Rubble and debris were strewn about, the ground scorched and smoldering from the intensity of the conflict. The aftermath of a hardcore battle was a grim and haunting scene.
Fallen foot soldier bodies lay scattered like discarded puppets, their lifeless forms a testament to the ferocity of the battle. Some of them were singed and mangled, while others were crushed under the weight of the debris.
Hex was injured and battered, his limbs throbbing with pain, but he had managed to remain on his feet. His hand and leg bore the brunt of the injuries, serving as painful reminders of the fight.
He watched with a mixture of rage and concern as a formidable alien lieutenant callously stepped on Arnold's body, and stood tall menacingly, fueled by the excitement and adrenaline of the after-math battle.
The lieutenant was a terrifying sight, a fearsome opponent who was still standing even after being injured by Hex and Arnold's relentless assault.
Arnold, drenched in sweat, injuries, and blood, had resorted to tapping into his Strength Books of Berserk Art. In his Berserker form, his power was magnified, enabling him to hold his own against one of the alien lieutenants. His body was adorned with numerous cuts and contusions, evidence of the brutal exchange.
One of the lieutenants lay unconscious nearby, a testament to Arnold's Berserker form. The remaining lieutenant, the one who had been stepping on Arnold's body, stood tall and menacing, fueled by its anger and determination.
Hex struggled to keep pace with the frenetic battle unfolding between Arnold and one of the lieutenants. He hadn't unlocked any special skills yet, making it a challenge to intervene effectively.
Hex's strained voice echoed through the chaotic aftermath of the battle as he desperately called out to Arnold, his newfound friend who was being crushed under the alien lieutenant's foot. His injuries throbbed with pain, but his determination remained unwavering.
The alien lieutenant, its towering figure casting a menacing shadow over the fallen Arnold, let out a triumphant laugh that reverberated through the scorched landscape. Its harsh voice cut through the air as it demanded Arnold's name, a cruel taunt laced with sadistic curiosity.
"How long has it been since I last got to fight like this?" The alien lieutenant's tone shifted, a hint of nostalgia tinging its words. Memories of past battles flooded its thoughts, and its posture exuded a sinister aura, relishing the intensity of the conflict.
Hex's voice was laced with anger and frustration as he spat out his warning to the alien lieutenant, "Get your filthy feet off him, you… you… fucker!" The obscenity was sharp in his throat, a testament to his rage. He couldn't tolerate the sight of his friend being crushed under the alien's foot.
The alien lieutenant turned its gaze to Hex, its expression filled with disdain. In its eyes, Hex appeared insignificant, a mere nuisance not even worthy of a proper response. It considered itself superior, a being of immense strength, especially when compared to the injured Arnold.
The alien lieutenant slowly lifted its foot from Arnold's battered form and began advancing menacingly toward Hex.
As it moved, its single bloodshot eye locked onto Hex, and its voice, filled with condescension and pride, reverberated through the chaotic aftermath of the battle.
"How dare you, vermin," it hissed, "talking to me! I am Alexn, one of the Gorgn Nemandi, a lieutenant of this base!" The arrogance in its tone was undeniable as it continued to stride forward.
Each step it took sent vibrations through the ground, causing the rubble beneath its feet to crumble into dust, a testament to the immense strength it possessed.
As the imposing lieutenant, Alexn, closed the distance between himself and Hex, the tension in the air grew thicker. Hex, with his leg and hand injuries, felt a rush of fear and desperation. He struggled to stand, his battered body swaying as he faced Alexn.
With a malevolent grin, Alexn unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick, sending Hex hurtling through the air. Hex crashed violently into a nearby wall, the impact sending shockwaves of pain coursing through his body. Blood trickled from his mouth as he struggled to regain his bearings.
At that moment, Hex's life flashed before his eyes. He remembered the horrific day of the first alien invasion. He had been in the middle of a mundane college class, with the world still untouched by chaos.
As the chaos had unfolded before him, Hex had rushed out of the college, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been greeted by a nightmarish scene of devastation, with people falling like leaves in the autumn wind.
The only thing that had filled his mind at the time was his parents safety.
Hex's mind played cruel tricks on him as he lay on the ground, his vision filled with gruesome images of his parents falling like the victims he had witnessed on that fateful day. Panic and despair threatened to overwhelm him.
But he knew he couldn't succumb to these haunting memories. With a surge of inner strength, he forced his eyes open and sought to clear his mind of the horrifying thoughts. His parents were still out there, somewhere, and he couldn't afford to let his pain and fear cloud his judgment.
Focusing on the menacing figure of Alexn, Hex saw him as an obstacle to overcome, a hurdle to reach his ultimate goal – finding his parents and ensuring their safety. Determination welled up within him, and he refused to let this ordeal break him.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Hex summoned every ounce of his remaining strength and rushed toward Alexn, ignoring the excruciating pain from his injuries.
With a swift, he struck Alexn in the face. But it's a weak punch and to the lieutenant, it was a feeble attempt that only earned Hex a look of disgust.
In retaliation, Alexn swiftly seized Hex by the neck, lifting him into the air with a choking grip. As Hex dangled helplessly, Alexn sneered down at him, his murderous intent unmistakable. "Die, pathetic human," he hissed, determined to end Hex's life.
Hex, barely clinging to consciousness, watched as Arnold from behind Alexn delivered a powerful punch that sent Alexn tumbling to the side.
As a result, Hex was freed from the lieutenant's lethal grip, but it came at the cost of Arnold's last reserves of strength. Arnold, on the ground, managed to convey, "That was my last strength," to Hex, panting heavily.
Meanwhile, amidst the dust and rubble, Alexn, recovering from the attack, grumbled, "Sucker punch..." As he slowly rose to his feet and made his way back toward Hex and Arnold, the tension remained high.
Hex turned to Arnold, who was in no condition to continue fighting, and asked, "Now what?"
"Kill me," Arnold implored with desperation in his eyes, his voice trembling as he saw no other way out. Hex was caught off guard by the request and stammered, "Stop joking, Arnold."
But Arnold's determination was unwavering as he insisted, "This is our last resort. At least you can obtain my skull points."
Hex couldn't accept this as the only option. He pleaded, "Stop, there must be another way. I can't just... I won't."
The looming figure of Alexn drew closer, the situation growing direr with each passing second.
As Alexn drew closer, a hopeless turn of events unfolded. They heard another lieutenant awakening, and to Alexn's astonishment, his comrade wasn't dead. He let out a triumphant laugh as he saw his fellow lieutenant stirring.
In that critical moment, Arnold was engulfed in the overwhelming reality of their dire circumstances. This turn of events defied all expectations. His body battered and spirit resilient, contemplated their situation. He knew that there was no easy way out, and their chances of survival grew slimmer by the second.
Arnold, with a heavy heart, made his decision, resolved to ensure that his friends had a fighting chance, and made a desperate attempt to stand.
He carefully carried Hex to the edge of the hall, ready to jump down. Hex cried out in protest, "Noooo!" as he realized what Arnold intended to do.
In a hushed voice, Arnold whispered to Hex, "Tell Beatrice and Elodie I love them..." Tears welled up in Arnold's eyes as he spoke, Hex tried to stop Arnold's action, but with his injured body, he couldn't even lift a finger.
As they plummeted, Arnold reflected on the sudden changes that had come into his life on the day of the alien invasion. He had been a meek and timid individual who longed for something extraordinary to happen.
The invasion had certainly brought about a significant shift in his life, but the harsh reality was that without unwavering determination, no one could seize the opportunities it presented.
Arnold felt a profound sense of gratitude for the few days he had spent with Beatrice, Elodie, and Hex's team. Those days had been special to him, and he was grateful for the experiences they had shared together.