A silhouette slowly appeared through the storm. At first, he walked slowly as a lone man. Yet, as time went on, the more he approached the edge of the storm, his stature seemed to grow. Until, by the end, a giant stood taller than the clouds that obscured the skies. Such must be the spirit of those who are given command of a Storm-class titan. Your God machine might shake the foundation of the earth, yet your spirit must possess the ambition to shake up the heavens.
With his pistol still steaming, Ludovic moved away from the corpses of the policemen that littered the titan's bridge. Then, with a will unknown to mortal men, he reconnected himself to his throne and called for the titan to obey. Suddenly, the war horns of the war machine came to life, blasting the scream of the leviathan in all of its fury for the world to hear. Within the titan, crewmen still in their catatonic state abruptly woke up, shaken by the God machine's call to duty.
However, with most of the crew dead and the controls devastated by the mad cops' rampage, only a single option was left for Ludovic. With the ferocity of a beast, Ludovic screamed for the titan to charge as movement seemed to be the only undamaged part of the machine. Without delay, the machine roared its wrath in thunder and advanced toward the government tower.
Meanwhile, down in the parking lot, Kadyn sped through the last level of the underground before reaching the door that would lead to the outside. However, to her shock, the exit was sealed by a massive slab of steel, blocking all traffic from leaving the tower's confines. As the truck came to a screeching halt, Mike's ghost could only confirm the worst.
[Mike] - "That thing is too bloody thick, even for your wrist blades. "
[Kadyn] - "I could try to carve through it piece by piece. It's not like my blades can't cut through it. "
[Mike] - "But do we even have enough time? "
Said Mike as he looked back at the hall leading to the first level.
Even Dane, in the back of the truck, heard the sound of a dozen vehicles approaching. Soon, these cars with their maddened passengers will reach them, and who knows what kind of conflict will ensue?
[Kadyn] - "Or I can cut them down while Dane works on the door. "
Said Kadyn as she extended her wrist blade.
[Mike] - "What the hell is Dane going to do against that slab of steel? "
Kadyn thought for a second before falling back down on her seat in defeat.
[Kadyn] - "Well, do you have an idea, genius? "
With a sigh, Mike stood up and levitated above the ground and phased through the wall to the surface. However, before he could even start looking for a solution, the ground abruptly rumbled as the titan was mere steps away from the tower. After some quick calculation on where the titan would impact the tower, Mike immediately returned to the truck.
[Mike] - "Move the truck a few meters back. We got our saviour right outside. "
Without wasting a second in doubt, Kadyn reversed the vehicles backward and stopped in the middle of the lot. On the other hand, Astroboy and KD-554 felt the elevator shake with every step the titan took. Though they were initially not sure what was causing the earthquake, KD-554 quickly figured out the cause before Astroboy.
[KD-554] - "Astroboy! The titan! It's somehow back in action again! "
[Astroboy] - "Impossible! This must be one of the ruses they used to distract us! "
Yelled Astroboy in a panic.
To him, it was simply inconceivable that his ability could fail him. He had done everything right; his ability had everyone hypnotized and left vulnerable to the mad cops he created. Soon, paranoia slowly crept into his mind as he refused to accept that he might have failed with every tremble of the earth.
[Astroboy] - "That's impossible! No mortal man can simply snap out of my grasp! "
Yelled Astroboy as he punched a hole in the elevator wall in anger.
Yet, Ludovic was no longer a mortal man. With a titan under his command, he ascended to a position where he could directly challenge other Gods without fear. As the titan took the last step toward its ultimate destination, Ludovic felt no mortal fear in his heart. With full power, the titan slammed into the government tower, its weight breaking the tower apart from the middle. The insides of the tower shook violently as KD-554 and Astroboy were plunged into total darkness in their elevator before the cabin started a free fall.
From the outside, the remaining rebels cheered in victory as the oppressive spire of the tower collapsed alongside KD-554's infamous balcony. With another step, the titan slammed its foot into the base of the tower, completely annihilating the lower structure like a kick to a sand castle. Debris flew freely in the air as the oppressive structure vanished from sight permanently. Inside, all of KD-554's followers, collections and guards fell into the ashy hells of destruction alongside the tower. Even KD-554 and Astroboy disappeared under the chaos as their elevator cabin was caught in the midst of the rampage.
Below, due to the impact, a massive chunk of the parking lot was ripped away, exposing a clear path for Kadyn to escape from. However, with nerves of steel, Kadyn wasn't swayed by the massive dust storm that engulfed the truck. Using the split-second image of where she last saw the path to the outside, she slammed on the gas and charged forward.
Even Mike, at that moment, held his breath as the truck drove through a dust storm in total blindness. Then, after a few tense seconds, came light. With a powerful slam, the truck landed on the paved road and began to drive with slightly more visibility. The truck cheered in victory as Dane and his robot raised their fists in exhilaration.
[Kadyn] - "Let's FUCKING GO! "
Yelled Kadyn as she excitedly slammed her fists against the wheel.
[Mike] - "Fuck yeah, Lemon! We fucking did it! "
Screamed Mike with a level of rarely seen passion.
Behind them, the last vestige of KD-554's domination fell into a pile of ruins. In victory, the titan blasted its horns alongside the real thunder of the stormy weather. In the city, boosted by the sight of the tower's collapse, the resistance charged against the horde of mad policemen and overwhelmed them with a level of determination never seen before. As the rain poured down onto the city, even the heavy rain and storm failed to silence the cheerful silence of the resistance fighters as they charged in an all-out assault.
As Kadyn's truck arrived at a street corner, she was stopped by a gang of mad policemen. Just as she was about to floor it and ram through them, a tide of triumphant screams flooded the street. In a display Kadyn had never witnessed before, a horde of rebels rushed through the street and made the gang of policemen disappear under their feet.
"FOR OUR CITY! FREEDOOOM! "
Chanted the crowd as the rebels pushed toward the police force.
Acting quickly, Kadyn backed away before the rebels could storm her truck as well. Then, with a press of her pedal, the truck sped away into an adjacent empty street. Suddenly, Kadyn stumbled upon a flipped van that blocked her path. As she tried to back away, her exit was suddenly blocked by a different wave of resistance charge.
[Kadyn] - "Shit, shit, shit! "
Cursed Kadyn as she slammed on the brakes.
Soon, the truck was surrounded by a horde of resistance fighters who threatened to attack them, seeing that the truck was of government origin. However, upon seeing the face behind the wheel, the rebels immediately stopped and recoiled in awe.
[rebel fighter] - "It's the Dark Angel of Retribution in the flesh! "
Yelled the woman in shock.
Shocked chatter quickly spread around the crowd as they quickly took off their hat or knelt down out of respect.
[Mike] - "Well, looks like you've got quite some fans. "
Said Mike jokingly.
Kadyn, on the contrary, wasn't as enthusiastic about the wave of admirers outside her window as she pressed her head against the wheel.
[Kadyn] - "I don't like drawing attention to myself like you. I don't even know who these people are. "
[Mike] - "Heh! Look, that woman definitely botched her hair trying to look like you. "
Said Mike as he pointed at one of the rebels who cut her hair too short.
[Kadyn] - "Urgh, looks like mother after I cut her down. "
Said Kadyn with a disgusted grimace.
[Mike] - "You should address them like the proper angel you are. "
[Kadyn] - "It's not happening! I'm not stepping out of this door! Not to mention, I can already feel the smell. Look at them, they're sweaty and soaked. "
Said Kadyn as she pulled away from the door handle.
[Mike] - "Tsk! Really? I didn't know Miss 'constantly soaked in blood and gore' is a bougie girl afraid of the common peasant. "
Said Mike teasingly as he crossed his arms at Kadyn.
[Kadyn] - "I'm nervous, ok? I'm experienced in being your wife, not in bloody idoling for a crowd of hundreds. "
Yelled Kadyn in a panic.
Meanwhile, Brutus stepped out of the van, followed by the twins, Ella and Ulric. Approaching one of the rebels in the crowd, Brutus inquired about what was happening.
[rebel] - "Capo Brutus, sorry I didn't see ya. "
[Brutus] - "What's the deal with this truck? Does it contain some kind of saint in it? What the fuck is going on? "
Said Brutus as he tried to push a path through the crowd for him and the twins.
[rebel] - "It's the Dark Angel of Retribution; she is in the driver's seat of that truck. "
Whispered the rebel with excitement.
With a look of surprise, Brutus pushed through the crowd and reached the truck, where he got a better look at Kadyn. After noticing the distinct glowing eyes and the jolly, cute face, even Brutus quickly showed Kadyn a salute.
[Kadyn] - "Who is that guy? "
Said Kadyn in a panic.
[Mike] - "It must be their leader. Composed yourself, the man is trying to speak with you. "
Said Mike as he pointed at Brutus, who was approaching her window.
Suddenly, Brutus knocked on the truck window, causing Kadyn to jolt in fear. After a second knock, Kadyn finally lowered her window slightly.
[Kadyn] - "Ye– Yes? What can I do for you, sir? "
Said Kadyn in a panic.
[Mike] - "Aw, come on! What is he, and what are you? He should be the one fearful of you instead. Get a hold of yourself, Lemon! "
Yelled Mike with frustration.
With a quick adjustment to her posture and tone, Kadyn switched her mood from nervous to high and mighty.
[Kadyn] - "I'm the great Dark Angel of Retribution! What do you seek from me, puny mortal? "
Said Kadyn in a firm voice.
[Brutus] - "Great angel, if you have space in the back of your vehicle, may you offer mercy to two young souls? Bring these young folks far away from the battlefield and spare them the brutality of this war. "
Said Brutus with a proud expression.
Looking down, Kadyn saw two young adults soaked to the bones with rain and stricken with defeat and fatigue in their eyes. Immediately, Kadyn felt compelled to help them despite how escaping the city was her main objective.
[Kadyn] - "I accord these young souls my mercy! You may load them into the back of my truck, venerated one. "
Said Kadyn as she opened the back of her truck.
Ulric and Ella didn't hesitate as they boarded the truck in silence. As they passed by Dane, they subconsciously shared a nod of acknowledgement between broken souls.
[Brutus] - "Anyone else? Are there any more young folks or people wishing to leave the battle? "
Yelled Brutus at the crowd.
When no one answered his call, Brutus nodded and reached to shut the doors.
[Ulric] - "Hey, Uncle Brutus, thank you! "
[Ella] - "Yeah, make sure you come back alive, Uncle Brutus. "
With a smirk, Brutus acknowledged the close bond that had formed between him and the two youngsters.
[Brutus] - "Just promise me to live a full life, you two. Whether it be adventurous or boring, savour every moment without ever trying to rush to the end. "
Said Brutus before shutting the doors on the twins.
With a voice full of authority, Brutus quickly signalled for the crowd to create a path for the truck. Slowly, Kadyn was able to back out of the blocked alley and reach a relatively clean main road. As the truck began to roll, Brutus jumped on its side and rode with the truck by holding onto a metal bar. Like a human signal light, Brutus screamed and yelled all the way as the truck rolled for the rebel and civilian crowds to make way.
Finally, as the truck reached the outskirts of the city wall, Brutus leaped off the vehicle and ordered the gate to open for the truck. As the exit gate lowered into the ground for the truck's free passage, Brutus went up to the window and saluted Kadyn one last time.
[Brutus] - "Great angel, I thank you with my most sincere gratitude for your help. Please, find a place to stay for these young adults so they can live a long and happy life. "
Said Brutus as he slowly kneeled for Kadyn.
[Kadyn] - "Don't worry, venerated one, I will make sure of that. "
Said Kadyn as she saluted Brutus.
As the truck rolled away, Kadyn couldn't help but look at Brutus in her rear mirror. His dedication to protecting these two young adults and the way he stayed behind almost brought a tear to Kadyn's eyes. As Kadyn turned toward Mike to see if what she did was right, he approvingly nodded at her.
[Mike] - "You have a good heart. That's what I would've done too. "
Meanwhile, in the city, the titan stood silently on the spot where the government tower used to be. Though it could still move, Ludovic knew there was no more reason to do so. They had won, and that's all that mattered. The God machine had accomplished its mission.
However, unbeknownst to the people on the surface, the darkness below the tower's remains would not be enough to seal the evil that terrified them. At first, the darkness was broken by a pair of red eyes, followed by its complete banishment by a blinding blue glow. Suddenly, with the fury of a thunderbolt, a single dot shot through the rubble of the tower, slicing through the titan's body without being slowed.
Looking down, Astroboy grimaced in disgust as he witnessed the infestation of rebels in the city below. By now, all the mad policemen he had created were wiped clean from the map. As he saw the titan still standing below on the remains of the government tower, his blood boiled with rage. His will was defiled and violated in a way he never expected by a mortal who managed to stand up to his power. With an all-consuming rage that threatened to break his sanity, Astroboy would not let his insult go unpunished.
Diving down, Astroboy burst almost instantly onto the bridge, where he found Ludovic alone in his throne. All around him, the dead bodies of the crew and policemen lay glassy-eyed, facing the sky, all witnesses to the lone mortal man's defiance. With barely contained rage, Astroboy crashed through the screens and control panels in a flash before grabbing Ludovic by the neck.
[Astroboy] - "Who are you, mortal? How dare you defy my orders? "
Whispered Astroboy, his voice full of venomous hatred.
The cyberknight's voice echoed like a thousand bells within the mind of Ludovic while he stared at him with a gaze that threatened to destroy his soul. However, Ludovic wasn't intimidated in the slightest as he dared to look Astroboy in the eyes and smile. This man has nothing extraordinary about him, yet he defied a God when he should've never been able to.
[Astroboy] - "Kneel! Kneel before me if you wish to save those below! "
Yelled Astroboy as he slammed Ludovic on the ground.
Without even the slightest of acknowledgement toward Astroboy's command, Ludovic stood up, even as his trembling legs threatened to give up.
[Ludovic] - "No! I've seen what true Gods are through the eyes of this titan, and you are not one of them. I am a man, and I refuse to kneel to another of my equals. "
Said Ludovic in a weak but defiant voice.
The word 'equal' irritated Astroboy in a way he never thought possible. To think that one day, a mortal man with no power would stand before him, eye to eye, and utter these words is inconceivable to the cyberknight. Behind his helmet, Astroboy burned with a fury that turned his face crimson. With a murderous aura in his eyes, Astroboy abruptly swung his arm, causing Ludovic to instantly vaporize alongside a massive chunk of the titan's face. Yet, even as he stood over the annihilation of his opponent, his pride was forever wounded beyond repair.
In a blood-curdling, savage yell, Astroboy let out his frustration, but it was not enough. In a frenzy to calm the rage in his mind that felt like a fire about to destroy him, Astroboy dashed into the clouds and screamed so loudly that his voice rivalled the sound of thunder.
[Astroboy] - "Existential Judgement: Blood Tears of the Weeping God! "
Yelled Astroboy as the skies cried against his cruelty.
Suddenly, the cheers within the city were silenced by a force beyond logic. The world cried with the roar of a billion thunderstrikes while all that existed faded, washed away by a rain that carried the force of centuries on each drop. Brutus looked up proudly, knowing he had done his part in the revolution. As a single drop of rain struck him, he vanished into a mist of red that merged with the soil. The broken buildings, alongside the places that used to hold memories of many, disappeared under the rain. Even the titan, for all its might and defiance, crumbled under the power of the droplets.
The city was peaceful, then forgotten. When the rain returned to its normal sorrow, devoid of the fiery rage that was infused into it, all that remained was a crater where there used to be a place. Slowly, Astroboy descended from the skies, grinning cruelly as all the witnesses to his humiliation became history. He felt no remorse for his action if it meant that he would be avenged of his disgrace.
As he landed in the crater, the site of his previous shame, a single figure stepped out of the rain toward him. As soon as she appeared, KD-554 slapped Astroboy in the face.
[KD-554] - "You fool! How dare you destroy my favourite toy? "
Yelled KD-554 in a fit of anger.
[Astroboy] - "I will not leave this ugliness of mine to be witnessed by anyone. "
Said Astroboy without an ounce of remorse.
[KD-554] - "Heh! Hahaha! You know why we are equals and you're not superior to me? Because I hold no delusion as to my own person. You hold yourself so mighty and high, yet where does that lead you– Back to the ground, standing before me a few inches short of my height. "
Said KD-554 tauntingly as she looked down at Astroboy.
[Astroboy] - "I accept this, because this is my punishment for failing to meet perfection. "
Said Astroboy as he kneeled before KD-554 in shame.
[KD-554] - "Hahaha... Oh, you poor thing. We are not done yet. There is still another chance for you to perfect your craft and redeem your failure. However, you will listen to me this time. "
Said KD-554 mockingly as she raised Astroboy's head by the chin.
[Astroboy] - "I have put an end to our enemies. What more is there for me to reclaim? "
[KD-554] - "Hmm... My sister lives. I can feel it. She can run, but never escape. "
Said KD-554 as she closed her eyes and listened to the rain.
As KD-554 stepped forward, Astroboy got up and followed her as well.
[KD-554] - "Time to inform Dan of our arrival in Light City. It's unfortunate you destroyed my favourite city– my favourite toy, but I forgive you as a kindred spirit. "
[Astroboy] - "Thank you, my lady. "
Said Astroboy as he bowed to KD-554 out of respect.
While Astroboy brought KD-554 into the sky with him, the rain continued to weep over the forgotten city. Yet, ever the defiant God machine, Skymningkoloss, as well as its chosen lord, Ludovic, were survived by Ulric and Ella alongside their gears.
On the other side of the world, in a small Moldovan village, Nilsson stepped out of his house as he felt the storm in the sky call to him. With a salute, Nilsson paid respect to the sky and the storm that avenged the 9th company.
[Oltevin] - "Comrade Nilsson, I see you are on time for our fishing session. "
Said Oltevin enthusiastically as he approached Nilsson with his fishing gear.
[Nilsson] - "I was just getting ready, comrade Oltevin. "
Said Nilsson as he turned to grab his gear.
[Oltevin] - "Though, maybe rain will be a problem. "
Said Oltevin as he collected a few raindrops on his hand.
[Nilsson] - "What? You scared of a little storm? "
Said Nilsson jokingly.
[Cyberknight: Rise of the Dark Angel] END.
To be continued...