Chloe, already realizing the situation and how ineffectual I’ll be after tapping into my [Overlimit] state, immediately takes charge of the situation rather than jumping in to heal her father as I expected she would.“Sera, get Dad a healing potion,” she says through our bond in a tone that brooks no room for argument. “I’ll buy time for you…”
“Re– Renault?” Chloe asks. She draws her blades and forces me behind her as she stares down the menace just seconds ago thought dead. “How are you still–”
“Moving?” he asks, taking a slow step toward her.
“Alive,” she says. “Your heart was–”
“My heart?” Renault shakes his head.
His chestplate disappears into his [Inventory], revealing a body with hundreds of bruises, cuts, muscle tears, and other signs of the injuries I’d just inflicted upon him. But it’s the scar right along his sternum that gives me pause. It’s far too large, and not in a spot where I wounded him; the strike through his chest is an inch or two to the left. Most importantly, it’s too old. Must’ve happened weeks ago, most likely months.
Meanwhile, I stumble over to Hank and, with some difficulty, grab a [Greater Healing Potion] and some gauze wrap. He’s still conscious, if only barely, so I can slowly administer the potion down his throat while I try to wrap up the bleeding areas.
Again I was reckless, I realize as his breathing deepens and grows less haggard. I should have known better; I assumed a wound to the heart would be fatal without a shadow of a doubt and yet looking back, I saw no kill confirmation from the System. But it doesn’t make sense how anyone could survive such a grievous wound. A notion that lasts less than a quarter-second before I realize that I, in fact, could do that, though not without assistance.
“So that’s it,” Chloe says.
“What’s it?”
“You really went that far in the pursuit of supposed immortality?” Chloe scowls. I know that look. That’s the look of absolute, visceral disgust she gets whenever she comes in contact with the undead. “Absolutely despicable.” Her swords begin glowing as she starts channeling [Celestial Fire] once more.
“What did he–?” Hank asks.
Then it hits me what Chloe means. “He tore out his own heart and turned his body into a shell,” I say. “That’s why–”
My eyes flicker to the other Seraphina, still writhing, now shrieking in pain. Her breathing grows shallow and I feel a sense of great sorrow emanating out from her. Renault is doing something to her, I have to assume.
“His heart,” I say. “That’s why you were sensing life force from Seraphina. Because his heart is within her body. And–”
“He’s trying to take control of her body, enslaving it to his will,” Chloe says. “For a moment, I didn’t think I could hate him any more than I already do. Figures. He thought he was so much better than Daryl. But he’s cut from the same filth-ridden cloth and deserves the same punishment.”
“But what can we do?” I ask. “I– I’m not going to be of much use in a fight for the next hour. And even then, I wasn’t as strong as she is.”
“Well, we’re going to have to figure out something, love. So, use that mind of yours to strategize instead of mope; I’ll be the point woman this time around.”
“We’ll try to assist as well,” Nicholas says through the still-open [Mental Link]. “Though it will be difficult; there are still plenty of Legion forces still to subdue before we have regained control of the city.”
I’m still not able to do much more than stand and look menacing as the other Seraphina’s body writhes and twists in unnatural positions. Her cries grow increasingly strained and it sounds like she’s in great pain. Chloe rushes toward her, only to be pushed back by a sinister energy that surrounds the mechanical woman who shares my face.
But she is undeterred. Using [Lumen] to block out the waves of evil energy surrounding Seraphina’s body and letting [Aria] serve as her crutch, she powers through, [Celestial Fire] in her eyes, desperate to stop the ominous transformation before it completes.
She falls back; I try to catch her, but in my weakened state, I do little but slow her fall before I’m knocked flat on my ass. Her golden wings sprout once more; she flies forward, but can’t close the gap through the emanations caused by the possession in-progress.
Lindsey fires a barrage of silver arrows toward Seraphina, all of which are deflected by the barrier Renault has erected. Alana dives down as well to no better result. Even Kristil, in her massless plasma form, is shunted away from the sphere of energy. None of the three of them have an opportunity to make a more concerted effort at breaking through, instead being drawn back into the battle still raging throughout the remainder of the city.
Hank struggles his way to his feet, a look of disgust on his face to match his daughter’s. I try to help him, but he just shakes his head, probably realizing that I don’t really have the strength to assist like I want to be able to.
“So, what on God’s green Earth is going on here?” Clara asks. “And how do we stop… whatever this is?”
“I don’t know,” Hank says. “I figured he was twisted when I saw him last. But I didn’t realize just how low he would go in the pursuit of his ambitions.”
Renault’s body collapses to the ground, now apparently lifeless, as Seraphina begins cackling in a voice low and deep, definitely not her own. She, now fully possessed by Renault, gazes upon Chloe with a look of disdain and backhands her, earning yet more of my ire despite having already received what I thought was all of it.
“I didn’t think I would be forced to go this far,” he says. “Having my own body so heavily mutilated to the point of uselessness is a setback, yes. But I have all the time in the world to learn how to use this new, far superior one.”
Disgust wells up from within me, not only at the declaration of my double’s body being hijacked but also by the cavalier attitude Renault shows toward such atrocity. Unfortunately, the only way to stop him is to bring him down, and I’m barely capable of walking right now, let alone fighting. Although…
“If I can touch her, I might be able to help her and free her from Renault,” I declare to everyone through our bond. “I have a Skill that negates suppression and [Mind-Altering] effects. Maybe I can use that to break through whatever Renault is using to control Seraphina.”
“Less of a plan and more of a hope in your state,” Clara says. “I guess it’s up to the three of us, and considering you were only able to match him by tapping into some completely unheard of power… Well, I hope you all have signed over your wills.”
“Not helping,” Chloe says. “If you don’t have a plan, then at least stay silent while I try to find some way to get through this.”
Clara glares at me indignantly, but all I can do is shrug. Chloe has the right of it, and the sooner Clara finally gets off her damned high horse and starts treating us as people and as equals, rather than as assets to be used for her personal benefit, the better.
The battle begins, with Chloe going all-out against Renault one last time. His attacks are every bit as strong and fast as Seraphina’s were, but they aren’t as sharp. His blocks take fractionally more time to raise and lower, his movements seem overwrought at times. He must not be acclimated to the smaller, more slender body and is overcompensating as a result.
“Clara, focus on using your shields at the moment he swings too hard or pulls back that axe by too much. Hank, if you have any sort of way to hobble his movements, now’s the time.”
“And you?” Chloe says as she barely manages to deflect Renault’s strike over her head, losing only a couple hairs in the process.
“We’ll need to restrain him for long enough for me to use my Skill…”
“Assuming it even works!” Clara says. “We need to think of a better–”
“Then maybe you should either come up with a better plan or let these two ladies make the decisions and support them with everything you have!” Nicholas shouts at the FBI Agent. “Those two have been through hell more times than you can shake a stick at, they’ve agreed to help us despite your insulting them time and time again, and continuing to treat a pair of heroines no better than common criminals. You’re starting to act like a saboteur, Agent Bennett; don’t make me come down there and fulfill my oath to stand against all enemies of this country, foreign and domestic.”
Clara grumbles. “Very well, Major. But we will be having a conversation when this is through.”
Chloe is pushed back by Renault’s assault and knocked to the ground, but before he can get another attack in, Hank’s shadows swoop in and grab Renault’s arm. He breaks free a split second later, but not before Chloe has a chance to grab [Lumen] and slice the attack out of the way.
She spins, evading another strike, then Clara’s stellar shield materializes just in time to slow down the next backswing. The agent grimaces from the strain, but stands with both hands outstretched, teeth gritted and reddened skin from the exertion. Altogether, she buys less than a second before her shield cracks, then shatters, but it gives Hank enough time to grab Renault by Seraphina’s tail and yank at it, which in turn gives Chloe a chance to get back to her feet and deliver a blow which looks like it’s about to get hit his face before it gets blown away by Seraphina’s wind magic
Damnit; so he can use her Skills as well; that’s going to make this fight even tougher. All the while the battle continues to rage; gunshots still pop in the streets and soldiers on both sides of the conflict scream and moan, shouting obscenities that linger in the air. And all the while I can only curse this useless body and my inability to do anything but stand here and watching. There’s got to be something I can do!
I stumble forward toward where Chloe and Renault are dueling at speeds that are too fast for me to perceive now in my foggy-vision, crippled state, trying to do something, anything that might tip the balance in my favor. But I haven’t got the ability to– No, wait, maybe if I–
“Seraphina!” I cry out.
And to my relief and shock, Renault actually freezes for a fraction of a second, long enough for Chloe to sidestep the attack and deliver a slice upon the midsection of Seraphina’s body. She lands another hit that sends Renault to the ground, but before she can deliver a fatal wound and finish the mad tyrant king off for good, he channels another burst of wind and knocks her back.
“What just happened?” Clara asks.
“The other Seraphina hasn’t been destroyed completely. She’s possessed and her body is being used, but I was able to call out to her just then, and she was able to awaken and fight back for a split second.”
“Can you do that again?” Clara asks.
“I doubt it,” I say. “Maybe once more, but we should probably operate on the assumption that that was a consequence of the possession still being unstable.”
“Hahahaha!” Renault cackles in a body not his to possess. “You… her… everyone! I will… conquer! Subjugate! Rule!”
What little sanity he had before is now completely gone, Seraphina’s face twitching violently as he bears down upon me. My eyes meet those of my double, born of the same power, the same research. I can feel it in my bones. The finale of this confrontation is nigh, and for the sake of everyone, we will overcome.
Chapter 375: [371] 4.92 The Second American Civil War X
10 min read