Meanwhile, Erick and Guion finally reached their destination the last room. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air heavy with the scent of blood and smoke from the battles raging outside. Just before Guion could open the door, Erick placed a firm hand on his shoulder, his expression serious.
"Guion, remember do not engage Pain no matter what," Erick warned, his voice low but urgent. "If you didn't send Rage my way, I'll join you in the fight."
Guion paused, his hand resting on the door handle. He hesitated, turning slightly toward Erick. "I still think you should reconsider this," he said, concern lacing his voice.
Erick shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes. "It's a shame, really. You're the only one with a reasonable plan, but this is something I have to do."
Guion sighed, his brow furrowed with worry. "You may be the strongest of the Big Five, but please, don't charge in blindly," he implored.
With a resigned nod, Guion replied, "What else can I do? I am the blind one, after all." He then pushed open the door and stepped inside, leaving Erick outside.
As Guion entered the room, the tension thickened, and Erick could only watch as the door closed behind him. Outside, the battle continued to rage. The air force kept the creatures at bay, their aerial assaults lighting up the sky. On the ground, the land assault teams closed in from every corner of the city, launching a coordinated attack. Vehicles were parked in strategic positions, lining the streets in endless rows, and the soldiers moved with precision, their resolve unshaken.
While Royer still knelt, catching his breath after his brutal fight, a figure emerged from the only land jet that had touched down nearby. It was Lieutenant Colonel Isabella Centoris, a woman whose presence on the battlefield was as commanding as her reputation. Known as "Vulture" for her deadly accuracy and strategic mind, she was feared and respected by all. Her skill with a rifle was unmatched, and she had a reputation for penetrating even the most advanced bulletproof shields, leaving no enemy standing.
Isabella was strikingly beautiful, tall and blonde with a physique that spoke of strength and discipline. Her long hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, and she wore her military uniform with a professionalism that was as intimidating as it was impressive. As she approached Royer, he sensed her presence even before she spoke.
"What took you so long?" he asked, still kneeling, his voice tinged with exhaustion but laced with warmth.
"I said I'd be here in thirty minutes," Isabella replied, her tone brisk.
"And?" Royer pressed, raising an eyebrow.
"And it hasn't even been twenty," she shot back, a slight smile playing on her lips as she assessed the battlefield. Her smile faded when she noticed the pallor of Royer's face. "What the hell happened here?"
"It's a long story," Royer said, rising to his feet with some difficulty. When Isabella saw his face up close, she frowned, her hand reaching out to touch his cheek.
"What the hell happened to you?" she asked, concern deepening in her voice as her fingers brushed against his ice-cold skin.
"Like I said, it's a long story," Royer repeated, his tone weary.
Isabella's hand moved to his shoulder, her touch gentle but firm. "You've done enough, Royer. The military's here now, and we'll take care of the rest. You don't have to go all out anymore," she said softly, her eyes searching his for any sign of weakness.
But Royer shook his head. "This is unlike anything you've faced before, Isabella. For some reason, I'm able to kill them, and right now, I'm the only one who can."
Isabella listened intently, her expression serious. "If that's true, then we'll need you to keep fighting," she conceded. "But I promise you this the military will do everything in its power to deliver them to you on a silver platter. All you have to do is..."
"Dig in," Royer finished for her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
But then he turned serious again. "Promise me, Isabella. No matter what happens, you won't try to engage a general or help me fight one. No matter how bad things get."
"What? Why?" Isabella demanded, her eyes widening in disbelief. But Royer's expression didn't waver.
"Isabella, promise me. Please," he insisted, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Isabella hesitated, but finally, she sighed and nodded. "Okay, okay, I get it. But who are these generals?"
Before Royer could answer, a massive explosion erupted behind Isabella, far in the distance but powerful enough to shake the ground beneath them. She whirled around, her eyes locking onto a hulking, bird-like figure standing atop two burning jets, its gaze fixed on them with a predatory intensity.
"Those ones," Royer replied grimly.
Isabella turned back to him, determination hardening her features. "They need me up there," she said, her voice steady.
"Be careful," Royer cautioned, his eyes lingering on her.
Just as she was about to leave, Royer stopped her with a question. "Isabella… are you not afraid of me?"
She paused, then gently rubbed her right hand along his bicep, a tender gesture that belied the chaos surrounding them. "You might be the weirdest thing I've ever seen, but God, you look hot," she teased, her lips curling into a smirk.
Royer stared at her, waiting for a real answer, but instead, Isabella leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'm in love with you, silly," she whispered, before turning and heading toward her jet, the Vulture.
As she walked away, she pointed up at the helicopter hovering in the sky. "Is he one of yours? Tell him to go home; he's getting in the way," she called back to Royer before taking off.
When she passed right above him in her jet, Royer couldn't help but smile. "You heard her you're free to go," he said into his comms.
"Copy that," the pilot responded, his voice tinged with relief.
"Can I go home too?" Steve chimed in, half-joking, half-serious.
"Sure, but you're gonna have to walk home," Royer replied, his tone dry.
Steve hesitated, glancing at the battlefield below before responding, "On second thought, I'll stay."
"Good. Now shut up and focus," Royer said, a grin creeping onto his face despite the grim circumstances.