Blood and Steel

Chapter 15A convoy of black vehicles sped across the dusty, desolate road on the outskirts of Sierra. When they finally came to a halt at the colony's edge, the towering dome loomed before them like an unyielding barrier.

"Are you sure no one followed us?" one of the councilmen asked.

"We made sure of it," a man in the same car replied. "We took every precaution in case something went wrong."

"Damn that useless bastard, Harvey. He couldn't even take out Lucien," a female council member scoffed. "I can't believe he's supposed to be Sierra's top hero."

She crossed her arms, shaking her head in disbelief. "Three million for nothing. And all he had to say was—" she cleared her throat, mocking his tone—'You paid me to stall him. Do you think my services are worth three million?'

"Forget about Harvey," another councilman cut in. "We need to get out of Sierra and move to the Southern Colony, Lima. We'll regroup there."

"It's a long journey," the woman muttered, glancing around anxiously. "Do you really think our escorts can fend off Revenant attacks all the way to Lima?"

"We sent scouts ahead," the man reassured her. "Their reports say only low-level Revenants are in the area. Our escort should be enough."

A loud mechanical hiss filled the air as the massive dome door groaned open, revealing the ruined world beyond. Overgrown vegetation sprawled across the cracked ground, climbing the skeletal remains of once-towering buildings. Rusted machinery and abandoned vehicles lay scattered like relics of a forgotten time.

"Let's move."

Engines roared as the convoy rolled out of the colony.

In the last car, the driver caught sight of something in his side mirror—a black car, speeding toward them. He squinted, his grip tightening on the wheel as the image sharpened.

Lucien's Corvette.

His stomach dropped.

"It's Lucien! I repeat, Lucien Voss is tailing us!" he barked into the radio.

Panic rippled through the convoy.

"Do something!" a councilman shrieked.

The last car spun around, its roof hatch sliding open. A man emerged, hoisting an RPG onto his shoulder. He took aim and fired.

Lucien's eyes flicked to his control panel. With a press of a button, the screen slid aside, and a steering wheel rose in its place. He grabbed it and yanked hard. The Corvette swerved at the last possible second.

The missile streaked past, exploding in a fiery blast behind him.

"Shut the door!" one of the councilmen shouted.

"But our escorts are still outside!" another protested. "If we leave now, we'll be outnumbered by the Revenants!"

"I told you we should have left Lucien out of this from the start!" the first councilman snapped, turning on the woman. "This is your fault!"

"My fault?!" she shot back. "You were the one who desecrated the graveyard of his comrades! All because he was 'too distracted' to do his job. Maybe if you had listened to me, we wouldn't be running for our lives right now!"

"Enough!" another councilman barked. "Close the damn door. We'll make it to Lima."

He exhaled sharply.

"I've already placed a call to the King. He's sending his elite team to pick us up."

"Roger that," he muttered, tapping a small watch on his wrist.

The massive gate began to descend just as the fourth car in the escort made it through. The rest of the convoy turned in unison, RPGs locking onto their target.

Lucien's foot pressed harder against the accelerator. The speedometer needle trembled, nearly snapping past its limit. Missiles launched.

At the last second, Lucien and Helen flung themselves sideways from the car. The vehicle hurtled forward, colliding head-on with the incoming missiles.

Boom!

The explosion ripped through the air, sending fiery debris skyward.

From the inferno, Helen emerged.

She darted toward the nearest enemy, weaving through a hailstorm of gunfire. A single, devastating kick snapped a man's neck, his head twisting at an unnatural angle. Two bullets struck her skin, but she didn't stop. She dashed forward, slamming her fist into the car where two others stood. The impact sent the vehicle skidding back, wedging it beneath the gate just as it was about to close.

Lucien walked forward, his movements deliberate. His hand rested on the hilt of his katana. Flames from the wreckage danced across the steel as he unsheathed it.

Then—he moved.

His final step seemed more like a flicker than a motion, and suddenly, he was behind the last car, outside the gate.

Something blurred beside him.

Instinct took over. Lucien swung his blade in a precise arc, the steel singing as it met the unseen force.

The blur took shape.

Isaac stood there, eyes locked onto Lucien. No words were exchanged. They didn't need any.

They dashed at each other.

Lucien's katana sliced through the air with incredible speed. Isaac twisted and dodged, narrowly avoiding most strikes—but not all. A shallow cut opened across his chest.

Lucien lunged forward, blade poised to pierce—

Repulsion.

A massive soundwave blasted from Isaac's palms, hurling Lucien backward.

He skidded across the grass, boots tearing through the soil. Digging his katana into the ground, he stopped himself just in time. Straightening, he rolled his neck from side to side and took his stance once more.

Isaac clapped his hands together.

A barrage of razor-thin soundwaves tore through the air.

Lucien dodged them effortlessly.

Closing the distance in a blink, he flipped his katana, striking Isaac with the blunt end and forcing him back. Off balance, Isaac barely had time to react before Lucien reversed his grip—

Two clean cuts slashed across Isaac's torso.

Then came the kick.

Lucien's boot connected with Isaac's head, sending him flying.

"What's going on back there?" one of the councilmen asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Seems like Isaac is fighting Lucien," another man replied, checking the watch on his wrist. A small smirk played on his lips.

"This might be our best chance to escape."

He sighed. "To think I won't get to witness this fight."

Isaac wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. With a sharp rip, he tore away the remnants of his shredded shirt.

Lucien tilted his head, eyes calm, unwavering.

"That makes three times I could've killed you, Isaac."

"You still underestimate me, Lucien." Isaac's lips curled into a smirk. "That will be your downfall."

Isaac dashed toward Lucien, his speed increasing with every step. He launched a flurry of punches—so fast that even Lucien struggled to react. Forced back, Lucien swung his sword, aiming for Isaac's side.

Isaac intercepted, striking Lucien's wrist with pinpoint precision, loosening his grip on the blade. Another quick hit sent the sword flying across the ground.

Lucien didn't hesitate.

He retaliated with two lightning-fast jabs to Isaac's chest before spinning in a seamless motion, driving his elbow into Isaac's face.

Isaac staggered but recovered instantly, grabbing Lucien's arm. Stepping in, he hooked a hand under Lucien's chin and slammed him into the ground.

Lucien immediately rolled out of the pin, escaping before Isaac could lock him down.

A guttural growl cut through the air.

Both fighters turned as a towering figure lumbered toward them—its body riddled with gaping wounds, thick swarms of flies buzzing around the rotting flesh.

Without even glancing at it, Isaac extended a hand in its direction. A thin, invisible wave of force sliced through the Revenant's neck. Its head tumbled to the ground.

Lucien smirked. Isaac did the same.

"Your hand-to-hand combat has improved, I'll give you that," Lucien admitted.

"Too bad you're still the same," Isaac shot back.

Inside the DomeHelen stood at the dome's exit, shielding her eyes from the harsh light.

"Yikes. The General's gonna need my help. That Isaac guy was way too fast for me."

Before she could move, distant voices caught her attention. She turned, narrowing her eyes at the approaching figures.

A yellow moped rumbled toward her, carrying two riders.

"Are you sure he went this way?" Malick asked.

"Of course," Janice huffed. "I saw him speeding past us on his motorcycle. He didn't even notice we were right beside him."

She sighed. "Thank God Giovanni's place was close, or we wouldn't have known when he left."

Malick's expression shifted. His voice dropped. "Janice…"

Janice followed his gaze to Helen, who stood there, watching them. Without a care, Helen raised a black whiskey bottle and took a slow, deliberate sip.

"Huh. Kids," she muttered.

The moped rolled to a stop a few feet away.

Janice squinted. "I remember you. You're the General's assistant, aren't you? Where are they?"

Helen lowered the bottle and exhaled through her nose. Her gaze flicked to Janice.

"Ah, Janice Flynn. The last daughter of that battle freak, Harvey. Not very interesting."

Then, her eyes shifted to Malick.

Slowly, she lifted a hand, covering one side of her face. The air around her seemed to darken.

Her uncovered eye turned black. Her pupils burned red. Thin, crimson veins spread across the sclera like cracks in shattered glass.

Her lips curled into a smirk.

"This stench…" she murmured.

A beat of silence.

Then—

"You're just like me, aren't you?"