The Black mamba

Thaurex and Ruco sprinted down the long hallway, bursting out into a storm of chaos outside. Gunfire lit the air as enemy soldiers pressed hard, their shots kicking up dirt and sparks around them. The two dove for cover as a grenade exploded nearby, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

"Damn it!" Thaurex cursed, gripping his weapon tightly.

"Thaurex! Glad you're here—we could use the backup!" Ethan's voice crackled over the intercom. Ruco tapped Thaurex on the shoulder, pointing to the squad pinned down across the field. Without hesitation, the pair dropped to their stomachs, crawling through the rubble and gunfire to join the others.

Meanwhile, high above the battlefield, Lavex's fleet faced off against the last enemy warship. In the cockpit of his damaged vessel, Lavex stood beside the pilot, his voice firm and commanding. "Keep heading straight. Let them think we're running scared," he said, eyes locked on the enemy ship rapidly closing in.

The pilot's hands trembled on the controls. "They're gaining fast—what's the plan, Lavex?"

"Wait for it," Lavex said, his tone calm but tense. The enemy ship loomed closer, firing relentlessly. Lavex's gaze didn't waver. "NOW! Pull up hard and deploy the flares!"

The pilot yanked the controls, sending their ship into a near-vertical climb. Flares burst from their ship, blinding the pursuing enemy craft. The enemy pilot, too late to react, collided with Lavex's ship in a deafening explosion. The fiery wreckage plummeted to the ground, crashing into the chaos below.

Smoke billowed from the downed ship as Lavex stumbled out, his face bloodied and his arm cradled to his chest. Despite his injuries, he grabbed a weapon and moved with purpose.

"LAVEX!" Eric shouted from the squad's position, relief cutting through the chaos.

Lavex nodded and sprinted toward them, determination blazing in his eyes as he joined the fray, ready to fight to the end.

Thaurex and Ruco successfully crawled to the rest of the squad, sliding behind the sandbags. "What the hell happened to you?" Thaurex asked Lavex, who sat bruised but smiling faintly.

"Umbra Keep is almost down," Lavex said, gripping his weapon. "We just need to take out those two animals. But the reinforcements hit us harder than we expected—we can't move."

Thaurex's gaze shot past the enemy forces, locking onto The General boarding the ship, its engines roaring to life.

"Fuck! They're about to leave. Why haven't we shot them down yet?" Thaurex demanded, his voice sharp with urgency.

Ethan shook his head, looking defeated. "We were ready to, but the reinforcements overwhelmed us. The rocket launcher's out there somewhere—still loaded—but we can't get to it."

Thaurex scanned the field, his eyes locking onto the weapon in the middle of the battlefield. His heart pounded as he turned back to the squad, his breathing growing heavier.

Ruco caught the shift in Thaurex's expression. He shook his head slowly, already understanding. "Don't," Ruco said, his voice low.

Thaurex stared at the ground, then glanced toward the far distance. Through the thick smoke, he caught a glimpse of a figure—long golden hair and piercing blue eyes. "Katyusha?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

Resolute now, Thaurex turned to the others. "I've failed her. I won't fail my daughter too."

He stood, addressing the squad. "Listen up! This is our last chance. After everything we've sacrificed, after all the lives lost, we cannot let Umbra Keep escape. I'll retrieve the rocket launcher. All I need from you is cover fire. It's this… or they live to destroy even more."

His conviction reignited the squad's spirits. Lavex clenched his fists. Ethan gave a sharp nod.

"NOW!" Thaurex roared, vaulting over the sandbags.

The squad unleashed a storm of firepower, drawing enemy attention. Thaurex sprinted across the battlefield, lasers scorching the air around him. His body screamed in protest as a laser grazed his arm, blood dripping from the wound.

"FALETHIER!" he bellowed, his legs propelling him forward. He dove, grabbing the rocket launcher. Dropping to one knee, he steadied the weapon, its weight grounding him as he took aim at the ship.

The General, now aboard, barked orders. "FLARES! Deploy them now!"

Thaurex's finger squeezed the trigger. The missile erupted from the launcher, streaking through the air with a deafening roar. It split mid-flight, smaller rockets detonating the flares, clearing a path for the main warhead.

The missile struck its target, the explosion consuming the ship in a blinding inferno. Debris scattered across the battlefield as the wreckage spiraled downward, crashing into the ground with a resounding impact.

Thaurex stood, his legs trembling, his eyes locked on the burning wreckage. He staggered forward, the heat of the flames licking at his face.

And then, through the smoke, he saw her.

Falethier crawled from the wreckage, her black and white hair streaked with ash and blood. Her blue and white eyes found Thaurex's, locking onto him with a piercing intensity.

Thaurex's breath hitched. "Falethier," he whispered, his voice trembling. He stepped forward, but before he could reach her, a figure emerged from the wreckage.

Zaulkom.

Bloodied and broken, his arm barely hanging on, Zaulkom staggered toward them, a pistol raised and aimed at Falethier.

"Not one step," Zaulkom hissed, his voice sharp and venomous.

Thaurex froze, his hands slowly rising.

Zaulkom sneered, his eyes wild. "Why couldn't you just follow orders, Thaurex? Why couldn't you accept her death? You're a soldier. You could've had peace!"

Thaurex's voice was low, dangerous. "Accept her death? After everything you've done? After what Umbra Keep has taken from me? From us?"

"You don't understand," Zaulkom snarled. "It was for the universe! For survival!"

Thaurex took a step forward, his fists clenched. "No. It was never about survival. It was about power. And you made one fatal mistake—you messed with the wrong Smautherian."

Zaulkom laughed bitterly. "Power? Weapons? That's all you are—tools. You and your precious daughter." He turned to Falethier, leveling the gun at her head. "Perhaps it's time I put you out of your misery."

As the words left his mouth, Falethier moved. Her hand shot up, and Zaulkom's head exploded in a spray of blood and bone. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

Thaurex's hands dropped, his eyes wide. "Falethier..."

He rushed toward her, his heart pounding. "Falethier, it's me—"

Before he could embrace her, she thrust her hand forward. A wave of telekinetic force hurled Thaurex backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop.

The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackle of flames. Thaurex lay stunned, staring up at the smoke-filled sky.

Falethier stood motionless, her hand still outstretched, her expression twisted with pain and fury. Tears carved paths through the grime and blood on her face, her piercing blue and white eyes shimmering in the firelight.

Thaurex, his body aching, looked at her from the ground. "Falethier..." he whispered.

The eerie silence pressed down on them, broken only by the flames consuming the wreckage between them.