Rage (2)

Blood trickled down Lando's face, tracing a crimson path as he lunged towards one of the vultures who had raised his sword in preparation.

Closing the distance, he attempted a powerful swing, only to intercept the vulture's arm mid-motion, kneeing him in the stomach.

In one swift motion, Lando seized the vulture's sword, launching a forceful kick that propelled the enemy off the bridge.

The vulture's screams gradually faded into oblivion as he plummeted, his demise punctuated by a resounding splat.

Renan's smug expression betrayed his amusement. "It appears you've made quite an entrance," he taunted. Unfazed by the remark, Lando let out a grunt and swung his weapon at another adversary, cleaving their stomach open before they crumpled to the ground.

With agility, Lando deftly seized an enemy's spear and used it to knock another vulture off balance, causing him to stumble into his comrades and send them cascading into the abyss below.

Employing the same weapon, Lando thrust it into a vulture's body, before forcefully kicking them off the bridge, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. He then proceeded to slash the neck of another foe, a torrent of crimson gushing forth.

Advancing confidently, Lando withdrew his gun, taking aim and unleashing a hail of bullets upon multiple adversaries.

Once satisfied, he returned his attention to his trusted sword, deftly dispatching anyone who dared to challenge him.

Ducking beneath an opponent's attack, he swiftly sliced off one of their legs, causing them to collapse in agonizing screams.

Lando coldly approached the fallen adversary, already drenched in the macabre aftermath of battle.

Renan sneered triumphantly. "You've managed to eliminate sixty of my men," he jeered.

Aqua and Hana swiftly came to Lando's aid. Hana brandished her firearm, discharging rounds at a vulture's chest before swiftly dispatching another with a headshot.

Aqua fixed her gaze upon each and every vulture, her eyes ablaze with determination. Drawing her sword, she charged forward, swaying her weapon back and forth, creating a path as she forcefully knocked one of the vultures off the bridge.

Finally reaching Renan, Aqua came to an abrupt halt, her eyes locked on him, while Lando sprinted towards him with unwavering resolve. As Hana expertly finished off the remaining vultures, the bridge became a grisly tableau, painted with the evidence of their fierce confrontation.

"Like I said! I'm going to fucking kill you!" Lando's enraged voice pierced the air as he charged at Renan.

With a smug expression, Renan's eyes met Aqua's widened gaze. "Lando, don't!" she yelled, sprinting towards him, while Hana swiftly recognized the imminent danger and tried to restrain Lando.

Lando swung his fist at Renan, who skillfully evaded the blow and retaliated by striking Lando's abdomen.

The sound of metal piercing flesh reverberated, causing Lando to grunt in pain as his eyes widened.

Renan leaned in, whispering into Lando's ear, his words laden with a cruel mockery. "You, Lando, are no legend," he taunted, slowly retracting his fist to reveal a menacing spike protruding from where his knuckles were.

"These spikes prove to be quite useful," Renan commented, his gaze shifting towards Aqua.

With a gentle shove, he pushed Lando backward. "As for you, Lando, you are nothing more than a failure," he sneered, raising his fists menacingly. "A mockery of humankind." Renan swung his fist downward, connecting with Lando's face and causing his eyepatch to tumble to the ground.

Lando crumpled, falling to the ground, his blood-stained clothes a testament to the pain he endured.

He cast a fleeting glance at Aqua, then at Hana, wincing as agony coursed through his body. Hana rushed to his side, applying pressure to Lando's wounds. "AQUA! DEAL WITH HIM!" she screamed, her voice filled with urgency.

Aqua nodded solemnly, unsheathing her sword. "Renan, I apologize," she stated, her voice tinged with regret. Renan scoffed dismissively. "Sorry? You think an apology will fix anything?"

"Everything," Aqua asserted, determination burning in her eyes as she sprinted toward Renan. "Fine then," Renan retorted, drawing his own sword adorned with sharp spikes along its blade. "You know, Aqua, I never required any of this."

"I never needed anything from any of you. I manipulated every single one of you like toys," Renan seethed, his voice laced with contempt. "All of you are gullible and foolish. Aqua, you switch sides so easily. When will your next betrayal come?" his voice echoed with venom as Aqua finally closed the distance between them.

Aqua swung her sword at Renan, but he swiftly evaded the attack and retaliated with a swift counterstrike. Aqua managed to block the blow, swiftly shifting to the side and launching another attack, slicing Renan across the cheek.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Aqua taunted, a triumphant grin adorning her face. "All that bravado for nothing? After all, didn't you train me?" she snickered, revelling in the irony of their confrontation.

Renan swung his sword with increased speed, narrowly missing Aqua. Her eyes widened, but she retaliated with equal agility, matching his every move. "You were trained well," Renan acknowledged, his voice dripping with begrudging admiration.

"You could have shared that training with Lando. It would have been valuable," Aqua retorted, her eyes gleaming with defiance. "But at least he doesn't exploit people like you do."

Renan chuckled, a cruel and mocking sound. "Oh, but Aqua, you know all about exploitation, don't you?" he taunted, his voice filled with venom. "Isn't this a waste of Ren's sacrifice?"

Lando grunted, intently listening to their exchange. "Ren? The name sounds familiar, but nothing is clicking," he admitted, his confusion palpable. Hana nodded in agreement. "I feel the same way."

Renan reveled in their confusion, laughing sadistically as he launched another attack at Aqua. "You conveniently forget, Aqua," he sneered. "Do you not remember what these kinds of people did to your village?"

Aqua's eyes widened, her mind racing with conflicting memories and emotions. "No! Only Zynkara had a hand in that!" she shouted, her voice filled with vehement denial. "Lando, Hana, Zander, Mara, and the others—they don't deserve to die. They are innocent, unaware of the larger scheme at play," Aqua pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.

Renan's voice dripped with malice as he goaded her further. "And what do you think happened to Zynkara?" he asked, a sinister glint in his eyes. Aqua's eyes widened, realization crashing over her like a tidal wave.

"I killed him," Aqua admitted, her voice laced with a mixture of bitterness and conviction. "He played a part in the invasion of my village, the murder of innocent children and my parents. He deserved to pay for his evil deeds. I saved others from that darkness. What have you done, Renan?" Aqua challenged, her voice resonating with a steely resolve.

Lando and Hana exchanged stunned glances, their eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and concern. "Aqua..." Lando began, his voice filled with a mix of worry and caution, but Aqua nodded, signaling that they would address this later.

Aqua swung her sword at Renan once more, but to her horror, she realized something was wrong—it was damaged, weakened by the force of their clash. Her eyes widened in realization just as Renan swung his sword one final time, shattering Aqua's weapon into two pieces.

Panic surged through Aqua's veins as she instinctively tried to retreat, but Lando, now fully aware of the imminent danger, swiftly pulled out his gun and aimed it at Renan. Hana, having finished bandaging Lando's wounds, also took aim with her firearm. Both of them stood frozen, shocked by the unfolding tragedy.

Renan dashed forward, and everything seemed to slow down. Aqua locked eyes with Lando and Hana, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips, just as Renan thrust his blade into her chest. Aqua's eyes widened in a mixture of pain and resignation.

Lando's eyes widened in disbelief as he instinctively tightened his grip on the trigger. He pulled it, and the bullet whizzed through the air, striking Renan on the left side of his face. Renan groaned, staggering backward, blood streaming down his hand as he futilely pressed it against his ravaged face, his ear now severed and lying lifelessly on the ground.

Hana aimed her rifle, taking swift action as she fired a shot into Renan's chest. His eyes widened, his body recoiling further, until he finally lost his footing, plummeting off the edge with a resounding thud and a guttural grunt that reverberated through the room.

Lando, filled with a mix of anguish and determination, stood up and stumbled towards Aqua. "Aqua!" he cried out, his voice filled with both desperation and despair. "Aqua!"