Metal and fang clashed togethor, spurting out spirals of flame in their wake. Ivy skipped about gracefully, her legs seemingly weightless as she circled the Infestare champion. Her opponent responded with a rising sweep, churning the air into a whirlwind of heat with its empowered blade.
"Hmph." Ivy raised her staff, using a delicate grasp to reverse the airflow just as the flames came hurtling towards her. "You don't seem to understand."
Glaring at the armored monster, she searched for a weakness, her eyes flickering. Ivy found nothing, however, aside from the fact that if stuck with the pointy end, all things could perish. It was all the consolation she needed.
Her words came out with steeled resolve as she kicked her heels against the floor. "Lila isn't yours to take."
Lila smiled faintly, swallowing her fear for the moment. But when a Psionic push threw her out of the arena, she came to regret it all rather suddenly.
"Ivy!" Lila cried out. "Dammnit girl!"
The Earthling rolled across the floor, bouncing up to her feet with her firearm in hand. In its projected form, the weapon required no magazine, allowing for Lila to hold the trigger with zero restraint as a horde of Incipents charged at her from the outskirts. Her resistance was a mere afterthought, however, as Lila's thoughts lingered on Ivy.
"I have to help." She stammered. "Stupid bug monsters won't stop me!"
Lila grit her teeth, aiming for the roof of the chamber with an outstretched hand. But before she could release her weaving grapple, a pang shot across her skull.
She darted to the left.
The Earthling stumbled, her movement crazed and panicked. Realizing she had just avoided a gruesome injury, she spun around to see a Tiller with a long scythe in hand. Lila glared at the creature angrily, then at the hook that slithered back towards its body.
Lila responded by firing her weapon, only to stare in disbelief as the Infestare deflected every bullet with a waving motion of its Scythe. Elegant as the watergardens Lunae never dared to speak of, her enemy slithered closer on its hind legs, crossing the distance between them as it continued to wave its scythe.
"Of course." Lila cursed. "They got girlbosses."
The Tiller lept into the air gracefully, performing a spinning slash that would have no doubt cut the Earthling in half if not for her blinding speed.
"I don't care how many of you there are." Lila continued her angry rant, grabbing her firearm by its stock as if it were a club. "That's my girl in there!"
She smashed her weapon against the Tiller, again and again with feral might. The creature wobbled backwards, only to regain its composure with clenched fists. Lila was simply not prepared for what came next.
The Earthling barely had any time to yelp as an extended jaw shot out from the Infestare's open visor, digging into her shoulder as blood spat out.
Ivy felt her partner's pain, releasing a whine of her own. Filled with rage, she threw her staff through the flames, effectively disarming herself in a bid to protect Lila. The large Pennant eargely clenched its boney hilt with both hands, sending the sword crashing down onto Ivy's tiny frame. Yet instead of a crunch, it felt stiff resistance a mere few feet above the ground.
"She's...mine..." The heiress struggled, holding the edge of the blade with her mechanical hands.
Using the absolute extent of her newfound strength, she lifted both weapon and Infestare into the air before throwing them over her shoulder. The sheer effort of her endeavor forced Ivy to collapse in a heap, panting from exhaustion. Her bid worked, however, regardless of its audacity.
The Infestare fell into the chasm below.
Its flames still flicker in the deep.
"Ow." Lila peeped like a mouse, staring up at the Tiller as it attempted to fend off Ivy's staff.
The heiress used all she had left to remotely control her arsenal, spinning it around frantically with desperation. But the Tiller refused to give in, gracefully avoiding every attack before grabbing hold of the staff. Left with no other option, Ivy rose to her feet and stretched out her hand.
At that point, the magical arena at the center of the room had faded, giving her the perfect shot at Lila's assailant. And fire she did, as Ivy called forth a mirage of dreams shaped like glass. Harking back to her battle with Imura, she flung the shards with ruthless intent, completely enveloping the Infestare in Psionic fury.
Lila covered her eyes, cowering on the floor as all who stood in front of her collapsed into meaty slices.
It was over.
Silence soon filled the chamber as Ivy collapsed to the ground.
"Oh-...oh no." Lila panted, rushing over to Ivy's side. "What's wrong!"
"My...my heart." Ivy groaned, staring up at the Earthling's sweaty brow. "It'll be fine. I'm still adjusting."
"You did great!" The Earthling smiled pitifully. "You're so strong...if it wasn't for me."
"Nonsense." Ivy shook her head. "I should have been more careful. I think stopping that attack must have jolted my heart."
As if to prove her point, Ivy picked herself off the floor, turning the tables on Lila completely.
"Your shoulder." She muttered with concern. "It's bleeding."
Ivy placed her mechanical palm against the wound, attempting to staunch its flow. But soon the sound of harrowing screams shot forth from the depths of the chamber, reminding the girls of where they stood.
"I can't keep this up." Lila panted. "Not like you. The Consortium was one thing, but this..."
"I'll die before I let them take you." Ivy hissed. "You belong to me."
The Earthling sighed. "Were it so easy."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
"Lila...Ivy!" Lunae called out, squinting in the dark.
Her eyes adapted soon enough, allowing her to realize the path was cut off. Wherever the Infestare planned to dump off her friends after the sinkhole in the bunker was clearly not a permitted place for the girl to be. Though frankly, Lunae couldn't care less what her people wanted.
"Where are you!" She cried.
Lunae wandered down a long tunnel, her bare feet scraping against the rocky floor. She was rather familiar with the Infestare's method of digging and was none too eager to face them in such a cramped environment. Indeed, if not for her family's peril, she would have hidden in a heartbeat.