What just happened?
As stunned as they were, it all happened too fast. The spot where the Gravity Fall had been was now blazing with fire, the tentacles destroyed by its own action.
Levi scanned the faces of his colleagues; they were all shocked, with the shadow of the flames flickering on them. Paige had cupped her mouth, gasping, while Nate, who was closest to the explosion, was groaning in pain.
"Is..is, is he dead?" Paige asked in between short sniffs.
Jamie rushed to cater to Nate, who seemed to be doing just fine. Similarly, Abby had approached Levi to make sure he was okay. "Is everyone alright?!" Abby asked loudly.
Brody and Box made confirmation sounds as they managed to poise themselves effectively on their feet.
[Even I didn't sense this coming, Levi]
"What are we gonna do now? The jet was our only connection. How are we going to get out of here?" Jamie asked with pure emotions in her voice as she knelt to raise Nate up.
They all stared at themselves, digesting the truth of their current state. "We can't do nothing, and any other creature could attack us now. One could be in the ground like right now," Brody said, flinging himself back to the ground.
Loras had said there weren't any creatures in the outskirts, so how did this come to be? Were they regenerating faster than expected?
"This is all bullshit!" Nate yelled, clenching his hurt elbow. "I said you loosers shouldn't come!"
Abby chuckled, "How do they have anything to do with what happened, Nate?"
"It's not about what happened, but what they could do to help if things go wrong! Right now, they're useless. I advise you, leave 'em here, we'll find our own way back. C'mon, Jamie," Nate said, rounding Jamie by the arm.
"What are you doing? You're thinking about flying you and me out of here? You don't even know your way!" Jamie cut him off.
"Just like I expected, you're planning on abandoning us to die just like the way you did with Komiko," Abby blurted plainly.
There was an awkward silence after Abby's words. They must have carried so much weight and history because Nate looked up at her with hate and anger in his eyes.
"That'll be the last straw Abby," Nate stated with gritted teeth and clenched fists.
"Oh! You haven't seen the last...you double-crosser," Abby hissed, her eyes squinted.
It was clear that Nate had had enough; his eyes glowed golden and his fists gleamed with energy. Jamie tried to hold him back, but Nate quickly thrust himself toward Abby. Abby, who had been anticipating this all along, leaped into the air with sparks in her hands, directing them at Nate, who was struck down.
[Uhmm... What's the issue, now?]
However, that wasn't enough to defeat him. He rocketed into the air, all his anger directed towards Abby. Nate released dangerous golden beams directly at Abby, who was very acrobatic and adept at dodging the deadly attacks.
"I will kill you!" Nate yelled, firing all he had at Abby. Abby was executing a holdback strategy, only attacking when Nate had a clear weak spot.
The rest watched as golden and white sparks bounced and repelled each other up above. Levi, frightened by the sudden change and the battle they were having, was worried that someone could get hurt, and Abby was the likely one. Even amidst all that, he was quite amazed. Now he understood why they were ranked red and golden. Abby fought like a professional, Nate was obviously stronger, but he was letting his anger get the better of him. Levi wondered who this Komiko was, whom they were fighting about.
Nate suddenly caught up with the defensive Abby and punched her hard on the cheek, sending her to the ground in duress. Abby landed hard and tried to get up, but Nate held her down, pinning her two arms.
"Stop it!" Jamie cried with tears in her eyes. "Stop fighting!"
Nate didn't listen, he powered his hand and punched Abby again on the face. Blood quickly exposed.
Levi's face was equally contorted with anger and he started running towards the horrible scene in a bid to save Abby.
He dived, spearing Nate away from Abby as the two of them found themselves tumbling across the ground in the South.
"You—fuckin' loon!" Nate grumbled as the two recovered themselves and he threw a heavy punch at Levi.
Luckily for Levi, the presence of Liaison and Union with his construct can grant it the ability to make sudden quick reflexes with his body. He was able to bend over the swung hand and wrap his own arm around it.
Nate hissed and jerked his head forward, giving Levi a heavy headbutt that neither he nor his construct had expected. Levi dropped to the dusty ground almost immediately with a heavy thud as Nate walked over him to continue his relentless pounding on Abby. "Today's your last day, Abby!" He growled as golden emanated from his hands.
Unlike the others, who stood doing nothing, Levi tried his best. He gripped Nate's boot and held on tightly.
Nate only glared at the measly effort and slowly squatted to meet Levi's gaze. He reached forward and grasped Levi's hand, which was still wrapped around his foot.
Levi started to scream as Nate's golden energy burned his hand, but Nate didn't fail to hold on. "Know your place," he said to Levi, before letting go, leaving Levi's hand to sizzle with vapour as his groan stung the air.
Nate turned around and walked back to the defenceless Abby, leaning over her and resuming his assault.
Nate was going berserk! He kept on going at Abby who laid still with her face covered in blood. The others stood aside, none of them wanting anything to do with Nate. But Jamie was still yelling.
"I said stop it!" She screamed, raising both arms up. Concurrently, Nate stopped—his hands became crooked, his neck bent awkwardly, his body arched to the side, and his tongue stuck out. Levi, from the ground, looked at Jamie with teary eyes as he held his disintegrating hand. It seemed she was controlling him. How?
Nate was raised above the ground, groaning in pain. "I said stop," Jamie said again, her tone now calm, unlike her screaming just before. Her hands twisting, Nate's body obeyed their movement. It was a scary feat.
She suddenly let go, and Nate dropped to the ground. He gave a moan of relief, one that spoke words that he must have been in utmost pain. Indeed, he was in utmost pain!
No time to waste, Levi mustered the strength and rushed to Abby. His hand was hurt so he managed to cup her head into his arm. She let out gentle sounds, trying to breathe and not drown in her blood.
"Fuc'!" Levi cursed as he glanced at the rest. "Why are you guys staring?!"
His eyes darted angrily to Nate, who was groaning on the ground. He glanced at Abby again, and by his assessment, things did not look well.
The rest of the team were still stunned, none of them could move. Loras dead, their hope of survival gone, and now this. Paige was panicking heavily, while Brody was still as a statue. Box was already on the lookout for any oncoming creatures, and Jamie had run away deeper into the south, crying—for who knows what?—Was this the end for them? So quick?
Levi returned his attention to Abby, who was wheezing and gasping for air. She was dying. The injuries were numerous. The shadows cast by the flames played upon them, the gentle wind blowing everyone's hair to the side.
This was not the way to go, Levi thought. At least, not for Abby. Maybe he could die randomly like this, but not Abby. Abby tried to say something, but she could only sputter out blood. Who was this Komiko, worth all this?! Levi cursed out again.
[Levi]