The centipede rose again, its wounds healed, its eyes blazing with purple fury.
Around it, the soldier centipedes swarmed—dozens of them, blocking the unit's path. Their mandibles clicked in unison, a terrible chorus of hunger.
"We can't get through!" Sally shouted, clutching her wounded shoulder.
Beatrice looked at her unit. At their battered bodies. At their fading hope.
Then she looked at Hiro.
"Fox," she said. "Can you make an opening?"
Hiro's golden eyes met hers. Even through his exhaustion, they burned with something that hadn't been there two weeks ago—conviction.
"How big?"
"Big enough for me to reach its throat again."
Hiro nodded. He closed his eyes and reached deep inside himself—past the exhaustion, past the fear, past the crimson door that held his primal force at bay.
He didn't open it. He didn't need to.
He just needed to borrow a little more power.
Just a little more.
Although this move still isn't perfect but it should do the job
His body ignited with a bright pink color releasing energy similar to Spirit pressure but with energy being focused at the tip of each of his tails.
The light filled the cavern, casting rainbow shadows against the purple gloom.
Spirit Gate — Partial Release.
"Nine bladed tail execution"
The tails lashed out in every direction, each one striking a frozen soldier centipede which couldn't move. Each tail moving at frightening speed and somewhat decent precision.
Felicia gasped. "What the—"
"He's been practicing," Marian said quietly, her eyes fixed on Hiro. "One tail at a time. I didn't think he could do all nine."
Hiro had thought about what Marian had said to him during their training that he could have finished the fight against Scott in two moves.
Spirit pressure then Severing Claw
But then he thought of combining the two whilst increasing their efficiency. So instead of channeling the power of Severing Claw to his claws, he channeled it to his tails which had more range. Spirit pressure was now focused on specific targets to increase its effectiveness.
Thus by combine the two he had created.
The Nine bladed tail execution
The soldier centipedes fell—, torn apart and scattered like leaves in a storm.
And in the chaos, the mother centipede's head lifted—confused, searching for its children that were charging a minute ago, its throat exposed.
Beatrice moved.
She didn't run. She flowed—her body a blur of motion, dodging the centipede's thrashing legs, weaving between its strikes. Her feet found the perfect angles. Her breath was steady.
Yurei's voice echoed in her memory: "Your left side is still lagging."
She adjusted. The next step was cleaner.
"Don't overextend."
She pulled back, let a leg pass inches from her face, then surged forward.
"Trust your unit."
She did.
She reached its head.
And she punched.
"Brute — Overload!!!!"
A technique that allowed her increase her stats for a single attack by 120% at the cost of all her remaining Aether.
Bang!!!
The impact was deafening. The centipede's head caved in, purple ichor spraying everywhere. Its body went limp—then crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom that shook the cavern walls.
Silence.
The remaining soldier centipedes froze, their mandibles clicking uncertainly. Then, as one, they turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows from which they came.
Beatrice stood over the corpse, her fist still raised, her chest heaving. Blood dripped from her knuckles. Her arm trembled.
"Did... did we win?" Sally whispered.
Beatrice lowered her arm. Turned to face her unit.
"Yeah," she said. "We won."
---
The Gate flickered. The swirling vortex began to contract, its edges pulling inward like a dying star.
"It's closing!" Ramona shouted. "We need to go—now!"
Beatrice didn't hesitate. "Everyone out! Move!"
Scott grabbed Stanley, who was struggling to stand. Winston, still in his leopard form, herded Felicia and Ramona toward the Gate. Marcus slithered ahead, clearing the path.
Hiro's legs buckled. His tails dimmed. The Nine bladed tail execution had drained him more than he wanted to admit.
Still need to practice with that move he bitterly thought already feeling it's backlash.
Marian was at his side before he hit the ground. Her arm wrapped around his waist, hauling him up.
"I've got you," she said.
"I can walk—"
"You can barely stand. Shut up and move."
He didn't argue.
The Gate contracted further. The blue and red light dimmed to a pale glow.
Beatrice waved everyone through. "Go, go, go!"
Scott pushed Stanley through. Winston followed, pulling Felicia and Ramona behind him. Sally dove through, clutching her wounded shoulder.
Marian half-carried, half-dragged Hiro toward the shrinking portal.
"Hurry!" Beatrice shouted.
Marian shoved Hiro through. The Gate's edge brushed her arm—cold, sharp, like ice and then she was through, tumbling onto the Wasteland ground beside him.
Beatrice came last, diving through as the Gate collapsed behind her.
*FWOOMP. *
The vortex vanished. The air stilled. Only a faint scorch mark remained on the cracked earth.
They lay in a heap—exhausted, bleeding, but alive.
Marian sat up, her arm still wrapped around Hiro's shoulders. She didn't let go.
Hiro's chest rose and fell in ragged gasps. His tails had retracted. His fur was matted with ichor and sweat.
"You're an idiot," she said.
"Thanks."
"A reckless, suicidal idiot."
"You've mentioned."
Her hand found his. She squeezed.
"Don't do that again."
"What? Save everyone?"
"No." Her voice was quiet. "Almost die."
Hiro looked at her. Really looked. Her eyes were red—not from the battle, but from something else.
"I didn't almost die," he said. "I had you."
Marian's breath caught.
She looked away first. But she didn't let go of his hand.
Beatrice stood over them, her shadow blocking the pale sun. "You two okay?"
"Fine," Marian said, releasing Hiro's hand and standing. Her voice was steady again. Casual. "Just catching our breath."
Beatrice raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.
Scott helped Stanley to his feet. Winston was already tending to Felicia's wounds. Sally sat against a rock, cradling her arm.
Marian stepped back from Hiro. Her shoulder felt cold where his warmth had been.
"Not bad," she said, her grin returning. "Not bad at all."
Beatrice looked at her. "You didn't help."
"You didn't need me to." Marian's eyes flicked to Hiro. "That's the point."
Beatrice turned to face her unit. Tired. Bruised. But alive.
All of them.
"We closed a Class Four Gate" she said. "Borderline Class Five. Without Yurei. Without the 13th unit."
Sally grinned weakly. "Does that mean we get promoted?"
Beatrice snorted. "It means we get to rest. The promotion comes later."
Ramona laughed—a tired, broken sound. "I'll take it."
The sun broke through the clouds, pale but warm.
Hiro lay on his back, staring at the sky. His body ached. His tails were sore. But he was smiling.
We did it.
Marian stood beside him, her shadow falling across his face.
"Get up, fox," she said. "We're going home."
She offered him her hand.
He took it.