Hey everyone John's back its been a while since my last upload but now that I'm back I come better than ever with an all new chapter of stigma and an epic conclusion to this introductory Arc so to make things short I hope Y'all enjoy this chapter as much as I did when making it so without further do jus sit , relax , leave a review if you like but most importantly enjoy , John out
With time running short and the pressure from the battle dolls seeming endless, Ronnie Anne could barely keep up with her surroundings, hit after hit her opportunities for both attacking and dodging became more narrow until without notice a clever hit from one of the battle dolls managed to send Ronnie Anne flying while also damaging her color barrier which was now close to reaching red.
Laying in the ground, without much strength left in her and gazing upon the battle dolls slowly approaching towards her, Ronnie Anne took a deep breath and with a forced smile she whispered to herself.
"Looks like this is it ,I'm sorry Sid it looks like I couldn't protect you after all"
With one of the battle dolls raising its fist, Ronnie Anne closed her eyes, resigning herself to her defeat but as the fist came crashing down with tremendous power Ronnie Anne felt… nothing? Only the strenuous sound of the crash was heard, before she noticed Ronnie Anne was now being carried away from the battle dolls, that's when a familiar voice began to speak.
"Phew.. Looks like I made it on time, Are you okay Ronnie Anne?
Opening her eyes to the voice that resounded around her, Ronnie Anne spoke out of shock.
" S-Sid!? What are you - I thought I told you to stay away from danger"
"Hehe, Well you know I'm not a very good listener and I couldn't just let you get hurt like that, besides…"
"Besides? "
"It wasn't my idea"
With a big grin on her face Sid looked back at the Battle dolls who were currently facing a new 'target'.
A few minutes back….
" I think there may be a way to help Ronnie Anne, it's not perfect, but I have a plan "
Said Lincoln as he ran full speed towards the site of the battle dolls with Sid following close behind.
"What kind of plan, Lincoln? "
"Well, first we'll need to get Ronnie Anne away from those battle dolls. Can I count on you for that Sid? "
" If it's that, I think so yeah"
"Great, then that leaves the path open for me to take them on "
"Wait, by 'them' you don't mean….." Sid spoke as she turned towards the battle dolls.
" Actually that's exactly what mean "Lincoln answered while flashing an awkward grin towards Sid.
"Wait!? So your plan is facing them on your own!? They are very powerful, not even Ronnie Anne could beat them "
"Don't worry Sid, trust me on this one"
"I- Yeah I'll trust you Lincoln for now and forever"
"U-Umm…Thanks Sid and besides I'm not the one who is going to face them "
"Huh? You are not? "
"Nope, they are going to face each other"
"Huh!?"
Back to the present ( four minutes until the exercise ends).
"Wait a minute Sid, lame-o said all that? What did he mean by saying those things are going to face each other?"
"I'm not sure either but I trust Lincoln and I think you should also trust him too Ronnie Anne "
" *sigh* This again? Look Sid, Is not that I don't trust him-"
"Hmm?"
"Well okay I don't fully trust him yet but also earlier he said he couldn't use his stigma ability, I don't know what that's about, but if he goes against those things without a decent stigma ability at his disposal he's sure to be beaten near death"
" Hehehe"
"Hmm? What's so funny, Sid ?"
"Oh, Nothing it's just that, I think you're worrying a bit too much, look over there"
Gazing over Sid's shoulder Ronnie Anne quickly found herself shocked as she saw Lincoln cleverly maneuvering himself around the three battle dolls. The white-haired boy was not aimlessly running amongst the dolls, his swift movements right around each of the dolls made for an effective bait that allowed for the dolls to mistakenly hit each other.
"W-Wow is that really Lame-o!? And he's doing all of that without using a stigma ability!?" Ronnie Anne spoke as she watched Lincoln with amazement in her face.
"Yeah, I was really afraid for him, but when saw Lincoln starting to move around like that, I became as speechless as you are, he truly is…. someone wonderful"
"Sid?"
"I-I obviously mean that as a friend and as a person, of course, H-Hehehe"
As the two girls talked amongst each other a large cracking sound interrupted their conversation, it was two of the battle dolls who thanks to Lincoln's efforts managed to mistakenly incapacitate each other, leaving the now tired White-haired boy free to return to their girls' location.
As he arrived at Sid and Ronnie Anne's side Lincoln stopped for a second to catch his breath.
Relieved for his safety Sid quickly approached.
"Lincoln! Thank the gods, I'm so glad you're okay"
Barely holding his breath the white-haired boy answered.
"*gasps* *gasps* Y-Yeah I was lucky that the plan worked *gasps* *gasps * but this thing seems far from over, look over there"
As she turned around Sid was shocked to find one battle still standing and to make matters worse it seemed that this third battle doll had barely sustained any damage.
"N-No way, one is still up!? What are we going to do? You guys are too tired and hurt to keep going"
" Come down Sid, hmmm…there may still be a way, hey Ronnie Anne do you think you could try shooting at the doll?"
" I- Well if I try shooting it like I'm now, the stupid thing is only going to dodge it"
"Hmm… dodge you say? Hmm… But what if… he couldn't? Yes, I think I've got it "
"Huh? What is it Lame-o? Got an idea on how we are going to take down that thing on time?"
"Yeah, I do, Well sort of… I'm going to run up to it and when I give you the signal, Ronnie Anne I'm going to need you…. to shoot at me "
"Wait what!? Shoot at you!? Are you out of your mind Lame-o!? "
"Sounds kind of crazy I know, but there's not much time to explain, I know you can figure out what I'm thinking, I'll be counting on you, Ronnie Anne "
"If you are certain with this, then go ahead but don't blame me if you get yourself killed, you hear?"
" Yeah, Sure thing " Lincoln answered while grinning towards the young Latina.
As he finished talking Lincoln quickly rushed off towards the last remaining battle doll, taking careful action into dodging all the incoming attacks the artificial being was launching at him. Meanwhile, Ronnie Anne with the help of Sid was trying to get herself in a comfortable position in order to use her pistols and while she was at it, try and figure out what was Lincoln's seemingly crazy plan.
" Lame-o sure is crazy, I mean who in their right mind would ask to get shot at? "
"Surely you won't shoot him, right Ronnie Anne?"
"Well, he did asked me to do it but the question is… why? "
"Well whatever it is we must figure it out quick Ronnie Anne I don't think Lincoln can keep bouncing around that battle doll for long"
"Bouncing, bouncing….. wait a minute that must be it!"
" Okay Sid help me here really quick, I think I may have figured out lame-o's plan"
Having somehow figured out what to do, both Ronnie Anne and Sid began preparations for the plan, meanwhile Lincoln was doing his best to drive the attention of the battle doll making careful movements around the dolls attacks just like the two previous ones, only problem was that moving around like that, depleted his stamina alarming fast and with him not being an enhancement user ( in his awareness at least) he could only keep dogging for so long.
As he kept moving Lincoln quickly found himself pinned to a corner against the battle doll, with his escape routes cut short and exhaustion finally catching up to him, the White-haired boy's options were limited, but just before the Battle doll launched its final strike Lincoln heard a two loud shouts coming from afar.
" Lincoln!"
" Lame-o we are ready to go over here, say the word and we'll finish this pile of junk"
With relief and a small grin on his face Lincoln readied himself with the last remains of his energy and moved around the Battle doll managing to climb on top of the artificial being's arm.
Having caught the complete attention of the battle doll Lincoln shouted at the girls.
"It's now or never, Ronnie Anne take the shot!"
"You got it"
(Bang)
In a precise shot Ronnie Anne's bullet went head-on towards the battle doll, catching attention of this the artificial being made an attempt to dodge it which only made Lincoln's grin grow even larger.
" So you want to run away now? Don't think so buddy "
With impressive prowess, Lincoln took a giant leap from the battle doll's arm and in a quick-timed action shouted once again.
" Ronnie Anne, do it now! "
"Hehe, you don't have to tell me twice "
In a split second, Ronnie Anne's Eyes began to glow in a bright purple color similar to her stigma's, and with a very confident look, she screamed as loud as she could.
" Bouncing shot! "
As Ronnie Anne finished shouting, the bullet she had shot earlier became imbued in mana and changed its direction towards Lincoln but instead of hitting him, the shot simply bounced off him towards the head of the remaining battle doll.
With the last of her energies, Ronnie Anne shouted one last time.
" Piercing shot! "
The once rubber pallet-like shot that bounced off Lincoln now became a hard drill-like projectile that was forcing its way against the battle doll's head. While the bullet pierced through the Steel-like structure of the battle doll, the artificial being launched a desperate all-out attack, managing to catch Lincoln in the middle of it. Soon after, a loud message began to play around the whole training field.
(Ten seconds until the battle exercises end)
Sustaining heavy damage from Ronnie Anne and Lincoln's team attack and having exhausted the last of its mana reserves in that forceful all-out attack the battle doll soon fell to its knees crumbling down as the final seconds for the battle exercises came to an end.
(Five seconds until the battle exercises end)
(Four)
(Three)
(Two)
(One)
As soon as the countdown ended, the energy barriers that surrounded each group of students with their respective battle dolls, dissipated. Both Ronnie Anne and Sid smiled at one another, happy that the struggle was finally over but their happiness quickly turned into concern seeing that Lincoln was nowhere to be seen. Leaving Ronnie Anne in a comfortable position Sid set out to find Lincoln amongst the remains of the battle doll.
Lifting and turning every battle doll remain, Lincoln was nowhere to be seen, shouting loudly Sid called upon his name.
"Lincoln!"
"Lincoln, where are you!?"
And just as Sid was about to fear the worst she heard a faint sound coming from a pile of remains behind her, without a second thought she rushed over and after a minute of scavenging through the pile Sid almost broke into tears of joy as she was welcomed by the sight of Lincoln flashing his ever so warm smile towards her.
The battle exercises were finally over.