Sora Brontarion
The titan's stature was menacing, intensity radiating from its metallic skin. I didn't fear the War Titan in our first encounter because I had the open forest to escape into.
Now fear was the only thing I felt. Peering out the corner of my eye, Voen was trembling. I started to manifest feelings of confidence in my electricity, but I wasn't quick enough.
The Titan's speed was frightening. It struck both of us in the abdomen, and at the last second, I managed to form a layer of cosmic energy to absorb the blow.
But the impact still sent me hurtling through the hut walls. I caught a glimpse of Voen violently tumbling across the terrain.
I fought through the pain, picked myself off the ground, and weaved through the ever-changing terrain until I reached Voen's side.
Mira, locked in combat with Stravos's lackeys, was irritating, but it provided a much-needed distraction from the Titan.
Struggling to lift himself, Voen's raspy voice reached me.
"That really hurt. I don't think I've ever been hit that hard."
"Well, you're tougher than I thought."
He lifted his shirt. "My ribs are for sure broken… look."
"It's not the time for that, Voen. We need a plan." Scanning the battlefield, I searched for Nerena. When I found her, she had just put the last of the students in the bubble prison.
Since it didn't come after us, the Titan must have been ordered to guard the totems. I sent a bolt of electricity over to her so she'd know our location. Recognizing the signal, she made her way toward us.
While we were waiting for Nerena, I glanced at the fight unfolding in the center of the base. Mira seemed to be holding them off, but her breathing was heavy, and her reactions were slower than before.
She kept her distance and the high ground. Each boulder she threw streaked down the mound like a comet blazing across the sky.
But the students she was fighting were branch members of the Vortaris clan; they trained and lived just like Stravos. Embodying war just as much as he does. They performed maneuvers and attacks as if they were a single entity. The sight was frightening.
"Sora, what's the plan?" Nerena asked, appearing near my left shoulder, studying the terrain.
Taking a deep breath, I shot confidence into my comrades.
"Voen and I are going to distract the Titan while you go for the totems. And whatever you do… Don't come back to help."
"Sora, are you sure? That thing is monstrous." Nerena asked, struggling to hide her uncertainty.
"Trust me. Voen, have your flute ready."
"You got it, boss." He winced while clutching his instrument.
I quickly explained my idea and signaled for Nerena to be on her way. She once again blended into our surroundings and vanished.
"Come on, Voen, let's get going," I said, gesturing for him to follow.
Donning a cowl of electricity, I took off, leaving Voen behind me. I maneuvered through the trembling and shifting earth until I found our target.
Once I made it back to the hut, I felt its anger brim with passion. It was as if the War Titan held the same hatred for Broantarions as the Vortaris themselves. It was uncanny just how lifelike these weapons were.
Looking above, I saw Voen getting the high ground. Before I was within striking range of the Titian, my ears began to ring, nearly making me lose my balance.
It was my first time experiencing Voen's sonic abilities. If I were the true target, I don't know how much of his attack I could handle.
My eyes locked on the titan. Its body started to convulse. It's palms clasped over its helm, where its ears would have been.
Watching the Titan falter, I shot a current of electricity to heighten the pain.
I needed it to fall, and once it did, I took my chance. Charging forward, my body wrapped in a cowl of electricity, I drove a jab aimed at its chest.
When I made contact, it felt like I had pierced through butter.
I retreated to where Voen was located and focused my gaze on the War Titan. Even though I got a clean shot off on the living weapon, it recovered quickly.
The wound knitted itself together as if sewn by invisible hands. Amidst the chaos of rocks tumbling and flying, my camera hovered down to face me.
I was already annoyed that the Titan looked good as new after I landed my strongest attack. But to have the teachers and guild representatives see my reaction added insult to injury.
Pushing the camera, I stumbled underneath the shaking ground, but Voen caught me before I fell off the mound. Just when I regained my bearings, I felt my shoulder shift out of its socket, followed by a sharp pain.
Time seemed to slow as I turned my head to see the cause. The Titan's hand was clasped around my shoulder, yanking me from Voen's grasp.
"Sora, cover your ears."
A sonic screech shot from his flute, landing a direct hit on the Titan, knocking it back to the low ground. While Voen pulled me back up to the top of the mound, the landscape shifted again. An explosion sent rock and rubble flying everywhere.
Voen and I were launched twenty feet into the air. In the midst of our free-fall, I saw the chest of totems shaking frantically. Nerena was still working on the lock. It wouldn't be long before the Titan knew she was there.
The pain from my dislocated shoulder intensified, forcing my eyes to shut in a futile attempt to dull it. The impact of our crash only made it worse, despite the layer of cosmic energy I had wrapped around myself.
I couldn't let myself wallow in pain, so I flung the rubble off me and called out to my comrade.
I reset my shoulder. "Voen, where are you?" I shouted.
A little to my right, rocks flew forward.
"Here!" he said as he ran up to me. "But Sora, where did the titan go?"
Then a shriek echoed through the battlefield. My eyes scanned the terrain for the source.
Then I found it.
An arm coated in silver protruding from the rubble was latched onto Mira's neck.