Chapter 25 The limit

Everyone was starting to feel the heat. We couldn't keep running from Terra! Her pursuit of us was starting to feel real deadly as the fighting below us was getting closer and louder. Nex took out his kunai while holding onto my white coat. He looked like he was determined to protect me at all cost. Our eyes were locked around as the air up here started to get stronger. A second later, Nitra's body burst through the roofing like someone had just chucked her like nothing. Nex jumped to catch her. But it was already too late, Terra was already climbing up. Nitra was badly beaten up. Blood trickled from her head but her face was far beyond looking like she was scared. I could feel her determination as she forced herself up on her feet. Terra stood looking at us. She probably realized to plan her moves carefully when she saw Nex.

Nitra: She's just getting stronger and stronger with each blow we land on her. Nex, you might have to leave this to us.

Nex: What about the rest!? We just can't leave you guys here!

Arc: You guys can't leave Olley on this metal deathtrap!

Nitra: You mean that volunteer?! She's still alive!? I thought for sure that she would be. The first floors were crawling with mutants. How did she get that far!?

Nex: Now's not the time to idle chat about her! Terra is right in front of us.

Nitra: You mind tagging in a bit Arc?

Arc: I can't, they somehow messed up my brain beyond recognition. My magic isn't as strong as it used to be or if it even exists anymore!

Nitra: Damn it!

Nex: That can't be real. What the heck did they do!

Arc: I could barely feel any magic even right now.

Nitra: Fuck! Nex go and find the rest! Take them out now! We have to withdraw! We already did enough damage! We can always regroup later! I'll keep this one busy.

Nex: Don't over do it. Terra loves these kinds of stuff. She could just be toying with you.

Nitra: I have to try something or everyone will be killed by this rogue. Just go!

Nex: Roger!

Arc: What do I do?

Nitra: She seems to be most invested in you. Stay here with me or she'll chase after Nex too.

Nex had already begun his descent down towards the labs again while we both stayed. Terra started to walk up slowly now. I wasn't going to lie in saying that I wasn't afraid or I had some kind of courage to fight her head on. This was the fear that people without magic have to live with. Yet, people like Eliza still managed to keep up. They're much stronger than Adamians after all. But I can't keep on running, there's no turning back now. The air was slowing getting harder and harder to breath. It just made standing on top of this airship even harder. My damaged body could barely hold some semblance of balance up here.

Terra: Surrender now or else!

Nitra: We're not going to surrender against a traitor!

Terra: I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to Arc! You're already dead Nitra.

Arc: I refuse!

Terra: Then I guess it can't be helped… Leave him alive…

Nitra: Huh?

Terra: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

A giant tremor shocked the platform, we had to brace ourselves just to stay on our feet. Terra pushed herself to close the distance. The battle was on. Our odds were not in our favor but our backs are against the wall in this. Nitra had to brace early again but the force of her shoulder tackle was too much that it tossed her at a distance again. Within that split second, her face violently shifted towards me. I held up my guard, though I knew deep inside there was no way that I was going to get out of this without a scratch. A quick second passed, I saw a strong hook about to land on me. However, a giant clash sound boomed creating a massive shockwave. Nitra blocked the blow with her hand! Nitra continued on with a strong flying crescent kick modded with a strong wind current. The sound of a whip cracklings in the air made it sound painful. It managed to push Terra away but it didn't seem to be effective in hurting her.

Nitra: This is terrible! It's difficult defending you and attacking her. If I fall then you will too!

Arc: Don't remind me! Here she comes again!

Terra: GRAAAAAHHHH!

This time she shot out intense cannons of vibrations. Nitra responded by creating a wind wall that would split the cannon fire into the other sides. The sound of the cannons leaving her hands started to reverberate the entire area. I closed off my ears but Nitra couldn't. Her ears were starting to bleed. However, she kept her face strong against the relentless assault.

Nitra: Are you sure you have nothing to defend yourself with?!

Arc: Oh wait! I have this but I'm not sure if I can still…

I took out the stone pillar staff I had from the back of my teeth. It was still in its mini version. Except, I wasn't sure if I had any strength to enlarge it to help us. My body just refused to find the rhythm to let me use magic again. But I needed to do something now or Nitra wasn't going to last any longer. My stomach was jumping with anxiety that my magic wasn't going to show up. Nitra needs some support and I couldn't just cower here. I pulled out every focus I could muster but I could only feel a small spark inside of me. There just seemed to be a messy connection inside my body. Nothing felt right! Though surprisingly that small connection was just enough to manipulate the size into a proper staff with extreme effort. I let out a giant sigh that at least I had something left.

Nitra: You got it working again!?

Arc: Just a bit. Not sure if I can pull any large scale stuff or destruction magic. Best I can do is use this staff.

Nitra: That's all we need for now.

Nitra proceeded to mod my staff with air armor around the staff. An air curren coiled around it like some snake. This upgrade would make it even more destructive on hit. Terra smiled. We both lept towards her. Though I was nowhere as fast as I usually was. Nitra was able to notice that and take the lead. She started to start throwing a combination of punches again right at Terra while I moved behind to get a chance to strike! However, each time we threw a punch, kick, or whack, Terra was just far superior with her dodging. She was literally fighting two people. Though I wasn't much help because of how frail my body is right now. But that wasn't the point of this fight! We needed to buy as much as we possibly could! Terra wasn't on the offensive because she knew that something reckless would cost her. She just kept on using counter attack. With each swing I would make with my staff, she'd slide her hand on the staff then assault me with a strong forward kick or headbutt. My body was already weak so each hit I received easily knocked me down. Nitra was the real fighter in this situation. She would try her best to sweep Terra off her balance and try to throw a cannon to push her off the airship's platform but Terra was prepared too. She just kept maintaining her distance and throwing powerful counter jabs that were modded with vibration cannons. With each jab she threw, she fired them at the same time which made them even deadlier! I jumped back to my feet then swung a head shot. Without missing a beat, she grabbed the staff. Nitra came back from the ground to try land a flying kick. However, Terra was waiting for this strike. She didn't flinch and swiveled the staff out my arms to swing Nitra out of the air with it. Nitra's body slid on the platform. Before I could react, Terra's fist was already on my gut. This time I was able to feel the pulsing pain coursing through my body. Now I was on my knees coughing blood. There was no way we were going to win. As I looked up, Terra was about to deliver an axe kick. But before she could, another explosion rocked the entire airship. It made the platform tilt horrifyingly to the left making us all slide down. Terra jumped off the platform then shot a cannon to fling the staff at high speed to create a bar hanging off the wall. Though it wasn't for her, it was for me! She shot back up then punched a hole for her to hold on. Without hesitation, I slide towards the staff that was now sticking out. I was just hanging on a stone staff with dear life. The drop from here without Nitra's magic would kill anyone!

Terra: Take me hand Arc! I can still save you!

I could barely pull myself up with the amount of pain coursing in my body. On the corner of my eye, I saw Nitra's unconscious body starting to slide down too. My breath was labored just trying to keep up. But I had to do something or Nitra was going to die! Pain wasn't something that was going to stop me from saving my teammate!

Arc: No!

I bit my lip hard to null the pain somewhere then let go of the staff letting me slide on the direction to where Nitra was sliding off. The speed of my slide was too slow but I needed to get there. I kicked off the platform then tucked to go faster. I reached out my arms as far as I could because we were dangerously close to the edge now. I could already see the point of no return. However, there was no way for me to stop now. I had to save her now! In just the nick of time, I managed to grab her ankle. With all my might, I started to find it in me. A surge is all I need! Something to work with! Or we were going to die! Please!

Terra: ARC!

PLEASE! I could feel a faint connection but I wasn't sure what kind of seal it was. But I had to take it. I gripped my hand and focused. The world was completely tuning out. Terra was screaming but I couldn't hear. All I could feel now was this slight connection I had. Though I couldn't figure out where it was! I gripped whatever surface I was sliding and it managed to create a dent. However, the weight of Nitra and the speed we went almost broke my arm from suddenly stopping. The pain was unbearable that my eyes were starting to well up with tears! But this pain wasn't going to be nearly as painful as losing another teammate! Holding onto this barely grippable surface felt like an eternity. I screamed in pain because it was the only thing I could do now. My body was starting to get stretched from the weight of Nitra's body. Just as I was about to slip, a giant clang and bump sound suddenly came up! I did my best to take a look.

Able: Did someone order a rescue bot? Hello friend! Long time no see!

Arc: Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes.

Able: Do you need any assistance?

Arc: YES!

Able: Hooray! I love being useful!

Able grabbed me and tossed me on his shoulder along with Nitra then jumped off the platform into the depths of the sky. From the view up here, my stomach was already starting to lurch. We were now falling closer to the lower area of the platform till Able used his grappling hook to grapple right through a window. We rolled on the tilted area but made sure that we didn't fall off. It was hard to get my footing especially with the ship starting to fall off the sky. The hallway was barely working with the lights flickering and destruction around. I could already smell the burning flesh around the end of the hall. Able looked over the still unconscious Nitra. Seeing Able again was like seeing an old friend. Strange how I've started to grow to these people. I tried massaging the pain away that was on my shoulders and everything! At least I managed to save her...

Able: She has quite the injuries. Adamians sure are strong. Any regular human would have perished.

Arc: Are they critical?

Able: Negative. She'll be fine with enough rest and medication. You on the other hand appear to have suffered from neural scrambling and a damaged eye aside from your physical injuries.

Arc: Yeah, they messed me up inside and out. I can barely protect anyone in my condition.

Able: Leave it to us!

Arc: Who are us?

Able: Everyone! Olley was able to gather us together to attack the lab when we found it.

Arc: Wait! Where's Olley!? I need to find her!

Nex: Don't bother. She's here.

I turned around to see everyone huddled together by the hallway entrance trying to stand their ground. It looked like they were waiting for something. Nex gathered the Vanta team, and even Olley. She's safe! Olley ran to me despite having barely any balance. She rushed to grab my collar. Her eyes were still glistening different colors. As beautiful as the day I saw them. Though this time they shined a bright blue.

Olley: Don't ever! Do that again! I'll never forgive you!

Her hands were trembling and I was just completely shocked. I never thought I'd be rescued by a local. Much even more have one actually be worried for me. My hands touched hers because it felt like something I should do. I wasn't quite sure why I did but I did it anyway. It just felt right.

Nex: Hey! If you two are done with whatever that is! We need to go now! The job is done or at least stage one. We need to regroup.

Arc: Roger!

We all took a side to come in contact with Nex then just like that we were on ground zero. This was the industrial district that we've skipped. We appeared to have teleported in one of the abandoned factories. The place seemed to be working on airships and other mechanical wonders. It was similar to how the Talos factories looked like but these ones were clearly managed by the inhabitants of Hyer. There were some scrap metal piles here and there that some people were sitting by as well as some tents with a makeshift campfire. This place just went to hell. I looked up to see the airship still causing some explosions above. However, I wasn't able to take a better look at it because the roof was being shielded by some of the alloys used to create the airships. Seeing from above was nowhere close to what was actually happening down here. It didn't help that I could barely see still. Olley came to pick me up because she noticed I had trouble standing. The Vanta team took hold of Nitra along with some of the injured while Nex motioned to come to him.

We moved onto one of the balconies of the second floor of the factory. There I was able to understand the situation a little bit clearly. Piles of rubble were everywhere but that didn't stop the citizens from trying to take shelter in the broken bits of buildings. Some people were clearly disturbed while others were taking charge. Seemed like all the different class citizens even joined forces to barricade the compound better. The smell of vermin and magic reeked in the air.

Arc: What actually happened here?

Olley: Chaos.

Nex: We only arrived right after the first wave wiped out almost the district's population. Definitely didn't expect any of this when Nitra said that we were going to you.

Arc: Nitra sent me here.

Nex: She wanted to make sure that Terra never got hold of you.

Arc: Well she did a pretty banged up job doing that!

Nex: Relax! She didn't know. It's not her fault. Nitra didn't expect that Terra would go back to Hyer. She thought she'd chase us up the tree. We all knew that Terra was on a whole different level.

Arc: What else happened?

Olley: The streets did their best to contain the district's infection. They never stood a chance against the magic infused mutants or the vermins.

Nex: I've analyzed what these mutants are. They've been infused with a strange new compound. Concentrated magical particles. Completely unstable. Nothing that their kind should be able to use. Or at least that's what Eliza said.

Arc: I'm surprised that you managed to get her a sample of these things.

Nex: She's developed us a better watch actually. Their humans have quite the brains! It doesn't require us to put any magical output too.

Nex handed me another watch. It looked exactly the same as the ones we usually use on the Platform. However, it felt a lot lighter compared to our old ones. The watch turned on even if I didn't generate any magic! These breeds of humans really are unique.

Nex: I was able to send a sample of their blood to her this way. Though communication is still limited since there isn't a satellite to use.

Arc: I hope she's doing fine.

Nex: She's safe as long as she stays in Talos.

Arc: The trouble just doesn't end there huh.

Olley: No, it doesn't. Vermins are another story. We've come up that these things were indeed people. Our people to be exact. Though these ones are much more dangerous than the mutants. Their traits are enhanced to the point it becomes a problem. That's why those things have exaggerated features. They were amplified by the serum. Those who can't handle the serum turn into mutants that only carry destructive magic like a living grenade.

Nex: When we arrived. We did our best to sweep the area to create a base of operations. That's why we took so long. These things just kept spawning.

Olley: That's when the King finally said that Hyer had fallen. Then proceeded to…

Arc: Proceeded to what?

Nex: He injected himself with the serum. Though his transformation is entirely a mystery.

Arc: This place just went flip side huh.

Nex: We're not sure what to do next. The operation to take down Terra and recover you wasn't exactly a failure. However, we failed to eliminate her.

Arc: You've changed a bit. When did the notion of killing her seem so easy for you.

Nex: What are you talking about?

Arc: She was our teammate. You didn't seem adamant about killing her when we were still in Talos.

Nex: But that was because of something…

Arc: Something?

Nex: Lay off! She's a traitor Arc! She betrayed the Platform! She deserves to die now! I don't care that she used to be our friend…

Arc: If you had the chance to kill her with your own hands would you do it?

Nex: Without hesitatio-

With what was left of my strength on my hand, I delivered a strong punch to Nex's face. Olley recoiled because she didn't expect it. Nex fell to the ground confused why. This was bad, I left my anger out.

Nex: What the heck!?

Arc: I get that we're soldiers. I also understand that we have to do things this way but… saying that you'll kill someone that i've known for so long cuts a bit… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I don't usually let things out like that.

Nex: That hurt! She's gone now Arc. She's never going to come back to us.

Arc: I know! But that doesn't mean I can just forget! I can't! I've tried! Terra was one of the only people I thought… I thought would never leave us… Just like her.

Nex: But this is a different Arc. She didn't betray us!

Arc: I can't bring myself to let you think that killing her is normal. Not after everything we've been through.

Before I could say another word, Nex recovered from the ground and punched my gut. I fell on the ground holding my stomach. He definitely got better at fighting that's for sure. I looked up expecting to see another hit. Except, it wasn't like that. Nex was crying. His fists were clenching hard.

Nex: She hurt you Arc… I think I can handle losing someone rather than seeing the one I care about tortured… I don't think I can... It hurts. It hurts that we just got you back… So it doesn't make sense to me that you don't want to kill her. I felt so weak, like I was so useless. I tried my best to keep being level headed. Each time I slept, I kept trying to tell myself what I would do if I was you. It was eating me from the inside. I hated it so much. What did they even do to you!?

Arc: I don't know what they were looking for. But they used neural scrambling technology. They were searching for something but I don't think they got it.

I got back up to my feet. I guess I was a bit insensitive there. Maybe it was because this was the first time that Nex actually expressed his real feelings about me. Sure we've had moments as friends but this one was much different.

Arc: I'm sorry that I got caught okay. I don't want you to blame yourself for not rescuing me earlier either. And I'm sorry that I was a bit insensitive about what you're going through. I just didn't think that it would make sense that you'd be worried about me or get mad for me.

Nex: You're an idiot if you think you're alone!

Olley: He kinda is an idiot is he.

Arc: What? You too? Argh… I'm not good at this sappy stuff okay.

Nex: You're terrible…

Nex stopped his tears and finally let out a smile. Maybe it was some kind of coincidence, his hair tie snapped and covered his eye again. I couldn't help but flashback to the first time I met Nex. He rushed to me then gave me a big hug. My body was still in a weak state that I could feel every muscle that he was squeezing. Olley also joined in on the fun making it even worse. Though I didn't have it in me to tell them to get off. This was probably a first for me to be so speechless. This wasn't so bad.

Nex: It feels good seeing you again. It feels like everything is going to be alright.

Olley: I know right! He's just so good at that.

Arc: Are you two satisfied yet? My body is still in complete pain right now.

It was finally hours into finally being free from the airship lab. I was busy being nursed back to health by one of the doctors that was available. Nex was right next to waiting for me to be fully treated while Olley went to go up the watchtower to survey the compound. There wasn't anywhere to even lay down. We were just by the corners of the factory sitting. It definitely isn't the first time that we had to stay under these kinds of conditions. However, I admittedly was starting to get used to my room in the airship. After wrapping a couple of bandages on my arms and a few pain drugs, I was starting to feel a bit comfortable. It was nearly time that I needed to take another pellet.

Nex: How are you feeling now?

Arc: A little bit better. Definitely better than what I felt a few cycles ago. Those were some pretty fucked up shit.

Nex: I mean you have an eye patch now. It must've been rough.

Arc: Give it sometime. It'll heal eventually. I think.

Nex: That doesn't sound good.

Arc: Well what am I supposed to say without worrying you. I'm just glad that I'm away from that airship.

Nex: Did you really not know what they brought you up there for?

Arc: Only a hint. They've mentioned something about Juxo and something about the platform. Though the memory is fuzzy now because of the amount of scrambling they did.

Nex: What's the overall damage?

Arc: I can barely feel magic particles now. It's still there but it feels like I've gone back to basic magic perception level 1 in the academy. Of course it doesn't end there. I can barely use my powers. Almost like it's gone. Whatever they did, they dug deep. They damaged my brain so much just trying to find it.

Nex: That's horrible!

Arc: Yeah but I'm more interested in how y'all manage to find each other. Hyer isn't exactly a small city.

Nex: You should thank Olley for that. She's the real hero. She was even the first to volunteer in the operation. Sometimes it even feels like she's an Adamian.