Kingdom of Hallos, Beswind Execution Grounds, Present day.
The sunset was close to its end, soon the sky would be ingulfed by darkness. Rebecca's breath shuttered as she tried not to think of the role she was given. The role of doing nothing. Erik's plan ran through her mind a final time. First Keilerah would take position on the eastern wall. She would fire the shot that would free the commander. Second, Adulfus would set off a series of explosive clay charges on the eastern wall, creating an exit. Third, Labav, the kasaber woman, would deploy what she called 'Smoke Potions' around the podium to hide their escape alongside the hysteria. Lastly, they were to flee onto Erik's ship on the harbor. That's where Anaria and Roy were currently, it was safer than being here.
"Thank you for your service, Commander," said Ered, snapping Rebecca from her thoughts.
Rebecca's gut churned, a combination of feeling useless and the jeers of the spectators. They knew nothing about the commander, to cheer at his death should have been considered blasphemy. He was brave and caring; she would never allow him to die. You were willing to give your life for ours, Commander. I swear to you, I'll do the same if need be.
Ered sat and looked directly towards the heiress, his posture hunched. "It is done," he said.
If Rebecca didn't know any better, she would have pieced together that Ered was upset. That was an impossibility. If he truly cared, he would had never let this happen. Now it was time for her to take control.
Sara nodded to him. "Yes, it is."
Rebecca's heart thumbed as a guard wrapped the noose around the commander's neck. Once this was over, he would be wanted as a criminal. When would she get to see him again? She imprisoned the thoughts in the back of her mind, that didn't matter, not now. All that mattered was that he would live. Erik, I trust you…please don't let Xeto die…
Ered raised his hand and held it in place for a moment. "Commence." He closed his fist.
Rebecca's heart dropped at the sound of the wooden hatch below Xeto creaking open. She flinched as closed her eyes. She hesitantly opened them to find the scene of a nightmare. Tears bulged under her eyes. No no no…
Xeto dangled from the neck, kicking violently his desperate gasps for air echoed throughout the courtyard.
No! Erik! Please please please don't—
A sniper shot ripped the sky in two, equivalent to thunderclap. The sound of her Arc Radiance spitting fire.
Rebecca woke from her nightmare as the commander fell through the hatch and landed on the dirt. He was alive. Thank you, Erik. She wiped away her tears as a smile formed on her lips.
Spectators were now on their feet looking in all directions in a desperate attempt to find the cause of the thunder while others rushed to escape the dreadful scene.
Another ear-ripping blast echoed through the arena as an explosion reduced a portion of the eastern wall to rubble. A large gaping hole now awaited them with open arms. Dust from the rubble rose into the darkness.
"No!" yelled Sara who was already out of her seat.
Ered pushed up against the edge while pointing down to the podium. "Archers, fire! Don't let the criminal escape!
Rebecca gritted her teeth as she fought the impulse to jump down to the commander. She held Erik's promise close to her chest.
The spectators now ran in all directions, screaming in fear as they stampeded to the nearest exit.
Suddenly a fireless smoke emerged around the podium. Everything was happening as Erik said.
An archer took position beside Ered and fired an arrow to her downed commander.
"No!" she yelled, putting up a hand before she had time to realize what she had said.
The arrow never found its mark as Adulfus stepped in front it and caught inches from the commander. Ice encased the arrow within seconds. Adulfus crushed it like glass then helped Xeto to his feet.
Thick smoke overtook the courtyard, hiding the mercenaries in a blanket of grey clouds.
"Don't let him escape!" yelled Lanace beside her ear. "Men, on them now!" A portion of the guards ran out from the room and into the smoke below.
Rebecca's met eyes Sara's, they were consumed by hatred.
Sara moved towards Ered as she liquified the steel of her shoulder guard. It took the form of a blade.
Rebecca quickly drew her revolver. "King Ered!" She aimed for the heiress but her shot misfired as someone pulled her from behind. She spun around to find Prince Lanace armed with a dagger.
He thrusted for her neck.
Rebecca managed to dodge her death as the sharpened steel only cut her cheek. She quickly took hold of his wrist and landed a hard elbow to his chest, successfully disarming him.
Lanace heaved back as he coughed. He regained his footing. "How dare you touch me, peasant!"
Rebecca flipped the blade in her hand flung it at her assailant. The spinning knife dug into his palm as he attempted to stop it.
Lanace huffed loudly. "Arrrgh! You bitch—I'll kill yo—"
Rebecca fired a shot into his ankle which sent him tumbling down.
"Someone kill her!" His voice was raspy with fear as he cradled his bleeding heel.
A Zuland spearman charged her, his halberd aimed for her abdomen.
Rebecca quickly flipped over the spear and landed firmly before connecting a successful roundhouse kick to the man's face, knocking his helmet off before he fell unconscious. She turned to find Ered quivering on the floor, a small blade burried into his shoulder.
He crawled towards her on all fours. "Please protect me! Captain please!" He clutched to her ankle. "I don't want to die!"
"Get behind me," she ordered.
At the edge of the room came the monstrous growls of kasabers as Kyone engaged in a dance of death of with Sara's Shield, Myn. The kasaber matched Kyone in height but not heft. They both met claws as they barred their fangs at one another.
Rebecca struggled to find a shot to aid the commander.
Kyone forced his combatant back and kicked off a nearby wall, using it to gain height for a claw strike.
The opposing kasaber caught Kyone mid-air with a hug and preformed a successful suplex.
"Keep King Ered safe," said General Taloz who stood ready alongside a wall of Loradel soldiers.
Sara starred daggers into the men. She liquified her remaining armor pieces into four sharp spikes that levitated above her.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you," spat Taloz as his blade grew red hot with flame aura.
The spikes flew forward at breakneck speed. All but one landed effectively in the chests of the unready guards.
Taloz swung and cut through the steel like butter. "That all you have, Princess?" He was the only left standing as he looked back at Rebecca. "Get his highness to safety." He then dashed towards Sara at a surprising speed for a man of his size.
Sara willed her steel back and formed a shield just in time to stop Taloz' strike that would have been otherwise fatal. She was losing ground as she barley managed to keep up with his flurry of attacks.
Rebecca's spirits rose as Sara's expression turned into one of fear. She had never seen Taloz in combat before, though he didn't disappoint. "Finish her, General!" she found herself yelling, before turning to help the whimpering king to his feet. "Get up!"
Ered froze. "I don't want to die," he mumbled.
"You will unless you walk on your own two feet. Now move!" Rebecca would have never imagined she'd ever yell such harsh commands to the King of Loradel.
Taloz now had the princess backed against a wall. "I fought in wars before you even knew which hand to wipe with!" He cut through her final desperate shield, the tip of his blade drawing blood from cut at her gut.
Sara stumbled back in fear, falling flat on her behind. Her steel splattered on the floor as a liquid. "Roxas!" she yelled suddenly.
Roxas? Rebecca's thoughts were interrupted as a cloud of ash formed around the princess. It was just like the one she had seen the day on the water.
Taloz brought his sword down on the heiress but it never made contact as a shadow dashed between the two, launching Taloz' sword across the room. "What in the dual realms?"
A hooded man wearing a dark grey cloak appeared behind Taloz, his blade ready for a preemptive strike.
"General!" Rebecca fired two shots at the newcomer.
The hooded man blocked both bullets with inhuman speed.
Rebecca's grip on her revolver loosened. "That's…not possible."
The hooded figure lifted his head, revealing red-illumined eyes from beneath the darkness of his hood. He wore a steel mask that covered his nose and mouth that was in the shape of a beast's fangs. Glowing red etchings snaked around the jawline. Despite the horrific features, he almost looked familiar.
"Xeto?" she mouthed. It can't be…
"Hello, little puppet," said a voice from her flank.
Rebecca turned to find the witch from the attack on the fleet. Her mind commanded her to move but her body wouldn't comply.
"Lost your voice?" teased the grey, wrinkled woman.
Another cloud of ash form behind the witch, it took the shape of a massive being.
Rebecca's body trembled at the sight. The executioner demon that had attacked her and Xeto at the inn was now standing before her.
Its massive body cast a long shadow nearly overtook the room as it stood as still as a statue. A single red eye peaked through the hole in the hood as its rotting gums and teeth made it look as if it was smiling.
Another observation of the room revealed that Rebecca and Taloz were the only ones left standing.
Kyone lay sprawled on the floor with blood in his fur, Myn's heavy knee rested against the commander's neck.
Xeto's dreadful doppelganger walked towards her as he unsheathed a second sword from under his cloak.
Rebecca fired another shot as she felt Ered's hand land on her ankle.
The demon of a man blocked it with ease.
Taloz spun around. "Get away from her!" He wrapped his burly arms around the man's neck from behind. "I'm gonna break your neck like a—" He groaned loudly over the sound of tearing flesh.
Sara was back on her feet as she drove a liquid blade into Taloz' back until it emerged from his chest.
"Taloz!" yelled Rebecca so loud that it stung her throat. The scene caused her stomach to cramp, abhorrence in her chest.
The general fell to his knees as blood seeped through his clenched teeth. "I'm…s—" he wheezed, before his body fell flat against the floor.
No! This can't be happening! It can't…
Sara panted loudly. "Your time has ended, General."
Fury consumed Rebecca as it took over her next actions. Within a half second, she aimed for Sara and fired. The bullet whizzed past the hooded man and landed successfully.
Sara stumbled back, catching herself against the wall. A geyser of blood spurted out from a wound at the center of her right shoulder.
Damn it! I missed her heart! Rebecca reached for her second revolver. A loud growl boomed in her ears. Before she had a chance to react, she was lifted from the ground, gasping for air as Sara's kasaber slowly crushed her neck. She tried lifting her revolver but was slammed against the hard floor. The impact shot a wave of pain down her spine. Disoriented, she attempted to lift her revolver once more as the kasaber's claws began piercing her skin. She felt his other hand overpower her, twisting her arm further back. He's going to— Her body prepared itself for what was coming. It wasn't enough, she heard it before she felt it, the sound of her bones snapping as her arm bent past her joint. Blood thumped in her ears, joined by her own shrieks that reverberated across the room. The agony knew no end as it sent unbearable waves of pain up to her shoulder, neck and spine. This was the end, there was no returning from this.
"…don't kill her just…" said a voice. Was it the witch? All the of surrounding sounds were muffled and disoriented.
Darkness began to overtake Rebecca's vison as she was lifted by the neck once more. I'm sorry, Commander…
"Ered is—don't let him esca—" said a voice, before everything went black.