The Assault Begins
The base's alarm blared through the air, a shrill reminder that time was no longer a luxury. Emjay's team scrambled to their positions, weapons ready. Dust and wind swirled as the rumble of approaching enemy forces echoed in the distance.
Emjay stood at the central command table, glancing over the intel on the monitors. "It's a full-scale assault," he said grimly. "We need to split up and cover more ground."
The team nodded, faces hardened with determination. "Kazuki, you're with me," Emjay commanded. "Nami, Yano—you two cover the east flank. Kai, Leon—north perimeter. We can't let them breach the walls."
Kai grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Time for some fun."
Leon sighed but smirked. "Let's not get killed, yeah?"
They bumped fists before heading off in their designated directions.
Group One: Nami and Yano – Steel and Healing
On the east flank, the air was thick with dust and tension. Nami tightened the straps of her gauntlets, the worn leather molding to her hands, while Yano adjusted her medical kit. "Stick close," Nami said, scanning the terrain. "You heal—I break."
Yano took a steadying breath. "Just don't get reckless."
Within moments, enemy soldiers emerged from the treeline, shouting orders as they advanced. Nami dashed forward, fists colliding with the first wave. Her strikes were brutal but precise—bone-cracking punches, quick jabs to vital points. Blood sprayed as enemies collapsed in her wake.
Yano crouched behind a makeshift barricade, her fingers glowing faintly as she healed a fallen ally. "Nami, left!" she called.
Without missing a beat, Nami pivoted, elbowing an attacker before delivering a devastating uppercut. "Thanks, doc!" she shouted.
Yano grumbled, focusing on a soldier's gashed arm. "You enjoy this too much."
"Someone's gotta make this interesting," Nami quipped, ducking under a blade swipe and retaliating with a roundhouse kick.
As the fight dragged on, the enemy began coordinating—firing from elevated positions. "Sniper on the ridge!" Yano warned, eyes sharp.
Nami glanced up, cursing under her breath. "Cover me." She sprinted toward the cliffside, dodging bullets with swift, zig-zag movements. Her feet pounded against the dirt as she scaled the rocky incline, disarming a soldier halfway up with a swift knee to the gut. Reaching the top, she lunged at the sniper, her gauntlet slamming into his helmet with a sickening crunch.
Back below, Yano wiped sweat from her brow. Her healing energy flickered as exhaustion crept in, but she pushed through—lives depended on it. "Nami, status?"
"Sniper's napping," Nami called down. "Permanently."
Yano shook her head with a tired smile. "You owe me dinner for this."
"Deal," Nami said, leaping down. "Burgers?"
"Too soon," Yano groaned.
Group Two: Emjay and Kazuki – Strategy and Precision
On the western front, chaos reigned. Bullets ricocheted off metal barriers, and the air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning fuel. Kazuki, perched atop a collapsed wall, fired precision shots—each bullet finding its mark. Emjay moved below, dispatching enemies with fluid strikes and well-placed explosives.
"Cover me!" Emjay barked, sprinting toward a key supply route. Kazuki's rifle spat fire, dropping soldiers who dared to peek from cover.
"This feels too easy," Kazuki muttered between reloads.
Emjay grimaced. "It's a distraction. Brace for something bigger."
As if on cue, the ground trembled. Kazuki's gaze snapped toward the treeline, eyes widening. "They've got a mech incoming!"
Emjay cursed. "Change of plans. We take it down—fast."
Kazuki vaulted from his perch, landing in a roll. "I'll handle the high ground," he said, sprinting toward a damaged radio tower. Bullets whizzed past, one grazing his arm, but he pressed on. Reaching the top, he steadied his rifle, breath slowing. "Leg joints are weak points," he murmured, aligning his sights. "Let's see you stand after this."
The shot rang out—metal twisted, sparks showering the battlefield as the mech stumbled. "One down," Kazuki said, lining up another shot.
Below, Emjay danced between enemies—dagger flashing, fists shattering ribs. "Nice shot!" he called, planting a charge near the mech's exposed wiring.
Kazuki pulled the trigger—boom. The mech collapsed, sending debris flying. Emjay covered his head, smirking. "Show-off."
Kazuki grinned. "Pot, meet kettle."
"Keep moving," Emjay ordered, wiping sweat from his brow. "This isn't over."
Group Three: Leon and Kai – The Final Stand
At the northern perimeter, the battle intensified. Leon teleported between cover, his pistols barking with each jump. Kai weaved through gunfire, deflecting bullets with a mix of speed and agility.
"This is what I'm talking about!" Kai whooped, sliding under a barrage and countering with a flurry of punches.
Leon sighed but smirked. "You're insane."
"Compliment accepted!"
The smoke parted—two figures emerged: Lillie and Esami. Lillie twirled a combat knife, smirk playful. Esami, calm as ever, cracked her knuckles.
"Well, well," Lillie drawled. "Boys versus girls. How poetic."
Kai grinned. "You really going with that line?"
Esami shrugged. "Seemed fitting."
Leon's gaze sharpened. "We don't have time for games."
Lillie's smirk widened. "But we do." In a flash, she lunged—Leon barely teleported aside as her blade sliced through the air.
Kai faced Esami, who began to grow—her body expanding until she towered above him. "Great," Kai muttered. "Size-changing powers. Classic."
The Battle Begins
Lillie's movements were uncanny—every dodge perfectly timed, every counter precise. Leon's teleportation gave him mobility, but even that barely kept pace. He swung his blade—Lillie twisted away, wincing slightly.
"What's with the flinching?" Leon asked, panting.
"My power's instinct," Lillie explained. "I know where you'll hit... but I feel ten percent of the pain I dodge. Makes things interesting."
Kai, meanwhile, ducked Esami's massive fists. "Spicy's one word for it!" He rolled aside, landing a kick on her shin. She didn't budge. "Okay... Plan B."
Leon fired a shot—Lillie sidestepped, but her arm twitched. "Annoying," she muttered.
Between strikes, Kai called out, "Why'd you two join them? You're good—you don't need this."
Lillie's smile faded. "Before this? I was drifting. Dead-end jobs, no family, no future. The traitor promised purpose... and I was tired of being nothing."
Leon gritted his teeth. "So you sold out for promises?"
"Easy to judge when you haven't been stuck like we were," Esami shot back. "Survival's messy."
Kai ducked another swing. "You could've joined us."
Esami chuckled. "Too late for what-ifs. Choices were made."
Leon pressed, "Your powers—how'd they start?"
Lillie sighed. "Car crash. Should've died. But... something clicked. Everything slowed down. Turns out, instincts saved me—literally."
Esami smirked. "Mine kicked in at school. Got mad—desk flew. Freaked everyone out."
Kai whistled. "Mental note—never tease you."
Lillie winked. "Smart choice."
A Shift in Momentum
Minutes stretched into an exhausting slugfest. Kai's breaths came ragged—bruises blossoming across his body. Leon's shoulder bled from a glancing blow, but his eyes burned with determination.
"We're getting worked," Kai muttered, wiping blood from his lip.
Leon scanned the area. "Cover—now!"
They dove behind rubble, hearts pounding. "Got a plan?" Kai asked.
Leon nodded. "Lillie feels pain dodging—keep forcing her to move. Esami's big—bait her into overextending."
Kai smirked. "Overwhelm with speed? I like it."
Leon reloaded. "We hit fast, hit hard. No breathing room."
Kai cracked his knuckles. "Time to flip the script."
They emerged, eyes blazing. The fight wasn't over—not by a long shot.