"Well, we did it... just barely."
He had gotten out of his vehicle and was now looking down into the deserted chasm. Leon had finished his work. He sighed with exhaustion as he tossed the remote into the hole.
Now that the mountain had swallowed the metal giants, the snowfields had calmed. The sun shone down on the completely deserted plain. They had installed plastic explosives in metal cases to make them look like primitive landmines, which could also be operated remotely. They had dug a circle of pits around the mines so that the energy of the explosions would be enough to destabilize the snow. Leon had to take the chance that he'd be annihilated along with them, but he didn't care as long as the plan succeeded.
"It wasn't easy, but I made it out alive."
"I've seen this trick before. At the end of the Gibraltar War—during the occupation of Tangier." The unexpected voice that met his ears was full of bitterness. "I finally remembered: Captain Leon Garcia. Royal Land Forces, deployed in Africa, Twenty-Second Raid Party... 'Leoncoat.' The only man to defeat me!"
Leon looked around. From out of the snow came a crimson giant, at least twelve-feet tall. Its giant claw swept Leon up...and squeezed.
Uriel's eyes were looking straight at Leon. No one should have survived that. The body of the machine was full of dents, and there were sparks coming from the knees of the suit. But the arms were in full working order.
"We didn't greet each other properly, Captain Garcia. This is the first time I have seen your face." Matthaios laughed. His voice was full of mischief. "I was tricked by you a second time. But once again, I came out alive. I think God wants me to live. Don't you agree?"
"I think your mind is playing tricks on you." Even though he was at the mercy of his enemy now, Leon didn't change his attitude. "I admit you have luck on your side. Can't we call it a draw today?"
"You don't shut up, do you?" Matthaios laughed cheerfully. "Well, I'm glad to find you well. Now I can avenge the disgrace that I felt three years ago. "
"Gah!"
The fist that held Leon was slowly tightening. He was starting to feel the pressure on his ribcage. Still, he didn't let it show.
"I remember that! I also remember there was a sick freak who murdered thousands of civilians at Gibraltar. Could that have been you? The Moroccan Demon?"
"I don't like that name."
Leon seemed to have hit on a sore point for Matthaios. The voice coming from the speaker hardened.
"Three years ago, you buried me alive in sand. Today, I am Brother Matthaios from the Department of Inquisition. I am a soldier of God, working for His will." Matthaios' eyes glittered with hatred.
Blood was starting to seep through Leon's cassock.
"There is a reason why those who die, do, in fact, die, Captain Garcia." Matthaios laughed. He looked down and started lecturing Leon. He sounded like a missionary, explaining the wisdom of the God to the infidels. "God is omnipotent. If you are not meant to die, He will perform a miracle and save you. Like when you buried me in the sand."
"So you blame God for everything? That's not something to admire." Leon was starting to lose feeling in his body. The air in his lungs was slowly being pushed out. Still, from his graying lips, he managed to speaking chiding words to Matthaios: "People kill people. And people give life. That is the true miracle. You want evidence? Can you hear that noise?"
"Noise?" The Inquisition officer listened hard, but apart from the sound of Leon gasping for breath, he couldn't hear anything.
"It's a quiet night tonight. Don't try to buy yourself time... Wait, what is that?!" He did hear some interference coming through his speaker. The sound sensor on Uriel said that it was coming from the summit of the mountain. "That noise... It couldn't be?!"
The noise was rapidly increasing in volume. He looked up. The Uriel stiffened as if it had been electrocuted.
"Avalanche?!"
Avalanches usually happened in the spring, as the temperature warmed the snow and broke it up. But now, coming straight for them, was a huge sheet of snow.
"The explosion?! You planned this from the beginning?!"
"I told you—miracles happen."
It was in that moment that the claw, which was holding Leon, started to spark and issue black smoke. It opened. While they had been talking, the hydraulics had burnt out.
"Adios, Demon. See you in hell!"
"Wa-wait! Garcia!" The suit desperately tried to chase after its prey. Matthaios reached out to grab him again, but his hand wouldn't move. The Uriel was too damaged; it wasn't going to take him any further.
"Lord, watch over me! I have lived my life correctly and followed Your will! I have looked after the faithful, Lord!" Matthaios muttered as he watched the tail lights of the vehicle drive off into the distance again.
"Why you... "
The white wall of snow swallowed up Matthaios.