CHAPTER LVII:Battle On Golden Gate.

The scene quickly broke into chaos, I heard metal clashing against metal and gunshots ringing through the air. Adam was letting sun arrows fly and Seth was next to him shooting crossbow bolts. Keaton took an M9 pistol from a Marine and was shooting with one hand and slashing with the other. Keaton slashed an enemy legionnaire's throat open and shot him in the side of the head to finish him.

Olivia and Mino were fending off enemies side by side in the road. Whatever enemy Olivia didn't finish off Mino did, and vice versa. Penny was by my side slicing down darkened monsters that turned into mist with every slice and enemy soldiers that went down in splashes of crimson. Penny took the stabbing and blocking attack approach, while I took the slashing and dodging approach to combat. I stabbed my sword into an enemy's stomach and quickly moved to the side to cut his throat open with my dagger. In training, whether you're a Legionnaire or an Adventurer, you learn to go for the throat. It's typically unarmored, left in the open, and it's (almost) always an immediate kill.

I pulled my sword from the enemy's stomach to hear a satisfying unsheathing sound from the metal armor pushing against the metal blade. I moved from foe to foe making quick work of them. I threw my dagger into a man's chest, quickly pulled the blade out, and shoved it through his jaw. I pulled the blade out again in a brilliant splash of crimson color. I saw an opening in front of me, Luke was unguarded. I ran forward dodging attacks from guards and monsters. Luke looked at me as I went to stab him, but my blade was met with two daggers.

"Didn't think you could kill my partner without me getting a say, did you?" Deonna asked, her smile was unnaturally wide and her eyes was filled with madness.

I backed off and readied myself for combat with a legionnaire so finely trained she made up for not having full powered magic in daylight by having strength and skill. Luke tapped Deonna's shoulder twice and walked off into combat. I studied Deonna's stance, and realized my only option was to mock her style. I sheathed my sword and stepped forward. Deonna ran forward and slashed down with both of her daggers. I dodged and went to attack her, but my dagger was met with one of Deonna's twin daggers.

"I may not be to powerful magic wise right now, but my speed with my daggers compensate for it." Deonna said smiling with the same maddening stare.

"Then I'll just have to be faster." I said, I smiled back at her.

My smile and statement seemed to shock Deonna. I thought to myself quickly, I have enough power for at least six shadow hops maybe more. I gripped my dagger tightly. I vanished into a shadow, then popped out of another, slashing Deonna. If I could keep this up, Deonna would be to weak to keep up with me. I shadow hopped again slashing Deonna's leg, then I did it again slashing her arm, and I kept doing it till my dagger ran out of power.

When I stopped Deonna had eight slashes each dripping with blood. She would move slower now, but my energy was a bit drained. I never realized how much I depended on my daggers energy recently. Deonna's irises glowed purple, she smiled as a bit of blood dripped from her mouth.

"Night becomes day and day becomes night, my barrier becomes dark with no visible light. I block out Sol in the name of Luna, and I call the moons power to aid me." Deonna chanted.

The barrier went from a light sky blue to pitch black with very little light. I could faintly see her eyes glowing dimly in the darkness. I heard about this technique from other Legionnaires, it was a child of Selene ability. The ability was exclusive dark magic that Helios despised. It was risky for her partner, Luke since he needed sunlight for his powers, but it doubled her strength and her shadow monsters strength.

"Blocking the sun won't help your partner Hummingbird, but I understand your desperation." I said keeping my dagger close.

Deonna yelled back in response. "No but it will help me! I will kill you Mary! I will kill you then I will kill the red haired reject of Neptune!"

I readied my guard as Deonna's daggers were coated in purple energy. She ran forward again but she slashed at me from both sides this time. I blocked one hit last second and dodged towards it to the left. I slashed Deonna's face sending her forward a bit. Deonna kept slashing at me and I blocked and dodged each swing with barely a second left before they hit. I finally found an opening and went for it. I went to stab her heart, but my dagger was met with another blade and our weapons locked. This repetition of blades blocking my finishing moves was really starting to piss me off.

"You underestimated your opponent Hummingbird, retreat for now." Luke said as the barrier opened up again letting light through.

Deonna nodded and turned back, the second she stepped forward Keaton was there. Keaton shot Deonna in the leg and stabbed his spear through her forehead the second she dropped. Keaton did it all without a change in emotion. Deonna's daggers fell at her side, and Luke looked pained. Luke clenched his teeth and let out a flash of blinding light. I fell forward from the lack of weapon in front of me. I was completely blinded, but I didn't even feel a single scratch on me.

When my vision finally returned, it was just enemy Legionaries left of the opposing force. The barrier and the risen shadow monsters were all gone. Luke was gone and so was Deonna's corpse. Keaton was blinking his eyes rapidly, still recovering from the flash. It didn't matter since the battle was coming to a close. The last Sol Legionnaires were retreating or currently being defeated. I stood up from where I had fallen, The Battle of San Francisco was finally coming to an end.

Or rather the battle should've ended there. Sol's and Luna's protectors were practically defeated, especially since they lost their Night Legatus Legionis. It was only at the end of the battle at the bridge that Dreamwalker showed herself once more, and she had an army behind her. All of Dreamwalker's army wore Roman armor with white plumes, and an 'X' as their god marker. Our small force was already outnumbered but now the odds were worse. We had to use our skill beforehand to win, but now we were far beyond the saving grace of skill. We couldn't fight any longer, we had to retreat for now.