“It appears our smokescreen was effective,” Luxion reported after confirming that their jamming had worked.
“That’s a big help.”
The smokescreen Luxion had prepared for just this occasion was particularly effective at confusing Demonic Creatures’ senses. The problem was that they’d never actually tested it; while it theoretically worked, Leon couldn’t be entirely certain about its efficacy.
“That was an incredibly risky gamble,” said Luxion.
Leon shrugged. “As long as it paid off, that’s all that matters.”
Having purged its extra plating, Arroganz was less well defended, as well as running out of weapons. However, the two of them had anticipated it coming to this.
Luxion swiveled, his gaze focused behind them. “Schwert is coming.”
Schwert had been secured to one of the fallen drones. Now that they’d activated the smokescreen, it lifted itself through the air and zipped toward them. It had originally been an airbike, but Luxion had refashioned it into a rear container for Arroganz. Schwert took an almost airplane-like form, slowing as it approached in order to land on Arroganz’s back.
Then Brave appeared through the mist. He charged toward them, relying on intuition alone to find his way. “I don’t think so!” he growled.
He obviously wanted to stop Schwert and Arroganz from merging, but he was a few seconds too late to prevent it. Schwert docked successfully, its generator connecting to Arroganz and providing further power output.
“Docking complete,” Luxion announced, composed despite the longsword rushing toward them. “Power output increasing. Ready when you are, Master.”
Leon shoved the control sticks forward. “Here at the end, it’s Schwert’s time to shine!”
Arroganz’s eyes flashed red as it lurched forward and slammed into Brave. The two grappled, each accelerating in a competition of power.
“Do it,” Leon said.
“Yes, Master.”
A section of Schwert’s plating slid open to reveal several round lenses. Those immediately shot blue lasers that bent and altered direction to target Brave. They were powerful enough to sear his surface.
“Ahhh! Hot! Hot!” Brave squealed.
Finn forced him to fall back, using his wings as a shield to keep the lasers from causing further damage.
Leon seized the chance to turn away and speed toward the reactor room. “I don’t have time to waste playing around with you.”
“Ngh!” Finn let out a panicked grunt. “As if I’d let you get away! Wait, what?!” He fanned out his wings to give chase, but the fallen drones had somehow gotten hold of Brave’s leg and clung to it stubbornly. They must’ve crawled toward him while he was distracted so that they could pin him back.
“Our battle can wait until later,” said Leon. Sweat glimmered on his forehead, and a small sigh of relief escaped him, since he’d somehow slipped past Finn by the narrowest margin.
“Master, we should prioritize destroying the reactor for the moment.”
Leon nodded. “That’s exactly what I intend to do.” His face was still strained from lingering pain. Even after the neutralizer, he hadn’t completely recovered from the performance enhancer, which just showed how much impact it’d had on his body.
Luxion wanted to end this as quickly as possible. This battle is pointless. The sooner we destroy this reactor, the sooner it will be over.
An explosion rocked the air behind them. Brave must’ve destroyed the drones that latched on to him. Luxion’s newest calculations indicated that Brave would likely reach them before they finished destroying the reactor.
“That was faster than expected!” Luxion said in dismay.
Arroganz had gained extra thrust with the addition of Schwert, but they were up against the man said to be the strongest Demonic Knight. More importantly, Brave had earned his name due to his many accomplishments in past battles, and he had survived the war between old and new humanity.
Brave will catch up to Arroganz at this rate. If he does, Master will most likely want to use that performance enhancer again, Luxion thought. That was all he cared about. His top concern was ensuring that Leon returned safely after the fighting ended.
Although Luxion angled to prevent the enhancer’s use, his hopes were in vain. Brave had caught up to them.
“Leeeeon!” Finn howled.
Luxion immediately had to reevaluate his previous estimations of Brave’s strength. He caught up to us, and he’s still accelerating more? I struggle to comprehend these Demonic Creatures and the variability of their strength.
“Luxion,” Leon said calmly, “inject the performance enhancer.”
Luxion was so alarmed that he hesitated a split second, then replied, “No, I cannot allow it. You still haven’t fully recovered from the damage your first use of the enhancer produced.”
Leon didn’t listen to Luxion’s laundry list of reasons why it was a bad idea. He just said, “It’s an order. Do it.” His voice was firm and unyielding.
“As you command, Master.”
The needle pierced Leon’s back, injecting the enhancer into his bloodstream. His face immediately contorted in anguish.
I’d hoped we wouldn’t have to use it twice, or in such quick succession, thought Luxion. But there was nothing I could’ve said or done to stop him.
The pain abated quickly, but the side effects were instant this time. Blood leaked from Leon’s eyes and dribbled down his cheeks.
We used it too quickly. If he doesn’t give his body time to recover, it won’t be able to endure a third shot.
Looking over his shoulder, Leon sped backward toward Brave. Lasers burst from Schwert again. Finn expertly evaded them as best he could, just shrugging off any blasts that landed. He was focused on simply catching up to Leon.
“Something is wrong,” Luxion said. “They’re stronger than they were before.”
Finn and Brave’s conversation spilled into the air, revealing something Luxion had already expected.
“You shouldn’t push yourself like this, Partner!”
“When better to push myself than now?! Mia’s future is on the line! This is a small sacrifice to make!”
“Yeah,” Brave whined, “but a drug this strong will have a serious impact on your body!”
So, that’s it. Finn and Brave are also using a performance enhancer. That was how Finn had managed to use Brave’s full potential.
Leon pulled a face at the revelation. “What, you’re doping too?”
“I assume that means you’ve done the same,” said Finn.
Both were willing to throw away their future if that allowed them to call upon their full power in this fight.
Luxion lamented that the two were fighting at all. If not for the past—if Master hadn’t been dragged into this war between old and new humanity—he never would’ve needed to fight his own friend, would he? His regret sprang from a long-held concern that his presence had only burdened Leon.
They finally broke out of the corridor and into the room housing the reactor. Schwert fired lasers at the reactor but couldn’t penetrate its magical barrier.
“Even the lasers aren’t strong enough?” Leon asked in disbelief.
“No,” Leon confirmed. “Unfortunately, it will be difficult for us to get close enough for a melee attack.”
Brave was hot on their heels. Leon pulled a greatsword out of Schwert just as Brave swung, and sparks flew as their metal blades clashed together.
“I won’t let you,” Finn hissed at Leon. “I won’t let anyone steal Mia’s future from her!”
“What do you expect me to say to that?” Leon barked back at him. “‘Okay, you’re right, I’m sorry’? You’re crazy!”
Leon was also protecting someone important to him: his niece from his previous life, Erica. But he wouldn’t speak her name, not here. She wasn’t the only reason he was fighting. If her life had been the only one at stake, he could’ve moved her somewhere safe. He hadn’t done that, because more lives were on the line than just hers—a whole future generation’s lives.
Leon was always running his mouth off, but Luxion knew how kind he really was deep down. Kinder than most people, in fact. It was true that he had a habit of going overboard. And, like anyone, he made mistakes. Even so, he was putting his own life at risk to protect others. Luxion resented him for being so self-sacrificing, but he was equally proud to have such an incredible Master.
All I want…
When he first awoke, he’d wanted a Master who would annihilate new humanity. Leon had risen up to protect old humanity’s descendants and was fighting Luxion’s long-hated enemy. It was everything Luxion had once hoped for.
All I really want is for Master to survive.
Having gotten exactly what he’d wished for, he was heartbroken.