(Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:45AM)

  (Luke) Can’t believe we made it.

  In front of the five adults and one teenager was a bomb, a water bomb to be precise.

  The bomb was tinted with a metal coating exterior that surrounded the deeply pressurized liquid. Along its corners, the sharp edges of the circur throwing ball that was in the palms of Fred’s hands soon began to reflect the rays of the top lights above.

  Smoldering it with his right hand, Fred held his little bundle of joy with his left arm, as the rest of the group analyzed the metal and design of the bomb. As most of them put their hands underneath their chins, Luke in particur rubbed his fingers against his jawline.

  (Luke) I just hope Gwen is doing fine.

  (Fred) I just hope that bomb works. I mean, Gwen could probably take that thing head-on even without the needed boost.

  (Luke) She said she didn’t want to take any chances.

  (Luke’s thoughts) But why though? Isn’t she the person to take the least amount of precaution?

  Fred stood up with the football-sized metal bomb that cuddled against his left arm, carrying it as if it were practically a baby.

  Or rather a giant dangerous baby.

  Even just pcing the little yet dangerous bomb toward his body managed to tremble Fred’s left arm softly, with the weight of the bomb leaning his body forward. Looking toward Luke, he let out a sly smile as his eyes closed up, pcing his right hand on the back of his head.

  (Fred) So… are we going to carry this thing? To the Zirardge building?

  (Luke) Yeah. That way when we arrive on top, she’ll be the one to deliver it straight toward her core. I hope Luna, Miles, or even Diego try to find any weaknesses during their stall.

  (Jack) So … I guess everyone is pulling their weight on this.

  (Luke) Pretty much.

  All six of them looked over to the broken wall that was created by none other than Mia. Seeing that the early morning was still bckened by the red clouds up high above them, Luke then pinned his head onto the exit where they all came out.

  Straightening his back, Luke cleared his throat while he began to look at the rest of his friends and acquaintances.

  (Luke) We did what we originally came here to do, so I would call this task a success… ish?

  (Jack) It’s weird seeing you as a sort of leader. Imagine if Gwen becomes ill one day and you need to take charge of one mission.

  (Luke) Well, I’m not even good at even giving speeches…

  (Johnny) From where I was at, you seemed fine though. Everyone thought you did great.

  His neck pstered with sweat, Luke pced his right hand onto the helm of his white shirt that was underneath his unzipped leather jacket. Having two of his fingers nudging the colr, he did it repeatedly as he then pushed his feet forward, allowing the metal to blister his soles yet again.

  Walking toward the exit, Luke continued to fan his colr up and down as the rest of the group worried for the light-haired young man.

  (Luke) Let’s get to the van. At the same time, while we’re going to the tower, we could check up on everyone else too.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:55AM)

  (Jack) Good thing that the tower is only several minutes from the water pump facility.

  A brown moving van plowed through the downtown streets of the debris-ridden Lagefor, driving along the poorly cleaned asphalt.

  The van went through rubble and stones that riddled the clean asphalt, causing the wheels and the entirety of the moving vehicle to nudge erratically but not that heavily. Along with many of the building’s windows being shattered, it left many gss shards littering the sidewalks, as well as the little fires that sprouted out on the edge of the street and sidewalk.

  Inside the moving van, Luke and Jack were in the front, while Hope, Fred, Johnny, and Elizabeth were in the back.

  (Johnny’s thoughts) So this is the st push.

  Johnny’s left cheek prickled with heat as he then turned his head toward the shining window on the left of him. As the rays of light caused his cheeks to sunburn, he opened his eyes wide, taking the sight of the monster being covered head to toe with fmes and magma.

  As the burning fires reflected against his eyes, Johnny remained staring at the beast as he had his hands pced on his knees.

  (Johnny) Looks like she's having fun rampaging the outskirts of downtown…

  (Luke) Shoot … What is the time in which that thing will reach the water pump facility?

  (Fred) From there to the water pump facility, and the speed that she’s traveling, I would say 30 minutes.

  (Luke) I hope that we’re the st group to reach the top of the tower.

  Csping both of his hands, Luke started to motion his right foot up and down as the tip of his heel tapped the floor of the van. Beads of sweat rolling down from both sides of his temples, caused Jack to look at the worried-eyed Luke, allowing himself to straighten his back so his back wouldn’t hunch.

  Hope soon stood in the middle of the van, pcing her head near the little hole that allowed her to see the anxious Luke.

  (Jack) Let’s just check the channels first.

  In the middle of both Jack and Luke was the radio box that was id across the middle seat of the van.

  With both of his hands, Luke used his left to hold the radio box as he used his fingers to grasp the bck stainless steel. Along with his right, he turned the white knob that emitted a scornful static that assaulted everyone’s ears from inside the van.

  Fortunately for the group, the static was only for a couple of seconds as a transmission was then received.

  (Lieutenant on Radio) Come in! This is the Lieutenant! Come in!

  (Luke) We hear you sir, loud and clear.

  (Lieutenant on Radio) What’s the status of that water bomb?!

  (Luke) Fred successfully made it, sir. We’re on our way to the Zirardge tower now.

  (Lieutenant on Radio) Roger. Me and my ptoon are guarding the front entrance of the tower. That bitch is drawing near to the water pump facility as we know it.

  Luke and the others looked outward as they saw the fmes of the beast using the buildings as if it was a sandbox

  Tightening his grip on the metal box, Luke fastened his tapping on the floor of the van as hard thumps could be heard from Jack’s eagle eyes. Perking his ears up, Jack gnced at the sweatied Luke who began to fasten his breath, which caused Jack to sway his head left and right.

  Hope began to pop her head out from the middle of the hole that was located in between Luke and Jack, as she turned her head toward the nervous Luke.

  (Hope) We could do this Luke … just believe in Gwen…

  (Luke) I know. She could do anything, but … for us … how can—

  (Jack) Hey, when did you become the pessimist one?

  (Luke) What?

  (Jack) Stop taking my role as the pessimist. Besides, we got the bomb ready, and Gwen is one of the toughest chicks to fight with besides Luna, so we got this.

  His breath got trapped within his own throat.

  Stopping the tapping of his heel, Luke loosened the grip on the radio box, leading the radio box to tilt toward the floor. Puckering up his quivered lips, he straightened his back as he then let out a simple nod of grace.

  As he then looked down toward the ground, his face darkened with a hint of hesitation inside of his throat.

  (Luke) Y-yeah … we got this…

  (Lieutenant on Radio) I’m still here, soldier.

  (Luke) S-Sorry sir…

  (Lieutenant on Radio) It’s nothing soldier, just make sure you deal with that bitch by any means.

  Johnny, Elizabeth, and Fred both stared into the radio box that they couldn’t see, as Hope hogged the entirety of the little headhole.

  All three of them folded their arms, all of them looking at the reddened sky that was filled to the brim with ash and fme. Despite being inside the van, they all smelled the scent of smoke and gunpowder through the car’s ventition system which couldn’t even filter the hellish air.

  (Luke) … P-Permission to speak sir…?

  (Lieutenant on Radio) By all means.

  (Luke) Who’s on top of the tower waiting for us?

  (Lieutenant on Radio) Everyone who helped with the stalling of the monster. The ones that dealt with zompire cleanup and civilian evacuation are heading toward the military complex as you ordered. But we’re missing one.

  (Luke) Who?

  Luke, Jack, Hope, Fred, Johnny, and Elizabeth all moved their heads close toward the radio box that was in the middle of both Luke and Jack.

  All their ears heard the dreaded static that soon started to attack the transmission of the channel that they heard from.

  All their eyes were pinned onto the bck device that connected them to the outside world.

  All their souls were locked in pce as they couldn’t even budge a nerve or muscle onto their finger to toe.

  As they all heard the words from the Lieutenant himself.

  (Lieutenant on Radio) We’re missing our main act. That one soldier who’s tall and has freckles.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Libertatem 1, 59 / 3:59AM)

  (Gwen) Can I talk with you, Luke?

  (Luke) Sure, what is it, Gwen?

  Everyone else that was on the asphalt soon started to pile up inside of the trucks, their pn to set things straight soon starting to draw near.

  With their assigned tasks, the only group that awaited Luke to come down was none other than Jack, Hope, Fred, and Johnny who patiently stood still as they looked up at him. As Hope stared at the man on top of the truck, her blue eyes gleamed despite there being no means to be seen.

  Next to the man that she admired was none other than their commander, a tall woman with freckles who happened to pce her right arm around his neck.

  (Gwen) Didn’t know you had it in you. You know, when I retire soon, I’ll make you the next commander of The Dark Angels.

  (Luke) To be honest, I think Miles or Benn are more suited for that.

  (Gwen) Hey, don’t think bad about yourself. Like I said, use that voice inside of you.

  (Luke) Yeah …

  Gwen continued to squint her snted eyes onto him, her smile still shining in the dark of the early morning.

  Loosening her left arm, she slowly pulled it back toward her body followed by pushing the corner of her right lip onto the height of her right ear. Her mouth let out a gentle chuckle, her breath reached onto Luke’s face and nose, the smell of mint and toothpaste still lingering around her teeth.

  (Gwen) I think you forgot about someone important, hmm? Didn’t know you were that much of a gentleman.

  (Luke) Wait … Oh shoot! I forgot about you!

  (Gwen) Don’t worry. I think I know what to do.

  (Luke) R-Really? Then what do you have in mind?

  Gwen stretched both of her arms up high in the air, as she pced her right hand onto her left elbow, causing her left arm to rise even more. Her bones pinching the muscles that trapped her joints, she let out a long and relieved sigh from the depths of her lungs, her body soon pushing downward by gravity.

  (Gwen) I pn on taking that big girl head-on!

  (Luke) So … you’ll be the one carrying the water bomb?

  (Gwen) I’m the only one who can do it unless you want to give it a shot.

  (Luke) Yeah, you’ll be the one to do it. I’m lucky but not that lucky.

  Scratching the back of his head, Luke looked over toward the fiery beast that was barely storming the outskirts of the industrial district of the city.

  His eyes panning onto the deadly monster, Luke tightened his hair on the back of his head as his fingers gripped onto his scalp. His other hand enclosing into a fist, he id it onto his side as he soon started to gre straight at the hellish sight that he saw.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Then again, I promised myself that I’d never let this city become the same as Cstine…

  Luke looked over toward Gwen.

  Still having that gre pstered onto his face, he soon straightened his back as he let his encapsuted fingers free from the grip. Having both of his feet straight and tight-knit, he then let his left hand let go of his screaming scalp, his palm facing the direction of Gwen.

  Enclosing his right hand into a fist again, he thumped the left side of his chest twice.

  As he glided it over to the right side of his chest, making a Dark Angel salute.

  (Luke) Don’t worry. Me and the others will not let you down.

  (Gwen) I know you will.

  Both the commander and her soldier looked at one another, their eyes glued to the reflections that showed upon their irises.

  One with brown eyes, and one with red eyes, both overpping their thoughts at the same time.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Cause I want to be your best soldier.

  (Gwen’s thoughts) So we could all go to Paradise together…

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:25AM)

  (Gwen)

  (Gwen’s thoughts) Almost there….

  The air crackled and squirmed under the presence of the tall woman with freckles, her legs, and feet pushing her entire body and soul toward the pce where she could set things straight. Along her path, the stone floor clicked repeatedly with her boots trembling the insides of the tunnels within.

  All around her was nothing but a wide-open underground floor that she ran for miles, her breath soon starting to hitch inside of her throat.

  Beneath an electrical output building on the south side of the downtown district, she looked around every corner for a sign that could lead to something. The dining lights overhead were barely enough to shine down on her, the darkness that followed afterward soon overwhelmed her senses, her body drenching in a heap of sweat.

  (Gwen’s thoughts) Not the dark…

  Her visibility was shrouded, she closed her eyes as her entire body began to glow, her skin radiating light as if she were a glow stick. Swaying her arms back and forth, the strength from within them soon began to loosen as her eyelids started to darken around her pupils.

  On the verge of shutting her eyes, Gwen put both of her hands onto the helms of her cheekbones, causing a loud sp that shook all the tunnels that echoed its noise.

  (Gwen’s thoughts) Ow! That kind of hurt!

  Putting both of her hands back to her running motion, she swayed her head repeatedly with both of her cheeks blistering from the sp of her palms.

  Far into the distance, Gwen squinted her eyes upon a blue door that held a sign on the front. On that sign, Gwen analyzed the writing as well as the logo that had within it, which could mean one outcome for her…

  (Gwen’s thoughts) There it is!

  Already reaching toward the door, Gwen pulled back her right hand as she tightened her body from her chest to her stomach. Her eyes unable to pull away from the door in front of her, she then thrust her right arm forward, her body hunching along with her arm.

  Making contact with the door, her knuckles soon broke off its hinges that strapped the door shut, having the door make no other choice but to break free.

  But not just break free, but…

  It turned the door to a weapon.

  A weapon so lethal that the edges caused the wind to let out a piercing scream, traversing the long dark room as old splinters faded away from the force of the speed. With the door hitting the other end of the room, it created a sound loud enough to mimic a literal gun.

  (Gwen) So this is it huh?

  The room was filled with dust as the entire rge room that could fit in seven highly fashioned mansions was cemented in stone and cement. Not only was the room spacious, but many pilrs held up the upper end of the roof, with one single window that let out the dim light from above.

  In front of her was a rge storage full of electrical transformers, all lining up single file. Since the transformers were in the middle of the rge open room underneath the city, no light was bestowed upon the metal coating that it longed to gleam out.

  And on top of the center of the middle transformer, id a single rge rubber cord that connected all the transformers toward the surface, the rubber cord entrance and exit right next to the little window on top. Looking up with her snted eyes, Gwen analyzed the rubber as its rough and thick insution caused her to slouch down his head.

  (Gwen) This pce is huge huh? Guess I better get to work now.

  Her boots tingled the air around her as her back began to let out a light shiver. Putting her hands into her jacket’s pockets, she looked around her surroundings as the air around her began to thicken, her palms soon began to let out a bead of sweat.

  Her breath not showing in front of her, she ceased walking as she had both of her feet remaining trapped under the glued cement.

  As if she was being preyed upon.

  Slowly gncing in back of her, Gwen used the corners of her eyes to try to analyze the silhouette that was standing behind her.

  (Gwen) Uh … you could talk to me if you want?

  Letting out a sly smile, the corner of her lips reached toward the height of her left ear, yet it soon started to break.

  A bead of sweat rolled down her right cheek, Gwen slowly pulled out both of her hands from out of her jacket, having them motionless to gravity. Moistening her lips to keep them wet and red, she also licked an abundance of sweat that got on top of her upper lip.

  (Gwen) H-Hello? Anyone home? Don’t be daydreaming, it’s rude when someone is trying to get your attention.

  (???) We’ve been expecting you, Gwen…

  The sounds of a cold old voice can be heard.

  Arching her head up, she gnced around the room as her eyes peered into every corner that she could see. Along with unneeded earwax prisoned inside of her ears, her hearing soon sprouted open as she let out a huge gulp that reverberated the entire room around her.

  And when she was gncing around, she locked onto a young man wearing a gray hoodie.

  (Gwen) Hmm …

  Upon inspecting the tall young man, she couldn’t even describe his face as it was completely hidden underneath the hoodie.

  His hands were both inside his casual jacket, along with his bck sneakers cmping the cement ground that was beneath him. With his head tilted down, not even the skin of his neck was shown.

  Gwen furrowed her brow as she put both of her hands inside her jacket again, letting out a small chuckle.

  (Gwen) Are you the old man’s voice that I heard earlier?

  The tall young man soon ceased his walking as he id his covered eyes on her.

  His entire body trembling, the young man slowly bent forward and he then spread both of his feet far apart from one another. Since his face was still covered by the overbearing hoodie that he wore, it caused Gwen to clench her stomach as well as her eyes soon turned into a gre.

  (Gwen) What? Don’t tell me that you’re holding in your ugh right now. I may be an idiot, but I’m not stupid!

  (???) Honestly, I have no words for you.

  The old maleficent voice was soon heard again, along with the air being swollen by the cold that was brought with it.

  A drop of sweat was heard only from Gwen herself, as the droplet of sweat stained the cement floor. Her face stiffening, she looked over toward the tall young man again, her eyes still squinting at the tall man who soon pulled out both of his hands from out of his pockets.

  (Gwen) Hmm … you’re the only one in this room, so I think you’re the one that is doing that old creepy man voice. Hehe, you should be a voice actor for those cartoons—

  (???) That tall man is not me you imbecile!

  Gwen instantly turned her head to the right of her.

  Her eyes then came into contact with an old man wearing a white robe, his sandals showcasing his wrinkled feet and toes. Looking at his face, she noticed his old and wretched wrinkles that dampened his youth, followed by his green eyes and light green hair that caused her snted eyes to sparkle.

  Letting out a simple ooh of curiosity, Gwen csped both of her hands together as her entire body let out a crumple of relief.

  (Gwen) Wow, you look so colorful!

  (???) You think I’m colorful!? … she thinks I’m colorful…

  His wrinkled face soon letting go, he let in a breath of air inside of his old lungs as his throat let out a raspy groan.

  Turning his attention toward the tall young man, the light-haired green old man had both of his hands enclosed into his sleeves as his white robe managed to hide away his skin. His voice commanding, the old man put both of his feet together.

  As he tilted his face upward.

  (???) Jason, you wanted someone who could keep up with you right? Today’s the day that you could prove it.

  (Jason) As you wish.

  The old man turned his body around and he then walked off to let the freckled woman and tall man begin their battle.

  Finding a little corner, the old man id his right shoulder onto the edge of it, the sharp edge stabbing his skin despite no blood or cut being bestowed upon the area. Adjusting his body, the old man pushed down his face followed by his entire body loosening as a result of his hiding in the little shadow.

  (???) This time Jason, go all out. For our pn to work, we must take out the biggest obstacle on our path.

  (Jason) No worries Lazaros sir, I’ll finish her off no problem.

  Jason had both of his palms showcasing outward toward the freckled woman in front of him, his eyes unwavering from the freckles that were pstered onto her face.

  As for Gwen, she folded both of her arms and tilted her face to the right, making a cocky stance as she then let out a small chuckle.

  (Gwen) Awww~ Let me guess, you’re a curse user right? And it looks like you’re not like Pedro or that lich girl that smells. Sort of simir to Kenichi then huh?

  (Jason) Kenichi is nowhere near my level…

  Bck fming air caressed both of his hands and arms, rotating it counterclockwise as he then showcased his sinister palms facing the freckled woman.

  His entire body was etched with the stench of darkness and death, the hoodie hiding the devil behind its fabric cloth. With the air around him warming up from the bck fmes that couldn’t light up a candle, the light from all around the room soon started to dim.

  Which caused Gwen to gnce at the transformers that were in the back of her.

  (Gwen’s thoughts) Even if I do get a major boost with those transformers, I could still beat him fair and square here…

  Jason slowly started to walk toward the nonchant Gwen, his bck sneakers squealing under the pressure that he bestowed upon them with every step. As Gwen posed with pure confidence, her eyes continued to gnce at the back of her, as if someone was whispering inside of her ear.

  And because of that…

  (Gwen’s thoughts) But I don’t have time for games.

  She instantly thrust her body in the opposite direction of where Jason was, her heels carrying her off the ground as she started to glide in the air.

  The air crumbled, her hair swaying.

  She glided toward the many transformers that all lined up right at the center, her body, hair, and soul becoming one with the wind.

  (Jason) Come here—

  She was too quick.

  In less than two seconds, the edges of her fingertips grazed the vulnerable metal that would turn any human into rotisserie chicken.

  But she wasn’t an ordinary human.

  In no time, upon making contact with the transformers, a bright light soon bestowed upon both Jason and Lazaros. Leaving them partially blinded by the sight, both of them turned their heads away as they had no choice but to block the light from getting in their eyes.

  (Lazaros’s thoughts) Well, things just got a little harder…

  Soon after, the entire room was then swallowed up by the yellow light that shined as equal to the sun.