Chapter 17: Too Late
Fiery was barely standing. Blood smeared across his face, his body bruised and broken from the relentless beating delivered by Duplicate Zimbraya. Scarlet knelt a few feet away, panting, her hands trembling, whispering prayers under her breath.
"Please… Peter… someone… come fast…"
Around them, the once-proud soldiers of Shinobu stood frozen, crushed by the weight of despair. They had never witnessed anything like this. Never imagined their battlefield would look so hopeless.
High above on a watchtower, Ethan and Alyssa watched in horror.
"If we're late," Alyssa whispered, her voice cracking, "he'll die…"
Ethan clenched his fists tightly, his head bowed. Fear gripped his chest like a vice.
"We can't afford to be late," he muttered.
Meanwhile, in transit
Peter's squad was racing through the forest.
"Goldie, how long?" Peter asked, urgency in his voice.
"Four minutes. Maybe less if we push it," Goldie replied, already panting.
"That's too long!" Aqua growled. "We need to fly!"
Suddenly, a black tentacle shot from the shadows and yanked Aqua by the foot, slamming him into the ground. A tremor followed. The team skidded to a halt.
Goldie's eyes widened. "This is bad news…"
From the shadows, the Unknown Entity emerged, towering, faceless, terrifying.
"You thought you could fool me?" the creature hissed. "Now, face the consequences."
Before any of them could react, massive tentacles wrapped around them, lifting all three into the air Peter, Goldie, Aqua helpless.
Back on the battlefiel
Duplicate Zimbraya pounded his fists into Fiery again. Blow after blow.
"I must admit your courage is admirable," he sneered, "but this is over. I've learned something, though you humans never lose hope."
Fiery, blood dripping from his lip, lifted his head with fire in his eyes. "That's what makes us human. You monsters hide behind twisted ideologies of destruction. But it's the normal people who suffer every time."
"Fiery!" Scarlet screamed.
The Unknown Entity growled, "You talk too much, kid."
Fiery's fire flared. "Shut up!! You don't get to hurt anyone anymore!"
With a burst of energy, he shoved Zimbraya back.
"If you touch Scarlet, I'll kill you!"
Scarlet's eyes widened. Her breath caught.
Zimbraya smirked. "Is that so?"
In a flash, he dashed to Scarlet and smashed his iron mace into her stomach.
She let out a choked scream, blood pouring from her mouth as she crumpled to the ground.
"Scarlet!!" Fiery screamed, frozen in place. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Zimbraya laughed. "What now? You're covered in blood. Your girl is dead."
Fiery's hands trembled.
High on the tower, Ethan looked at Alyssa.
"Are you… sensing something?" he asked.
Alyssa's eyes narrowed. "Yeah. Something's changing…"
Suddenly, the air grew hot. Blistering. Fiery's form ignited again but this time, darker, angrier. Flames erupted from the skies, crashing down onto Zimbraya like divine retribution. He raised his mace, but the force was too strong. A massive explosion shook the battlefield.
Smoke swirled.
And then boom Zimbraya was hurled across the field, smashing into his own battalion.
Fiery appeared behind him like a phantom. His eyes glowing. His aura deadly.
He rushed to Scarlet, scooping her up gently.
She was breathing. Barely.
"Take care of her," he growled, placing her into Ethan and Alyssa's arms.
"Fiery, don't!" Alyssa cried. "You'll die your body can't take more!"
Ethan reached out. "She's right! You'll "
Fiery didn't answer. His gaze was cold. Deadly. He turned back toward Zimbraya and marched forward.
Zimbraya stood, cracking his neck. "Still fighting, huh? You're one of the strongest I've faced…"
They clashed again fire against iron.
But this time… the fire didn't last.
Fiery's flames flickered… and died.
He collapsed, face-first onto the ground.
"Just as I feared," Alyssa whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "He's… done…"
"Where are they?!" Ethan shouted in desperation.
Elsewhere
The Unknown Entity tightened its grip on Peter's group.
"I sense something strong," he growled. "I'll deal with you later."
He slithered off, toward the chaos.
The radio crackled.
"Peter… Aqua… Goldie… where are you?!"
Peter's voice came through, calm and cold. "Don't worry. It's time for Phase 3."
Ethan's eyes widened. "W-What? What's Phase 3?!"
Back on the field, Zimbraya loomed over Fiery, lifting his mace for the final blow.
"You were worthy… but not enough."
"NOOO!" Ethan screamed, sprinting forward, tears running down his face.
Alyssa turned her head, sobbing, unable to watch.
Ten soldiers gasped, frozen.
The mace dropped.
Time slowed.
The world grew silent.
Then shing!
A voice echoed from the radio.
Peter: "It's now or never, Kai."
And in the distance just before the blow landed a glimpse of a single sword slashing through the air.
End of Chapter 17.