Ashe stood there, mentally ensnared in Cassius's world of darkness, haunted by the memory of the blade slicing through him in half in that shadowy realm and endless loop of fighting with Cassius.
Just as Cassius prepared to decapitate Ashe, a brilliant blue energy bullet surged toward him.
"Her," he thought casually, his instincts kicking in as he pulled out his sword, engulfed in swirling blue energy. With a swift, precise motion, he sliced the bullet in half.
A thunderous explosion erupted from the collision, sending shockwaves through the air. Amid the chaos, Cassius caught sight of Helion, who was seizing the opportunity to grab Ashe from his clutches.
Before Cassius could react, Helion fired a red bullet of energy aimed directly at him.
Helion's focus sharpened when he heard Dusk's icy yet calm voice behind him. "Where are you going?"
With a quick, instinctual turn, Helion blocked Dusk's sword with his pistol, the clash sending a gust of wind rushing past him, rattling his bones.
"Need to retreat!" he thought, urgency flooding his senses as the tide of battle shifted against them.
"Hey, Tinia, I need your red hole to transport Ashe to headquarters," Helion communicated urgently through his Nero-link, knowing only Tinia could hear him.
At that moment, Tinia received a message from her mini chip companion, Sia.
"Roger that!" she thought, feeling a surge of determination. Sia quickly transmitted the command back to Helion's chip companion, Xander, ready to assist.
Tinia's heart raced as she watched Captain Helion engage in a fierce battle with Dusk, taking hit after hit while desperately trying to protect Ashe, who lay unconscious nearby.
She took a deep breath, her pulse pounding in her ears as she fired another round at Cassius, each shot a desperate attempt to distract him. To her dismay, he merely deflected the bullets with an effortless flick of his wrist, his expression betraying nothing but boredom.
Suddenly, Captain Cassia surged toward her, seizing her arm and yanking her away from Cassius with a speed that left Tinia breathless.
As they retreated, Tinia noticed Nightfall standing aloof, a cold glimmer in her eyes, seemingly unconcerned with the chaos unfolding around them.
Just as Tinia began to process the whirlwind of events, her eyes widened in shock. A terrifying gust of wind rushed past her, swirling violently and creating a sense of dread.
"Second Captain Archer!" she exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face as excitement bubbled within her.
Archer swooped in, effortlessly snatching Ace from Cassius's grasp.
"That's why I told him to join my squad," Archer said coolly, his tone laced with confidence.
He landed behind Cassius, the air around them thick with tension as their suit armors touched, a subtle reminder of their proximity.
"Go on Helion! what's going on with Ashe?" Archer asked, his voice calm and unflinching despite the danger looming just behind him.
"The number four guy seems to have done something to him," Helion replied, exchanging glances with Dusk as they sized up the situation.
Archer scanned the battlefield, his sharp gaze locking onto the three Eclipse members encircling him. Cassius turned, a calculating look in his eyes, while Nightfall materialized at his side, her expression a mask of barely contained fury. Dusk stood next to them, his anger palpable in the tense air.
"So, you're the guy who killed Range, huh?" Dusk snarled, his voice low and dangerous, each word dripping with barely restrained wrath.
"And?" Archer replied, his tone icy.
He activated his blue energy shield, a shimmering barrier that enveloped his body in a protective glow. He stood firm, unwavering, as he faced the three opponents.
"Anyway, I'm just here to say hello and deliver a little message." His voice was steady, cutting through the tension like a knife.
He let his gaze linger on each of them, his expression hardening. "If your organization wants war with us, then come at us with your full might. We will never surrender the S-1 or Ace."
The air crackled with intensity as Archer's words hung in the space between them.
"So consider your plans ruined. We believe in the freedom of the individual and the collective. If you don't back off from pursuing our members, you'll only escalate this conflict."
Archer's stance remained unwavering, his confidence radiating as he continued, "Know this: it's a war between us!"
In a swift motion, Archer's green hole activated, consuming him and Ace in a bright flash of energy.
"Only here for a message, and not fight. So I'll have to reserve myself to when you're all made up your mind for death!"
Archer says coldly, the light faded, and he vanished from sight. Helion, meanwhile, was seen helping Ashe into Tinia's red hole.
As Archer, Ace, and the rest disappeared in a flash of energy, Dusk's fury ignited like wildfire. Dark energy radiated from his suit, swirling around him as he seethed, sweeping across the ground and severing any technological wires in the village outskirts with a crackling hiss. The air grew heavy with tension, charged by his wrath.
"Archer Tyrone!" Dusk's voice thundered, deep and menacing, as he glared into the space where Archer had just stood, his eyes cold and filled with malice.
"Enough!" Nightfall interjected sharply, her gaze icy as she stepped in front of him, trying to quell his anger.
"Besides, we did our very best to capture the two kids," she added, her tone firm but measured.
"Did our best?!" Dusk shot back, his voice laced with contempt as he fixed a glare on Nightfall. "I don't give a damn about those two kids! I'm here to avenge Range's death!"
"If that's the case, then you'll get another chance to confront him," Nightfall replied, her voice calm yet pointed. "After all, you heard what he said, right?"
A smirk crept onto Dusk's lips, the anticipation of their next encounter sending a thrill of adrenaline through him. The thought of facing Archer again stoked the flames of his rage.
"Anyways, let's regroup. The next gathering is tomorrow," Nightfall said, her tone shifting to a more businesslike cadence as she began to walk away.
"I don't give a damn about any of this," Dusk muttered, his voice low and simmering with frustration. "All I need is my monthly paycheck from him." Nightfall glanced back at him, her expression cold and unyielding.