increased. Ivan and Questria fell flat to the ground, groaning.

But..

Trisha gritted her teeth. Against the pain from her minimal erosion value, she stood in between them. As an angel, she was unaffected by the divine pressure.

In her heart she pleaded.

Don’t kill them.

The Seraph pointed the tip of the weapon at them.

“I won’t go...”

If they were going to die. They should just die together.

Her choice.

She regretted it.

Why did she leave Ivan back then?

Angel, demon, or neither. In the end, everyone is a human.

“Don’t be..”

“Sorry dear.”

“I thought we’d be able to start over.. haa.. Trisha.”

Why did she even reject him?

“I still love you.”

JIIIIIIIIIIIIII..

As if respecting their last moments, light very slowly condensed at the tip. Time slowed, everything dragged.

“I-I feel.. the same.”

Trisha regretted everything.

Regretted not being able to see things clearly. Regretted her naivety. Regretted leaving his hands because of a mere astral death.

“If we somehow remember each other after this situation..”

“Let’s start a family together, alright?” Questria interrupted.

Trisha nodded.

She closed her eyes and allowed the tears to run down her cheeks.

[“I’m sorry everyone.”]

To her fleet that had supported her till now. She could only apologize for her weakness.

A white beam gushed out from the tip and tore through the air.

The burst of light disappeared as soon as it appeared.

Actually, it would be better to say that the light got eaten away.

A black arc had swept forth from an unknown direction. So fast that one could only catch the glimpse of lightning in its wake.

“Huh?”

{EROSION VALUE: MODERATE}

Trisha opened her eyes. A pair of golden eyes stared back at her, sending chills down her spine.

RRRRRAAAAAAAKKKKKKKHHHH.

The Rakshasa jumped out of the rubble and brandished its dual cutlass. It charged towards The Seraph.

Halos gently swayed, The Seraph stretched out its hands and formed a circle of light. Dozens of homing lasers exploded forth.

“Move already!!”

Avner shouted.

===

dotturndot: Ah yes– cliche protag saves the day, GO! (Just so you remember, Avner has red eyes hm.. unless you saw that illustration then well.. hm..) The drama– cries*