The fire spread rapidly throughout Titan City, with thick smoke rising from the massive hole where the initial explosion had occurred. A single tear rolled down Lando's cheek as he surveyed the devastation. "Oh my god…" Hana covered her mouth, tears also welled up in her eyes.
Bale and Zander exchanged worried looks. "What the hell happened here?" Bale asked Lando, who shook his head in confusion. He turned the Nephalem around mid-air to get a better view of the scene, noticing what appeared to be tiny ants running down the sandy hills below them, due to their high altitude.
As they descended, Lando realized that they were not ants, but Vultures. His eyes widened as he immediately barked orders to Hana. "BLASTER NOW!" She nodded and began firing shot after shot, causing the enemy to fly around chaotically, with blood splattering across the sand and their own people. However, they kept charging, with trucks carrying rocket launchers speeding over towards them.
Thinking quickly, Lando launched the Nephalem towards the front gates and stood in front of it, shouting to the guard. "GET US IN!" The guard quickly opened the gates, allowing Lando to fly inside just as they closed, hearing the war cries of the Vultures in the distance. Lando's voice boomed out of the speakers. "Can you tell me what the fuck happened?"
Lando was met with a grim response. "No, not now. We are getting as many able bodies as we can. Around 60 people died from the explosion, including Zynkara. His status is now deemed dead." Lando's eyes widened in shock and grief.
"He's what…?" The guard frowned. "There is no time to mourn his death, everyone needs you. We need each other." Lando looked at Bale and Zander. "Get out, Hana and I got this." Bale nodded in agreement, and they both got out of the Nephalem. "We will gather everyone that's able to fight." Zander declared, and Lando nodded in appreciation. "Do that, I don't know how much time we have left before they start barging through."
As more guards approached, their guns aimed at the gates, Lando and Hana prepared for the incoming attack. Lando gritted his teeth as he pressed a button, causing the blade from the Nephalem to zoom out. Hana aimed the other Nephalem's arm, the blaster locking onto the gates in preparation for the battle to come. The war cries of the enemy ceased, signaling that they were about to break through.
"Ready?" Lando barked, hearing the trucks stop and begin aiming at the gates. More guards hurriedly sprinted over, rifles at the ready. "The Legend is alive." One guard smiled, hopeful for a victory.
Lando's voice boomed out of the speakers. "Don't be happy yet, we still have to win this." The guards cheered loudly, their confidence boosted. Lando knew that they had more motivation because they were the ones being attacked.
He took a deep breath and glanced at Hana, who looked back at him. "You okay?" She asked. He nodded. "Yeah… I'm just fine." He looked back at the screen and suddenly heard rockets being sent towards the gate.
As the rockets impacted the gates, the two gates blew into pieces, but the large chunks flew at the guards. Hana aimed the Nephalem's blaster and shot the chunks, avoiding severe injuries. Smoke covered where the gates had been, and Lando tensed up as he saw the first visible feet.
"FIRE!" The guards aimed their guns and began firing, the figure fell to the ground, groaning in pain as more Vultures rushed inside, firing back. A guard was instantly shot in the chest and slumped back. "FIGHT!" Lando screamed as the battle got into closer combat. Some guards reacted by pulling out blades similar to Aqua's, and some Vultures did the same.
A guard stabbed a vulture in the neck, blood gushing out as they pulled the blade out and fought another one. Hana quickly aimed the blaster and fired, killing Vultures almost instantly, some were sent flying, their screams echoing.
Lando brought the blade down on a vulture, sinking it into their head and through their torso. He pulled it out and swung at a group of vultures, slicing them in two. He manoeuvred the Nephalem closer to the gates.
More explosions were heard, but they weren't coming from where they were fighting. One of the guards fighting noticed where. "They breached inside!" He pointed at the smoke and shot a vulture in the gut and then the head.
Lando's eyes widened as he swung at more Vultures. They went outside of the gates as rockets were shot towards them. Hana aimed the blaster and began firing at the rockets, exploding them mid-air.
A rocket, however, caught Lando and Hana off guard from far away, sending their Nephalem falling chest-first into the sand. Vultures began toppling over the Nephalem. "FUCK!" Hana screamed as the red alarm blared. "Critical damage!" Azia's robotic voice boomed.
Bale and Zander sprinted down the hallways with their guns at the ready, heading towards the cafeteria. As they neared, they could see the chaos unfolding, with more guards rushing out and explosions echoing. Mara's eyes widened as she caught sight of them, while Cherry smiled in relief. "You guys made it!" she exclaimed, continuing to tend to the burnt. "Zynkara's dead," Bale announced, gripping his gun tightly. Mara froze, staring at Bale in disbelief. "What did you just say?" she asked.
"He was one of the casualties from the fire," Zander explained with a frown. "But Lando and Hana are still alive," Bale added, nodding as everyone cheered. Akura let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God. Where are they now?" she asked the two.
"They're fighting the invasion," Cherry's eyes widened. "An invasion?!" Bale nodded quickly. "I want as many able-bodied people as possible. Cherry, I need you to tend to the wounded. Those who are less injured can help you," he instructed, pointing to those who could still walk. Cherry nodded in agreement. "Got it."
Erik approached them. "What can we do to help?" he asked Bale. "I need some people to accompany Lando and Hana. We'll be fighting the invaders," Bale replied. The speakers blared with an urgent announcement. "THE VULTURES HAVE BROKEN THROUGH ANOTHER HOLE AND ARE NOW INSIDE THE FACILITY!"
"That's why we don't need our Nephalem for this," Bale said, shaking his gun slightly to indicate what he was holding. "How many Nephalem's do you want out there?" Erik asked.
"Your whole team, except for you because Cherry can't, I want with me. You're a skilled gunman," Bale said, snickering as he pulled out his gun. "Never thought you would say that, alcoholic," Erik calmly checked his gun and turned the safety off.
"If I die," Erik turned to face Tot, Jasmine, and Solmon. "We lost our boy Blade a few days ago, this is our time to get our revenge. I want you guys to use your Nephalem to help push back as many as you can. Solmon, I know you can control one by yourself."
A snicker grew on his face. "Ay, ay, Captain." Solmon put his hands behind his back and looked at Jasmine. "Let's kick their asses." Jasmine grinned. "Okay, sounds good to me." Tot looked at Erik and walked over, patting his shoulder. "If some of us don't make it, I want to say," he smiled. "It's been a pleasure meeting all of you, fighting with all of you, laughing, and even crying. I love you all." Erik smiled and hugged Tot, patting his back. "See you later, brother." Tot nodded; they weren't actual brothers, but it was a bond that seemed like they were.
"I love you too," Erik grinned, and some Nephalem users approached Bale. "We will fight by your side till the end." Bale nodded. "Follow me."