(Lincoln!)
He is the first one that crosses his mind, and the last before the blow to his head knocks him unconscious.
(I need to save him!)
This thought jolts his body to wake. The noise and the explosions ring in his ear causing the voices of those around him to muffle. He blinks his eyes out of the stupor until the blurry outlines become clear figures with Birch standing a few feet away from him. Defending him; attacking the ground, and with every swing of his broadsword causes airwaves to ripple, sending waves of enemies into the air.
However, the enemies are relentless as they send wave after wave of soldiers towards his direction.
Birch looks over his shoulder and gives Shinyo the reassuring, warm smile that he normally carries.
"You're up?" he greets Shinyo, "Ready for a fight?" swinging his blade one more time.
Shinyo nods, his crucifix turning into the dark blade that he normally carries around. Taking it as a signal, Birch steps aside to move to another spot that needs his help. As he steps aside, a huge number of enemies flock to him unexpectedly. He regains his balance just in time to send each one of them to their graves.
One slice after another, he demonstrates the same skill that he shows Lincoln, going after the vital spots dealing one stroke kills. He keeps piling up the number of bodies that he sends to the grave, leaving more as he moves forward to the tunnel where he believes Lincoln is.
(I need to reach him)
Wave after wave, Shinyo weathers each one until his legs can barely move; his arms become unable to raise his sword above his waist. He is only relying on the wave's aggressive momentum before he swings his blade until his arms cannot do anymore. Until his legs refuse to carry his weight any longer.
Showing up Lincoln is now backfiring.
Shinyo stops as the exhaustion takes over his body. His head hangs low praying that Lincoln is fine. That he is not dead, but as the blades come for him as the enemies jump at the opportunity, he sees a familiar figure in his narrow field of vision. Her huge gun swinging across her chest, and although she does not have any use for it before, Shinyo can easily recognize who it belongs to.
This gives him a dose of adrenaline that the blades that intend to give him more cuts across his body break, blasting shards through the air. The dark cowl envelopes him once more knocking those who wield them unconscious.
Hovering slightly over the ground, he flies towards Bridget, the tip of his crucifix-looking sword facing forward. Bridget flashes him a smile and starts firing. Some he dodges, some the cowl swallows and shoots them back at her. The maniacal smile grows larger the more her shots are failing to wound him, but this does not plant any fear in her. Instead, it causes an even more maniacal reaction from Bridget; her scarlet hair flying back.
(She's different. More aggressive.)
Shinyo remembers her from the attack where they lost Dirkan. Back then, her calm demeanor and quiet nature strike him as odd.
(This must be her true nature.)
The shots continue to fly at him until he is close enough to land a powerful thrust that is why it catches him off guard how well she manages to dodge him.
(With that big ass gun!)
Shinyo decides that he can go at her one more time, but the dark cowl flickers. He feels its power waning.
(This has never happened before.)
Wishful, he pushes his luck. He takes a step towards Bridget and vanishes, reappearing just in front of her catching her by surprise. She stops pulling the trigger, fear reflecting in her eyes but her smile continues to be maniacal; Joker-like, soft laughter escaping her lips.
(What is wrong with you.)
"I better end you," Shinyo comments, fully aware of the danger that she poses.
"I-if you c-can," she replies, forcing the words out her mouth. The maniacal smile is unending.
"Oh, I will," a stubborn expression in his face. He feels a force tug at his feet, pulling his toes to the ground. Then, the dark cowl flickers, losing its power. Shinyo panics and swings his sword upward trying to reach her face; to mortally wound her. Unfortunately, he ends up only wounding her, but he gets up as soon as he lands trying to chase his prey.
Out of nowhere, as soon as he takes the very first step, his peripheral vision catches a glow before a huge body rams his side. He loses his breath. Every gasp of air is painful.
(Shit! I think I broke my rib. What the hell—)
Surprise contorts his face as he sees the towering, hulking body of Dirkan. His right arm different – cybernetic. Every movement jolts the whirs of the nuts that are constantly spinning to stabilize every joint. His face is expressionless underneath the mask he wears and on his chest is armor with an engraving of the Renegades, a wolf head with its jaws sealed shut by a spear with two circles hovering on both sides of its head, that runs across its face.
Shock is all Shinyo can feel before it turns into pity, then guilt. The tears do not stop falling as he reaches out for him.
Seeing him in the state saps Shinyo of his strength.
"I am sorry," he whispers, "If you can hear me Dirk," his voice now louder, "I AM SORRY!!!"
His silent tears turn into a bawling cry that no one in the field can hear. But he does not have time to grieve as Dirkan takes another swing at him eventually landing a hard fist to his face. This is when he realizes that he must take this seriously and leave any grievances for later.
Shinyo stands up, squares his shoulders, and looks the cybernetic Dirkan in the face.
(Let me try ---)
He balls his fist and his face contorts in concentration, and a small portion of his dark cowl appears around his fist. Faint, but he feels the darkness flow to it.
(Alright.)
He flickers closer to Dirkan and launches a volley feints. When he sees that Dirkan is having a hard time catching up, his reflexes slowing down, he launches a strong right, all the way from the ground, barely missing his chin.
(Oh shit!)
Expecting a heavy counter from Dirkan, Shinyo closes his eyes but nothing comes but a strong, hot breeze from the explosions and sparks. He looks up and Dirkan is unmoving. His stare blank and Shinyo can feel Dirkan's face contorting in pain under the mask as his cybernetic arm flails aimlessly; sparks flying. Then, his body, robot-like, more than just his arm, but he stands like his switch is off.
Sad as he is to see his friend that way, this gives him the reassurance to check on the others.
Birch continues to fend off the waves of enemies that come his way. Shyama handles hers with precision, just like how Shinyo's way of fighting. However, she has the capability to recover her strength incrementally with her unique ability. While the other two are managing well themselves, Viktoria, the lady with a wild look, taking more of a supporting role.
Stephan, surprisingly, is the one to struggle most of all. His swings weakening, and the number of enemies that he has cut is dwindling as he desperately tries to fight off the waves of enemies coming his way erasing the mischievous smile that he always wears.
(Is that fear in his eyes?)
With Lincoln as his priority, Shinyo returns his attention back to Dirkan, who remains still, but trying to move a step but unable to without feeling a sharp pain course through his wiring.
"I'm sorry Dirk," he whispers, their eyes lock, "I have to find Lincoln," and he rushes off towards the tunnel where he hears the maniacal laughter from Bridget still echoing in his ears.
Dirkan pauses. Not a flick in his arm, but a look of wonder is his eyes and stares only stares at Shinyo's back off to save the one he promises to protect.