Chapter 19 : Past

Amidst the chaos of exploding aircrafts and whirling blades, Lincoln deftly maneuvered through the air, his motorized gliders propelling him forward with precision. His eyes scanned the sky, searching for his next target.

Another drone approached, its mechanical form buzzing ominously.

With a swift motion, Lincoln sliced down the drone with his electromagnetic disrupting sword, severing its connection to its controller. The drone spiralled out of control and crashed into the ground below. Without wasting a moment, he swiftly fired off a rocket at an approaching enemy jet, causing a spectacular explosion in the sky.

However, as Lincoln fought, he sensed a change in the battle. The enemy ceased their air support, and a realization dawned upon him. They were going to disable their gliders using electromagnetic disruptors.

Time was running out, Lincoln knew he had to act swiftly. He surveyed the chaotic battlefield, blocking the bullets raining down upon him, explosions erupting in every direction, but his focus remained unyielding. This was the moment he had prepared for, the reason he possessed his unique ability. It was time to use it to turn the tide of this battle.

Suddenly, Lincoln caught sight of an object hurtling through the air. The chaos threatened to conceal it, but his senses honed in on the anomaly. He noticed signs of kinetic energy, emitting a pulsating blue glow. The enemy had launched an electromagnetic disruptor.

Time seemed to slow as Lincoln concentrated his energy. With intense focus, he extended his power towards the incoming object, his abilities intertwining with the forces of the universe. The kinetic energy responded to his command. In a burst of concentration, Lincoln effectively disabled the electromagnetic disruptor, preventing it from fulfilling its intended purpose.

He propelled himself forward, using the chaos and confusion to his advantage, and darted into the heart of the enemy's territory, skillfully navigating through the army camps and buildings they had occupied. His presence remained concealed amidst the battle's turmoil, his gliders carrying him swiftly and silently through the terrain.

As Lincoln's supernatural speed propelled him through the air, he realized that the enemy possessed technology far more advanced than he had anticipated. Their swift detection of his presence was a testament to their prowess. In an instant, five missiles locked onto him, hurtling towards him from all directions.

His instincts kicked in with lightning speed. In a daring move, he swiftly detached himself from the gliders, utilizing his energy as a powerful boost to propel himself away from the impending impact. The force of the explosions propelled him through the air, soaring high above the battlefield. Landing with deftness on the roof of a nearby building, he swiftly shed the remaining pieces of his equipment. The weight of the gear would only hinder his movements, but he decided to retain his sword, figuring it could be useful.

With a deep breath, Lincoln focused his energy, creating five clones that dispersed in all directions, their purpose to divert attention and gather intelligence. Meanwhile, he leapt onto the rooftop in front of him, his mind racing to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances.

Amidst the chaos, a sudden darkness consumed him, a chilling reminder of the lives he had taken in the heat of battle. The weight of his actions bore down on him, a haunting realization that he had treated the violence and death with an unsettling detachment. Though the specter of regret loomed, he pushed it aside for now, knowing that there was still a mission to complete. At that moment, he steeled his resolve, banishing any doubts that threatened to cloud his focus.

Without hesitation, Lincoln leapt from the rooftop, his energy blades materializing on both arms, ready for combat. The ground rushed towards him as he descended, his senses attuned to the soldiers patrolling the area. A lone soldier, unsuspecting of the impending danger, became his target. Swiftly and silently, Lincoln landed behind him, driving his energy blade deep into the soldier's back. The soldier fell without a sound, his life extinguished in an instant.

Lincoln wasted no time, swiftly sidestepping to avoid detection.

Suddenly he had a feeling of a thread being severed and he realized that one of his clones was taken down. Lincoln's senses heightened, his awareness tingling with the knowledge that the enemy was now bewildered. The loss of a clone could easily be misconstrued as a mere holographic projection, causing confusion to ripple through their ranks. They will also start to question the source of the projection.

Seizing this advantageous turn of events, Lincoln wasted no time. He swiftly maneuvered across the side of the buildings, closing on the distance to where his clone had fallen.

Once he reached the area, he observed it with precision, gauging the enemy's reactions and their growing bewilderment.

Drawing upon the atmosphere, Lincoln conjured shards of crimson energy, imbued with lethal intent. With a deft flick of his wrist, he sent the shimmering projectiles cascading towards the unsuspecting soldiers below.

As the shards of crimson energy descended upon the bewildered soldiers, their panicked voices filled the air amidst the chaos. Their words were a symphony of fear and confusion, blending with the cacophony of destruction.

"What the hell is happening? Where are these shards coming from?" One soldier cried out in disbelief, desperately seeking answers.

"They're everywhere! We're under attack!" Another soldier shouted, his voice tinged with terror.

Amidst the onslaught, their attempts to make sense of the situation were overshadowed by a sense of overwhelming dread. "How are they hitting us through the shields?! It's impossible!" One soldier exclaimed, struggling to comprehend the source of the relentless onslaught.

As the crimson energy shards continued to rain down, their cries grew more desperate. "Find cover! Return fire!" a soldier commanded, his voice strained with urgency. However, the soldiers' attempts to mount a defense were futile. "We can't see anything! What kind of weapon is this?" Another soldier lamented, his voice filled with frustration and helplessness.

Realizing their dire predicament, the soldiers began to plead for reinforcements. "We need backup! Send reinforcements now!" One soldier urgently called out, desperation etched into his voice. Despite their pleas, the relentless assault of Lincoln's energy shards persisted, shattering their hopes and driving them to the brink of despair. Amidst the chaos, their voices grew fainter, eventually fading into the background, drowned out by the unrelenting tide of destruction.

Undeterred by their cries, Lincoln forged ahead, his determination unyielding. He knew the weight of his actions, the lives taken in the heat of battle. But in the midst of the turmoil, there was no room for doubt or hesitation. His heart raced, his mind focused on the task at hand. The element of surprise had turned the tide in his favor, and he exploited it to devastating effect. With each falling soldier, the enemy's ranks grew thinner, their confusion transforming into a panic.

As Lincoln swiftly darted across the buildings, another jolt ran through him, severing the connection to another clone. He knew he had to act quickly, wasting no time in reaching the location where the clone had met its end. With the same lethal efficiency, he dispatched the soldiers in the area, leaving only one alive.

Breathing heavily, Lincoln approached the captive soldier, his voice low and commanding. "Where is your leader? Tell me now, and perhaps your life will be spared."

The soldier, trembling and wide-eyed, hesitated before finally speaking. "I-I can't... I don't know where he is! They keep us in the dark... Please, don't kill me!"

Lincoln's eyes narrowed, his voice firm but tinged with a hint of menace. "You expect me to believe that? You've been fighting under their command, and you don't know where they are?"

The soldier stammered, desperation in his voice. "I swear, I don't know! We're just foot soldiers, following orders. They don't trust us with that information!"

Lincoln's grip tightened on his electromagnetic disrupting sword, a silent threat hanging in the air. "You have one chance to prove your worth. Tell me anything you know, anything that might help me find your leader."

Fear etched across the soldier's face as he realized the gravity of the situation. He frantically searched his memories, desperately trying to recall any information that might be of use. "I... I overheard them mentioning a rendezvous point. It's a hidden facility in those rocky sand mountains. I think it's where they bring in all those crazy missiles that our country is feared for. They call it 'Haven Alpha.' That's all I know, I swear! God, who are you? How is this possible? How is this possible?!" The man cried as he grew more frightened. His voice strained due to it's volume. "Are you the one who killed the others too? How? How?! They were on the other side! How did you get here so quickly? How?!"

Lincoln's eyes narrowed further, weighing the soldier's words. After a moment's contemplation, he made a decision. "If this information is true, you may live. But make no mistake, if it's a trap or if you've misled me in any way, you will pay the price."

With a swift and precise strike, Lincoln incapacitated the soldier, rendering him unconscious. He knew he couldn't afford to be burdened by a captive for long. The information he had extracted would guide his next steps, and the pursuit of their leader would not be delayed.

Leaving the soldier behind, Lincoln focused his thoughts on the hidden facility known as Haven Alpha. Determination burned within him as he charted a course towards the mountains, where their final confrontation awaited.