Chapter 49: A Passionate Display

Hiding in the smoke created by the explosion, three crystalized tails are in front as cover, placed there by Neo to protect his body from the blast.

"I'll let you take the lead," says Neo.

"Keep up, love," quips Xzina, lifting her left arm and gently holding the right cheek.

. . .

One tail emerges from the smoke and plants itself into the ground, crystalizing.

The AI of one of the wide and very tall tanks zooms into the tail momentarily, and then back at the smoke screen . . . one frame later, the camera catches Neo right in front of it, standing on top of it, and then there is no more signal right after.

. . .

Neo pulls out the sword that he thrusted into the lens, breaking it.

As they start walking from the front to the back of the tank, Xzina has four fingers pointing down towards the tank but not touching it.

"Hep!" she jumps as they reach the end of the back of the tank, doing a front flip and her tails follow her in motion.

She then flips over, facing the tank she just cut. The tails bloom behind her with their beautiful fur acting like a parachute and slowing down her fall.

The tank behind her now split into nine pieces.

"Oh my! That was supposed to be five pieces, guess I'll give that one a nine out of ten!" she says, chuckling as she falls slowly.

All the guns from the surrounding tanks point at her and take aim.

All of their tails crystalize, and Neo sends one tail flying, planting it into the ground to act as support to hold them up.

The tanks start shooting while Neo and Xzina are still in mid-air, laying on their backs and looking up at the void as the bullets approach from below and their sides in many directions.

The three tails Xzina controls move with extreme precision and flurry, blocking and deflecting the bullets coming towards them.

"Is there something above?" asks Neo.

"Not yet! Can I borrow your two other tails temporarily, love?" she asks.

" . . . Alright," he responds, relinquishing control over two of his tails.

Using them, Xzina sweeps a large number of the tanks surrounding and throws them up in the air far, far way . . .

The other tanks fire rockets, and one by one using the four tails while keeping one close, she grabs them and throws them up, continuing to do so until the tanks have to reload.

"Now, for a personal touch," she says, swiping three claws diagonally.

Neo simply stands still in curiosity.

Boom!

A ton of explosions happen above, the explosions taking the shape of a filled heart, it is as if they are fireworks.

Neo looks at it in fascination and wonder.

The lines start coming from an angle and go across to the other end, it is a heart with three scratches now.

Xzina starts smiling uncontrollably.

Giving back control of one of the tails to Neo, she looks around, and with the explosions still in the air, she commands motion and Neo responds reflexively.

"Aah! My goodness!" she shouts as she launches them towards one of the tanks.

Moving headfirst towards the tank, she raises her arm and points one finger, Neo raising his sword to match her finger.

Powerful tugs from her two tails flip two tanks over, sending her spinning at high speed, piercing right through the one she is flying at, and coming out the other end in an upwards arc.

They spread out their body and Xzina grins from ear to ear.

Having reloaded, the remaining tanks start to fire again.

She deflects with two tails and the other two she wraps around two big tanks, picks them up and starts playing Whack-A-Mole with them, smashing the other tanks as Neo uses the last two tails he controls to move them around.

Smash!

"AHAHAHAHAHA!" laughs Xzina, seeming to enjoy her time a lot.

The tanks meant to be hammers used to whack the other tanks turn into nothing.

She coils one of her tails around one of the very large tanks and starts spinning around it at high speed.

"Last run, love!" she exclaims in excitement and happiness.

. . .

After she says that, Zahtan loses sight of them. All he knows next is that he sees his tanks explode in the second after.

Their tails holding them up, Neo and Xzina float in front of Zahtan, coming face to face with him.

"Have your chat, love!" says Xzina, relinquishing control of the last tail and it's back to three tails each.

"Thanks," says Neo.

"Zahtan," he calls and Zahtan looks at his compass again.

"What's the meaning of all this?" asks Neo.

Zahtan takes out a cigar and points it towards Neo, as if asking him if he would like one.

"Are you affiliated with that nutcase? Did you arrange an attack with him on us?" demands Neo as his left arm reaches out and Xzina takes the cigar, placing it in her mouth and Zahtan lights it for her.

He then takes another one out and lights it up for himself.

Taking a puff, Xzina lets out smoke from her mouth, "Aah, nice after a warm-up,"

"Did you betray me?" asks Neo.

. . .

Zahtan puffs out smoke, "First of all, I would like to extend my greetings to Xzina, it's an honor to meet you,"

"Ah, you know who I am!"

"Of course, I have read and was told about you, and I am big fan of your work,"

"Zahtan," Neo cuts him off.

Zahtan lifts his head up, locking eyes with Neo.

"Answers . . . " demands Neo, glaring at him.

Zahtan sighs.

"Fine," he says, pressing the only other button on the remote he is holding in his right hand.