"Absorption," Twilight whispered, her tone devoid of emotion.
In one smooth motion, Twilight raised her white sword, the blade gleaming against the oncoming attack.
As Layla's beam struck, the sword absorbed it effortlessly, as though it were nothing more than a whisper in the wind. The power vanished into the blade, leaving Layla and Arande in stunned silence.
Layla's heart sank, her rage quickly morphing into disbelief. The raw force of her attack had been swallowed whole, leaving not a trace of the destruction she had intended.
Twilight's icy gaze flickered toward Layla, the faintest hint of amusement in her otherwise emotionless face.
"Is that all?" she asked, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"But, I've got to admit, little girl, you're quite strong," Twilight said, her cold gaze narrowing as she sized up Layla's energy output.
Her suit armor helmet flipped open, revealing piercing blue eyes and sleek black hair. A small, barely noticeable number "3" marked her skin just below her lips, like a dark mole—a stark reminder of her rank and power.
"But," Twilight continued, her voice chilling, "not strong enough to touch me in the slightest."
With a slight, almost dismissive flick of her wrist, Twilight released the beam her sword had absorbed, hurling it back toward Layla and Arande with devastating force.
Layla gritted her teeth, feeling the raw energy pushing back against her counterattack. She could feel Twilight's power in the air, dense and overwhelming, pressing down on her as she fought to hold her ground.
"We're only here for two of your companions," Twilight added, her voice laced with a faint, mocking smile as she watched Layla struggle against the relentless force of the beam.
Layla's hands shook as she desperately summoned all her strength, her beam of energy colliding with Twilight's, trying to match it blow for blow.
But Twilight's power was growing stronger, the force behind her attack intensifying. The blinding light of the beam threatened to consume everything in its path. Layla's heart raced as she realized she couldn't keep this up much longer.
She couldn't abandon her position either—not with the civilians and the entire outskirts village at risk.
"Arande, keep the other one busy!" Layla shouted through gritted teeth, her voice strained with the effort of holding back the beam.
"Understood!" Arande responded, and without hesitation, she dashed toward Nightshade, who was watching Layla's struggle with a cruel, delighted laugh.
As the pressure mounted, Layla's mind raced. She couldn't see Ace or Tomi anywhere—nor could she detect them through her systems.
Panic clawed at her chest. Just as Twilight's beam inched closer, threatening to engulf her and her mecha, Layla's thoughts went to her last resort.
"Titi... I'm sorry, but I'll have to use that." Layla spoke through her mind link, feeling the familiar presence of her AI companion.
"Layla, if you use that, you know what will happen—" Titi's voice echoed in her mind, full of hesitation and concern.
"I know... But I can't let the civilians and the rest of the F2 team die here!" Layla snapped, her tone resolute. The beam grew closer, the searing heat palpable, her mecha creaking under the strain. "Besides, I can't find Ace or Tomi... and those two clowns are toying with us!"
Just as the beam was about to consume her, a sudden force yanked her out of its deadly path. The world around her blurred as she tumbled through the air, her heart pounding in her chest. When she finally regained her senses, she heard a familiar, gruff voice cutting through the chaos.
"Are you okay?" Griggs asked, concern etching his features as he steadied Layla, who still looked shocked.
Layla's gaze shifted, bewildered, toward the battlefield. To her astonishment, the destructive beam that had threatened her moments before was now absorbed, its energy dissipating into the air.
A gust of wind swept through the battlefield, stirring up dust and debris that danced in the light, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Her eyes landed on Arande, held captive by a towering black and silver mecha adorned with six massive wings.
"Tijona?" The name echoed in her mind as she recognized the formidable figure looming over her friend.
"Hey, Layla! Leave them to us," Tijona commanded, her voice cold and authoritative as she fixed her gaze on Twilight and Nightshade, who regarded her with unwavering intensity. Nightshade's lips curled into a smile, her giggles echoing ominously across the battlefield.
"Umm... okay!" Layla replied, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty as Griggs released her.
She turned her attention back to the fight, spotting Jean grappling with Arande's mecha, desperately trying to wrest it away from Tijona. The trio stood defiant against the two Eclipse members, Twilight and Nightshade, who remained unfazed, their confidence radiating like a palpable force.
"Titi!" Layla called out, urgency flooding her voice as she felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She needed to find Tomi and Ace, and fast.
"Activate full-field detection to the smallest detail!" Layla commanded, determination coursing through her veins despite the fear.
"But Layla," Titi warned, concern lacing her tone, "if you do that, you'll feel the side effects afterward. You'll be vulnerable—a burden."
"I know, Titi," Layla said, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. "But I can't let anyone else die!" The image of the innocent boy's terrified face flashed in her mind, a stark reminder of the price of inaction.
The memories crashed over her like a tidal wave—the haunting sight of a man with dark hair lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
The visceral pain of loss resurfaced, threatening to drown her in despair. She fought to regain control, channeling her anguish into resolve.
"That's why I promised Dr. Gina I'd become the first greatest female the greatest fighting forces, will ever produce!" Layla declared, her voice tinged with a mix of determination and emotion as she brought the mecha to a halt.
The weight of her aspirations pressed heavily on her, making it hard to breathe.
"I don't want to see anyone die because of my powerlessness." Her voice quivered, and she fought back tears, the gravity of her words hanging in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.
Just then, Titi's voice broke through her thoughts, a soothing melody amid the chaos.
"You sure have a big heart, Layla. I wish I could help you feel that, but I have my limits when it comes to tapping into your emotions," Titi said, her high-pitched voice laced with warmth as she looked at Layla through the cockpit's interface.
"Since your emotions are so strong when it comes to saving people, let's do it together, Layla!" Titi added, a bright smile lighting up her digital face, her eagerness infectious.
Layla's heart swelled with hope as she heard Titi's encouraging words.
"Alright, Titi! Activate full-field detection," she commanded, determination seeping into her tone like a rising tide.
"Activated, Layla!" Titi responded cheerfully, her voice brimming with enthusiasm as she prepared to expand Layla's search radius.
As the head of Layla's mecha opened, a long antenna extended upward, shimmering in the chaotic light of the battlefield. An electric sensation surged through Layla's brain, a blend of anticipation and anxiety.
She concentrated, feeling the hum of the machine as it reached out, trying to detect the energy signatures of her comrades.
The interface displayed a flurry of readings, but her heart sank as she realized Tijona was engaged in a fierce battle along side Griggs and Jean while Arande's mecha energy system flickered, desperately holding its ground.
"Oh God, please let them be within a 250-mile radius," Layla prayed silently, her heart pounding in her chest.
Panic gripped her as she struggled to find anything related to Tomi, Ace, Zane, or Blaze.
The silence was deafening, amplifying her fear and uncertainty as the stakes continued to rise around her.