A plasma blast hits a soldier's chest with a vigorous explosion. The man releases a guttural scream as Layal points her gun to another soldier and fires. The man's head pops like a daisy from the fiery force. Fellow Warriors gutturally croak and advance as their plasmic weapons plow through the city's military.
Layal frowns as she leaps on top of a pile of building foundations. She slams her heels into the cracks and balances herself atop the rubble. Her hardened green eyes scan the eradicated streets as innocents scramble for their lives, their only defense in the form of vested men who know not of the Black Arms' might. Layal slumps as her green eyes soften, and her heartbeat thumps quietly.
Thou know not of His lies, she tells herself. Deception begins with union.
Her hand tightens on her Light Shot, and her knuckles turn white. She curls her lip and shakes her head: She's spent fifty years on Mother, but why does she call to Earth instead?
These people are doing it to themselves, she argues. Eclipse was right about this world dying. These fools don't have a powerful enough military to keep their beloved world safe. It doesn't matter! Layal seals her eyes shut and grits her teeth as she continues, These people have everything and nothing wrong with them! It was like the Kokenjïn… Layal opens her eyes and glares at the soldiers thirty feet in front of her. They take down two of her fellow Warriors. She hears the aliens screech. For now, father… I'll fight!
Layal collects her thoughts and leaps from the rubble. With an acrobatic flip, she lands on her boots and rapidly fires at the military men. The Black Warriors snarl as their general sprints ahead, and they follow suit. Some soldiers fire back, but with her granted flexibility and superhuman speed, she narrowly avoids the bullets. Some of her following brethren are not so lucky. She yells in anger as she fires back, her Warriors following in her wake. They rapidly fire at a group of green, camouflaged men hiding behind a tan Hummer.
Layal narrows her eyes and works her hamstrings as she builds up speed. Layal snarls and then slams into the vehicle with her side. The force dents the armor and violently slides the conveyance over the soldiers. It crushes a majority of them with a multitude of screams. More screams from behind catch the half-blood's attention. Bystanders that try to run away become caught in the blasts of the Warriors' plasma pistols or rifles - Layal stands with stoic shock.
She finally moves with a tilt of her head. The auricle muscle pulls her ear back as human-like footsteps sprint toward her. Layal spins and instantly fires at an aiming Army soldier. The plasma burns his chest and neck, which kills him before he hits the asphalt. Layal looks ahead at the city's wreckage - oh, how fast these aliens can destroy. After all, besides the Metarex, the Black Arms are the best known in the galaxy to destroy and conquer.
Layal sprints ahead, the streets still scattered with lost innocents, perished militiamen and aliens, and fragments of buildings and cars. More soldiers group ahead at an intersection, a common pathway in this city, Layal notices, fighting more of her Warriors. This time an immense and heftier machine rumbles onto the street. Layal halts her sprint and stares at the vehicle awkwardly. The massive mound of black armor halts beside its fellow soldiers, and its long turret whirs slowly toward the group of firing Black Warriors.
Before the machine can fire, a massive Black Arms riddled with thick spikes and hard-toned muscles smashes into it. The bulky arsenal on wheels dents from the force and tips onto some unfortunate soldiers. The surviving military men turn to fire at the hulky alien: A Herculean Black Oak. The bullets only seem to clip at the alien's iron muscles, which only angers him more.
A shrill, warbled screech resonates in the sky. Layal looks as a Black Volt dives toward the soldiers, its golden armor gleaming as yellow electricity crackles between its spikes. Its tail crackles as it swings and electrocutes a female soldier. She screams.
More screeches follow as more Volts and Hawks soar over Layal. Layal sighs as she tightly clutches her gun. Deception begins with union, she soothes herself. Like Mother Akuma said. Layal narrows her eyes and curls her lip. She sprints forward and fires at the remaining soldiers. Her blasts blend with the firepower of her fellow aliens, which terminates the soldiers.
The sky rumbles like thunder, and then a massive blue laser beams from the red clouds. Layal stops for a moment. The tremorous impact doesn't knock her from her feet. The laser slices through the side of a nearby building, collapsing the foundation into a dusty mess. The building collides into the next, which breaks off more foundation. Layal grunts and falls backward from the harsh impact of the debris. She notices it has crushed at least one unlucky soldier. Layal coughs as dust rises. She stands.
She watches the dust clear slowly, her stoic expression staring at the pile of glass, stone, and rebar. A few innocents hiding behind crashed vehicles suddenly flee, but they become caught by the Black Warriors' wrath. A Black Warrior approaches Layal and gurgles.
General, the alien says. Are you hurt?
Layal suddenly straightens and tightens her grasp on her gun. "I'm fine, soldier. Join your brothers!" Layal thrusts an arm toward the distant, fighting aliens.
Yes, general! The Black Warrior takes no time to hesitate to his general's command and turns to join his brothers. Something heavy pulls on Layal's stomach, and crumbling debris scatters to her left. An alleyway looms between two dying buildings, covered in trash and dust, and Layal spots another street on the other side. Nothing seems to happen on the other side. Small debris falls from a side window, and Layal frowns. She glances ahead at the backs of her fighting soldiers and then jogs into the alley.
Her blood rushes as her body shivers; Chaos Energy. An Emerald? Layal shakes her head as the earth tremors once again. Layal slows her pace and looks around the deteriorating walls of the two buildings beside her. Dust falls, and she flinches. The energy is similar to Doom's: The energy doesn't rise in her veins as she gets closer. It permeates the air around her skin. She feels the energy lick at her pores, and her hair stands.
Layal reaches behind her and grabs at the sack strapped on her back. She sighs in relief, unable to believe she temporarily forgot about the specimen. She squeezes at the tough orb and continues her path through the alley. The thuds from her boots echo between the two buildings as everything becomes silent for the first time around her. Green dumpsters and black trash bags line the bottoms of the structures, and Layal curls her nose. She can't smell the stench, but she hated the litter. Compared to these structures, Mother was far more beautiful. The Kokenjïn were far more gorgeous than humans, too, in Layal's opinion. She frowns at the irony as she glances at her body. It was a shame Doom wiped them out with the help of the Metarex.
I can't focus on that right now, Layal scolds herself. She sighs and shakes her head. She knew Eclipse was right in his statement. The human within her is feeding her all these emotions now that she is back on her homeworld - or at least, the planet that her birthplace orbits. She knows it is her order to kill anyone who fights. She knows these servicemen are fighting to save their home; they would, too. Layal never felt this puzzled in her previous missions; Doom had beaten it into her to cut off her emotions, and it worked then. She feels nothing as she kills, but her heart sinks into her stomach right after. Is this normal?
Layal's mind switches to the moment the Warriors killed the weaponless humans. She thinks nothing of it at the time; her mind shut down at that moment. Her adrenaline and heart reacted differently. She becomes so lost that she is reactionless, speechless.
A shrill yelp snaps her from her thoughts. Layal doesn't realize she keeps trekking forward as she had thought, and so she halts. The yelp resonated from her left, and so she whips her gun and aims at the source.
Cornered into the building and dumpster, two young girls press themselves to the brick wall, shivering and silently crying. Layal softens her gaze as she watches them attempt to shrink from the half-blood. Their whimpers, their beetroot faces, their cuts and scrapes, and their dirty clothes evoke all of the painful memories of Layal's abduction. Layal lowers her gun with a tightened grip. One girl is older than the other. Layal tilts her head as she slowly holsters her gun. An explosion bellows in the distance, and the girls whimper in response. Layal peers to her left - in the direction she came - as fires burn in the street and lasers fly back and forth. The earth gently tremors as cacophonous sounds rumble and crack in the distance.
Layal looks to her right - where she is heading - and only manages to see rubble. No fighting occurs, no death, no bloodshed. She looks at the girls and focuses her energy. She still feels a sensation prowling on her skin, but she knows it's not these girls. Layal slides her hand off her holstered gun. Eclipse was right. He'll always be right; I can't do this.
Layal huffs and slowly kneels, in which the girls shift and startle at Layal's movements. The youngest squints her eyes as tears trickle. Layal reaches toward them, her leather, elbow-length, fingerless glove glinting from the distant fires. They pull away more.
Layal frowns. How do I get them to come with me? How do I deal with kids? Layal's frown fades as she gently stares at them. "Come with me, little ones," she says, attempting to soothe. Layal flinches at her tone. "It's not safe here."
"It's not safe out there!" the oldest child blurts.
Layal flinches, partly because she didn't expect any of them to speak. "The city is being evacuated, correct? Perhaps I can take you with them to the outskirts of this city?"
"That's too far," the oldest continues. "We won't make it!"
"You will be with me."
"How?" The oldest shakes her head. "They're everywhere! In the skies, on the ground… in the ground!" She looks at the ground with marbled eyes.
Layal frowns and glances at the ground. In the ground? So, he's here? Why did Doom send him? He's the only one of his kind! Layal shakes her head and looks at the girls. "They still won't hurt you." The girls squirm. "What are your names? How old are you?"
"Natasha," the oldest answers softly and slowly. "And I'm eleven… this is my little sister, Sherri, and she's four." Natasha pulls Sherri closer. "Are you sure you can get us to safety?"
Layal nods. "I promise."
The girls shift toward Layal, but then they suddenly whimper again and shrink away. Layal cocks a brow and then realizes they were looking at her chest. She looks down as a scarlet-red light temporarily blinds her left eye. She winces and looks to her left. The energy that prowls on her skin suddenly tugs as she stares at the entity before her.
One of those anthropomorphic animals stands approximately twenty feet from her, and Layal knew of them because of Doom's lecture days before take-off. She knew these "Mobians" lived among the humans, co-existing as two ecosystems on this planet.
This Mobian hedgehog, with colonial white quills and fur, with lightning-shaped light blue stripes, with angry cerulean blue eyes, dons a black leather jacket with black leather gloves and steel-toed boots. Layal's eyes fall on the bulky weapon that rests on its shoulder, and one of its eyes closes as it peers through the sight. Layal tenses, recognizing the red laser that points at her head. As the hedgehog aims the PZR Grom, Layal quickly scrambles to her feet.
"Stay!" she tells the girls, and she sprints toward the street, away from the Mobian. A deep pop echoes in the alley, followed by the sound of rushing air like a whistling firework. Layal yells and dives onto the hard ground with a grunt. As she dives, the missile whizzes above her head, and then it welts into the ground with a mighty explosion twenty feet in front of her. The force was enough to roll Layal back.
Layal looks back and sees the hedgehog deliberately approaching her, the rocket launcher pointed down, and a killer look in its eyes. Its thudding footsteps echo ominously. It doesn't seem to notice the girls that shiver by the dumpster as its icy stare never leaves Layal.
The white hedgehog stops its approach and outstretches a hand. Blue light materializes above its gloved palm. Layal's eyes widen as the light morphs into a MANPADS missile. It holds it with little effort, which within a calmer perspective would be hilarious due to how both the missile and gun nearly dwarf the Mobian. Without averting its gaze, it effortlessly loads the missile into the launcher. As it readies, the laser points at Layal once again.
Layal widens her eyes and bolts to her feet as the launcher fires. Layal throws herself to her right and slams against the building as the missile soars past. The rocket crashes into the street ahead, giving another explosion. The area rains with dust and asphalt. Layal stumbles from the building and turns with a glare. The white hedgehog bares its teeth at her as it outstretches its hand again. Light materializes above its palm.
Layal snarls and charges forward. The hedgehog only glares, but it loses the light above its palm and grabs the muzzle of the rocket launcher. Layal snarls and jumps, higher and farther than any normal human and lifts a furious fist. The hedgehog lifts the bulky weapon over its face, and Layal lands a punch onto the weapon. The metal frame of the green weapon dents significantly, but it sends a stinging pain and numbness through Layal's wrist and forearm.
As Layal pulls back with a pained hiss, the hedgehog lowers the Grom and glares at the dent the half-blood made. It looks at Layal with a growl and tosses the launcher aside. Its gloved hands reach behind its back and unsheaths two curved blades with a smirk, and it gestures toward itself with two fingers. Layal unsheaths her silver dagger from her left thigh.
Layal lunges with a snarl and readies to slash her dagger. The hedgehog smiles and disappears in a flash of white light. Layal stumbles as she slashes at nothing and then immediately looks around. She couldn't feel the Mobian's energy anymore. She glances at the terrified girls. Layal snarls and snaps around as her dagger glances off the attacks of two curved blades.
The hedgehog snarls and disappears in a white flash again. Layal sees another flash in her peripheral. The hedgehog stabs downward, but Layal brings her free hand up and catches its wrists. Layal shoves the Mobian away. The hedgehog backflips and lands on its feet. It squats in a fighting stance and glares at Layal.
Layal curls her lip. "I don't know who you think you are -"
"Anyone ever tell you not to run your mouth during a fight?" the hedgehog's silky yet harsh voice sneers.
Layal frowns. The hedgehog's a girl, got it. "Yet here you are, replying to me."
The hedgehog straightens and harrumphs. She spins the blades in her hands for a moment and then sheaths them behind her back. Layal nods and also sheaths her silver dagger on her thigh. As soon as her weapon sheaths, the hedgehog disappears in a flash of light.
Layal bares her teeth and grabs for her dagger again. The hedgehog appears in front of her and knocks her back. The hedgehog tightens her grasp on Layal's neck, and Layal grabs the Mobian's wrists. Both females parallel in super strength, so Layal's tight grasp didn't hurt the hedgehog, and the hedgehog's tight grasp didn't kill Layal. The hedgehog pins Layal in place by putting her boots on the half-blood's biceps.
The hedgehog leans in with a glare. "So," she growls, "let's talk." The hedgehog tightens her grip, and Layal gasps as her grip tightens, too. "I'm Lightning the Hedgehog."
"Layal," the half-blood gasps.
"It was a mistake to bring your kind here."
` Layal narrows her eyes. "You think I brought them? How naïve are you?"
Lightning growls. "In your eyes, maybe so. But you lead the horde, don't you?" Lightning leans away as her grip softens. Layal releases a heavy exhale. Lightning's blue irises flick around to study Layal's features. "You look like a human, though. Is this deception?" She ends her question with a sneer.
Layal forces a chuckle. "I'm half human. If all of me was to be Black Arms, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Lightning rolls her eyes with a scoff. "Touché. I will say… a part of me was skeptical, but it is my order. You may be half and half, but what makes you so special?"
Layal frowns. Skeptical about what? What order? Layal concludes the hedgehog does indeed work for someone, but the fact she hasn't killed Layal yet confuses her. Is Lightning supposed to kill her? Is Lightning supposed to obtain her? Or is Lightning electing to disobey her order? Either way, Layal didn't want to think of it. She concerns herself with the answer to Lightning's question: What makes you so special? Her hybridization alone makes her unique to this world… is that what Lightning means? Surely not, mentioning Layal's hybridization didn't phase her. Therefore, Layal musters the only logical answer:
"Why don't you go ask Black Doom?"
Lightning only smirks. Something shuffles in the alley. Lightning's eyes flick to the source, and she frowns. She watches two forms beside a dumpster squirm. Lightning rolls her eyes and releases Layal's neck. As Lightning steps away, Layal immediately gets to her feet. Layal's eyes never leave the hedgehog's spiked back. Lightning looks at Layal and gestures to the two girls.
"Citizens come first. Before I so rudely interrupted you… were you about to help them?"
Layal nods and then glares at her. "And why did you fire a fucking missile in our direction?"
Lightning tilts her head. "To be honest, I didn't see or sense them at first. I apologize." She lifts a hand and faces her back to Layal. "Take them to safety. At least, that's where I hope you're taking them. If not, I will find you, rip your throat out, and then wear it as a necktie."
Layal wipes her mouth into a smirk. "What? Is that a threat? I am taking them to safety."
"Good," Lightning smirks back. "It is a threat, then. If you weren't, then it would've been a goddamn promise." Lightning turns with a twirl of her hips and backhandedly waves at Layal. She confidently walks the way she came. "Cíao."
Layal frowns as she watches the Mobian. She looks at the two girls, and they straighten under her gaze. Layal gestures with two fingers. "Come, Sherri, Natasha. Let's get to safety."
Without much hesitation, the girls nod and rush to Layal's side. Natasha latches onto Sherri's hand and pulls her next to Layal. Layal turns to face the empty street, and she flinches as a smaller, colder hand snakes into hers. She glances to see Natasha holding her left hand. Layal grimaces, but for the girl's sake, she doesn't push the hand aside. Layal tightens her fingers around Natasha's hand and pulls them toward the street.
As they tentatively step onto the street, gunfire tears through an intersection sixty yards away. The girls yelp and Layal glares at the flashing intersection with smaller forms fighting in the distance. Layal squints her eyes as more Black Warriors pool into the intersection. Layal snaps from her stare once Natasha pulls on her hand. Layal pulls them to her right, away from the battle. She doesn't look back at the distant screams. Layal's spine suddenly shivers, and her eyes widen. She suddenly pulls the girls to her and ducks.
A thirteen-foot winged snake swoops over Layal with a screech, and its bladed tail narrowly misses her head. As it flies ahead, Natasha whimpers as Layal glares at the beast. A few screeching Black Wings follow the winged alien.
"That was the monster that tried to take Sherri!" Natasha whimpers as Layal straightens.
Layal narrows her eyes and pulls both girls close to her. "A Black Hawk. Dangerous predators. They love to divebomb from the air." The Black Oaks of the sky. "We have no time to waste. We must move to the border!" Layal picks up Sherri and cradles her in one arm while she holds Natasha's hand in the other. She pulls them further down the road as gentle tremors cause the buildings to shed dust. Layal directs Natasha toward the middle of the street. Natasha groans uncomfortably.
"So… We're going in the direction the monster went?" she asks.
Layal frowns. "Yeah… Don't worry, I have a few ideas."
Natasha doesn't say anything more as they walk up a hill. She glances at the flipped cars and even a smashed tank. She sneers; The work of a Black Oak. Layal makes sure to direct the girls' attention ahead, away from the flattened corpses. As Layal and the girls crest the hill, Layal immediately stops. She tries to direct the girls' attention away again, but Natasha screams.
The Black Hawk directs its bloody beak toward the trio, ceasing its feast on a soldier's corpse. Layal's eyes rise from the man's torn thighs to the bloody, fanged beak of the winged serpent. The horns on its head flex, and Layal stays still. Natasha hides behind her. The movement catches the Hawk's attention, but its red eyes glance back to its general, and then to the meat in her arms.
The Black Hawk growls and flicks its long, serrated, bladed tail. It prowls on its two leathery, bat-like wings as its spikes and horns flex. It begins to circle them. Layal keeps an even gaze at the alien, holding Sherri and keeping Natasha behind her. The Black Hawk tilts its head and warbles at its general. Layal feels Natasha tug the sack on her back, so she tightens her grasp on the little girl's hand. The Black Hawk suddenly begins its approach, but Layal releases Natasha's hand and outstretches a palm in front of the serpent. The Black Hawk stops.
You will not harm them, Layal orders.
The Black Hawk pauses and steps back as it closes its fangs and tilts its head more. It suddenly snaps its head to the right as a couple of Black Warriors land on the street nearby. Layal faces them, and the two girls start to whimper. The Black Warriors bug-like, yellow eyes leer. Layal growls as they approach.
General, the frontmost Black Warrior addresses. Why are you keeping these parasitic offspring by your side?
Layal's scalp tingles as the Black Arm communicates telepathically. She blinks and grimaces. They are harmless, she tells them. I do not condone killing the innocent. Fight to harvest those who fight against us, Warriors, not those who run from us.
The Black Warrior growls and glances back at his few brothers. The Almighty Doom declares we rid all of the insects in this city.
Layal only harrumphs and faces the Black Hawk. With her free hand, she reaches up and strokes the clean top of its beak. She pushes its head down as it gurgles. She strokes its rough scales above its eyes. She looks at its jet black and midnight blue scales, along with its crimson red markings on its wings.
That includes these offspring, general, the Black Warrior continues. If you deny Doom's order, then we will personally report to him.
Layal derisively snorts as she grabs the Black Hawk's beak gently. She pecks it on a clean area of its snout and whispers, "Evacuate them." The Black Hawk blinks deliberately and then clacks its beak. Layal releases its snout and turns to Sherri's ear. She whispers, "He'll help you." Sherri nods, and Layal lowers her next to her sister. She pulls the two girls closer.
Layal glares at the Warriors before her. You will say nothing to Black Doom, lest it be your head, Warriors. Her hand grips the hilt of her silver dagger.
Do so, and you will be terminated, the Black Warrior mentions with a growl.
Layal tilts her head. Then don't let me have to resort to it, hm? Layal's hand retreats from the dagger. Don't you have some soldiers to eradicate? Away with you!
The few Warriors behind the one she talked to gurgle and sprint away, but the one remains. He snorts at Layal. And general, I want to report an advanced weapon G.U.N. has with them. It wiped many of us clean.
Layal frowns as she thinks back to the white and blue hedgehog from before. Layal couldn't pinpoint a gut feeling about her, but she knew a rogue Mobian couldn't have obtained a powerful weapon built for humans. It was a bit obvious.
I think I met her, Layal retorts.
Doom's Eye wishes to speak with you, the Warrior states. Cassopolis Highway, southwest from here.
Layal nods. Thank you. I'll be there. The Warrior turns and sprints. Why didn't Doom just speak to me from a distance then? she thinks to herself. Layal shrugs as she faces the two fearful girls. She shakes her head. "Please do not worry. The Hawk will fly you to safety, as I told him. Just keep a tight hold on his horns." Layal gently grasps at the Black Hawk's thin, curved horns. The winged alien gurgles. "You ready?"
The sisters hesitantly nod. Layal pats the Hawk's head, and it turns. With a squawk, it lowers itself to the ground. Layal grabs Sherri and lifts her to the Hawk effortlessly.
"Open your legs," Layal says, and Sherri obeys. Layal sets the little girl at the base of the Hawk's neck. Sherri latches onto the scaly neck as Natasha climbs onto the shoulders behind her. Natasha reaches over Sherri and grabs the Hawk's horns. The girls flinch as the Hawk shudders.
Layal puts a hand on Natasha's. "It's okay, Natasha." The Black Hawk croons as she pats its bottom jaw. "These may be nasty creatures in general, but a Black Hawk can be tamed the easiest. Just pull its horns in the direction you want to go. Lean forward when you want to fly or land once you're in the air. Sherri, hold on tight to his neck." She backs away as Natasha nods.
Natasha breathes heavily and slowly blinks. She leans forward. The Black Hawk growls as it prowls forward, its wings gently thudding among contact to the ground. Natasha inhales sharply and pulls the Hawk's head to the sky. It screeches and pushes into the air, unfurling its thick, leathery wings, and it swiftly soars above the deteriorating buildings.
Layal's lips press into a thin line as she exhales exasperatedly. Good luck. She turns to her right and continues forth on her trek. A massive tremor vibrates from the ground, and Layal stills. After a few seconds, the earth stops shaking. She frowns and looks ahead. She liked the aesthetic of the red mist left above the buildings, but she didn't like its potential hiders. Her boots clack against the asphalt as she gains inhuman speed, passing flipped and flattened cars, the rubble of buildings and streets, and corpses of both soldiers and citizens. She avoids eye contact with any surviving humans she passes.
Layal isn't sure about the feelings she endured with those two girls, but she doesn't like it. She doesn't want to experience it again… at least not soon. She doesn't want her mortal emotions to take her so soon. She has to pretend, as long as she still has some apathy left. As she continues to run, she clenches her teeth. She ignores the pleading cries, the sobbing, so she seals her eyes shut.
I can't save you all, I'm sorry, Layal thinks, mainly to reassure herself. If Doom finds out I helped people… he'll probably kill me. Layal opens her eyes and stops once she reaches an intersection. She pants softly and leans over with hands on her knees. She looks ahead once her lungs calm, the street ahead cut with a massive crevasse. Buildings lean toward the ravine, threatening to crumble into it. Layal narrows her eyes and looks at the ground. So, why did I bother? She straightens and grabs the straps on her shoulders. She reaches behind her and feels the orb still safe in the sack. She sighs in relief. Good, it's still safe. I still need to incubate it.
Layal looks to her right and watches pieces of the buildings crumble into a burning street. No life seems to thrive. A blue laser suddenly beams from the sky and drills a massive hole into the street, followed by a tremor.
Layal looks to her left. The road ends, mainly because the rest of the road rises about thirty to forty feet. She sees that the base of the risen road suddenly illuminates with rapid gunfire. Black Warriors push defending soldiers toward the base of the risen road. A Black Oak smashes a car in anger, and Black Wings swarm the soldiers.
Layal frowns. Southwest: That's the way she needs to go. With a huff, Layal sprints to battle. She unholsters her Light Shot and fires at the soldiers. They scream as either their backs or sides become charred. As the remaining soldiers face Layal, the Black Warriors terminate them, and the Black Oak crushes them. She sprints through the battle, veering from bullets and plasma blasts. She ducks behind a slightly flattened car and then peeks over the tire. A soldier screams as a motorcycle collides with him.
With a few soldiers left, Layal sprints to the bottom of the raised road. She looks up and confirms it's about thirty feet in height. She looks behind her as a scream penetrates the atmosphere. A Black Warrior shreds the last soldier. The Black Wings swoop down and feast on the remains of the humans. The Black Warriors look at their general.
As a Black Wing swoops about twenty feet away, a flash of bright blue light materializes in front of it. Layal's eyes widen as another Mobian appears and effortlessly smacks the Black Wing mid-air. The impact kills it. The black and red hedgehog Mobian disappears in a flash of light instantly.
Layal's heart skips a beat. It almost looked similar to Lightning, despite the color and some of its physique. But the Black Warriors and Black Oak hisses, readying themselves. In a flash, the hedgehog appears again behind a Black Warrior. Before it can turn, the hedgehog's gloved hands smash the Warrior's skull in with both fists. The hedgehog looks to its right and disappears in a flash again, the other Warrior firing its Flash Shot where the Mobian used to be. The hedgehog materializes before that Warrior and kills it instantly with a lethal punch on its face.
Layal scrunches her nose and flees next to a flipped car, peeking over the bumper. The hedgehog appears, still in the air, and rapidly fires a military-grade pistol at the Black Oak's face. The giant topples over with a pained screech. The hedgehog disappears again in a flash.
In a flash of bright blue, the hedgehog appears on the ground to Layal's left, about ten feet from her. It kneels on the ground with an apathetic expression painted on its face. But Layal can see the suppressed rage within its crimson eyes.
Those crimson eyes shift to her.