"This... this woman..."
At that moment, Nearl felt that the pale-haired woman standing before them was no ordinary person. She wasn't even human anymore. No, she felt more like a walking embodiment of fire and brimstone. A monster cloaked in human form.
And she had the terrifying sense that if this creature released the full extent of her power, she could reduce the entire city to ash.
Talulah slowly raised her right hand. A blazing fireball condensed in her palm and hurled toward the Rhodes Island group like a falling star.
"Watch out!"
Despite knowing full well how dangerous the enemy was, Nearl bravely stepped forward and raised her shield.
BOOM!
The fireball exploded just inches from her. Though she managed to block the attack, the intense heat melted her armor and burned through her gear.
"Nearl! Are you alright?!"
Dobermann rushed over in alarm.
"I... I'm fine..."
The pain was excruciating, like her body was being seared from the inside out, but Nearl grit her teeth and forced herself to stay standing.
"Don't worry about me. Get the Doctor out of here... this enemy is beyond anything we've faced!"
Before her voice even faded, another massive fireball came hurtling in.
This time, Amiya leapt forward and summoned a swirling black force to intercept it.
"Haa... haa..."
Even though she had poured everything she had into that one spell, Amiya barely managed to counter the attack.
The strain on her body was evident. Her face twisted in pain, her hands trembling.
She wouldn't last much longer.
"If we stay here, we'll all die. We need to retreat. Now."
ACE stepped forward, voice low and grave.
The situation was obvious. The enemy standing before them could summon massive flame vortexes at will. This wasn't a normal opponent. She was a monster.
And the team that Rhodes Island had brought to Chernobog wasn't designed for full-scale combat. They weren't equipped to take down something like her.
Even if the Doctor's performance earlier had shocked everyone... this enemy was on another level.
Jay probably wouldn't even reach Talulah before being consumed by fire.
"Doctor, at your nine o'clock, there's a gap between the collapsed buildings. Lead everyone through there and escape."
ACE stepped forward, placing himself between Talulah and the rest of the team. His tall frame stood like a fortress. A father figure, shielding everyone behind him.
"My squad and I will stay behind and buy you time."
"ACE! Are you crazy?!"
Dobermann immediately realized what he was trying to do.
"You'll die out there!"
At that moment, a familiar chime echoed in Jay's mind.
"Warning! High-energy reaction ahead!"
"Please choose from the following options."
[Sanity Option]: Lead Rhodes Island to retreat while ACE and his squad hold the rear. Reward: Intelligence +20, Sanity +40. Warning: Operator ACE will die with 100% certainty.
[Madness Option 1]: Challenge Talulah head-on in a solo duel to buy time. Reward: Skill Unlocked 'Frost Arrow'. Intelligence +20. Rhodes Island has a 75% chance of full survival.
[Madness Option 2]: Present flowers and publicly confess your love to Talulah. Reward: Skill Unlocked 'Jade Shield'. Special Reward: Talulah Affection +100, Patriot Hatred +100. Rhodes Island survival rate: 100%.
Note: 'Jade Shield' generates an indestructible transparent barrier around the user, capable of absorbing enormous amounts of damage.
What the hell? Is this system stealing skills from that rock god next door now?
Still, there was no time to complain. The choices had to be made fast.
The first option was canonically accurate to the Arknights story, but Jay who had played the game knew what it meant.
ACE would die.
No way. He wasn't letting that happen.
Madness Option 1? A one-on-one duel with Talulah? Tempting, but still risky. A 75% survival rate wasn't good enough.
Madness Option 2, though... that was interesting.
Talulah Affection +100, Patriot Hatred +100.
Jay's eyes narrowed. If the Talulah standing before them was being controlled by the sinister will of Patriot also known as "the Snake" then that affection stat could mean her soul was still able to hear him.
And the best part?
Guaranteed full survival.
Even if it meant confessing to the body of Talulah while her mind was partially possessed by a creepy genderless snake, he could live with that.
After all... Talulah looked like a beautiful anime waifu on the outside. No loss, really.
Let's go. Time to flirt with fire.
"Doctor, please don't hesitate any longer. I hope... you'll make the right choice."
ACE's voice rang out, firm and resolved.
"One day, you'll have to face the cruel truth of this land together with Amiya. Protect her. Protect them all. Go."
"No... I can still fight...!"
Amiya had sensed ACE's intentions. She tried to stand, tried to charge forward again.
But her body gave out. She collapsed from exhaustion.
A heavy silence fell over the team.
It was suffocating.
"ACE, thank you. Maybe one day... we will fall."
Jay stepped forward and gently patted ACE on the shoulder.
"But not today."
He turned to face the Rhodes Island operators.
"I've got my own way of getting us out of this."
With that, Jay raised his voice and shouted across the blazing square.
"Talulah! I am the Doctor of Rhodes Island, and I have something I want to tell you!"
Talulah, already charging another spell, paused mid-cast.
"You... want to speak?"
She lowered her hand and eyed him coldly.
She didn't know much about Rhodes Island. But now that their supposed leader had stepped forward, she wasn't going to pass up a chance to gather intel.
Chernobog was already under Reunion's control. These people were like rats in a trap. She could crush them anytime.
So why not play with them a bit longer?
"Very well. Speak."
"Great. Just give me a second."
Jay turned, grinning faintly, and began walking alone across the plaza toward her.