Chapter Text
¨Yangyang, get back!¨
She didn’t notice the moment that powerful creature clashed with her new friend, the shockwave from the impact knocking her from her feet.
She was thunderstruck. Never in her (admittedly not too long) career as one of the Midnight Rangers had she faced a Tacet Discord of this strength, the streams bombarding her with ominous messages.
Fear
Horror
Impossible
Strong
War
Destruction
Death
Death
Death
She was overwhelmed with sensation, unable to move. She hadn’t been this affected by the streams in a long time. Yet, their message wasn’t happening. She wasn’t dead. And it was thanks to Rover, fiercely protecting her, clashing with the monster, fighting for his life… and hers.
That thought spurred Yangyang to action, unsheathing her sword and joining the battle, but she couldn’t keep up with the two combatants in her current state, only being able to sneak a couple hits here and there. Yet that was enough for the TD to focus its attention on her, who feinted Rover before thrusting its spear directly at her chest, the blow too fast for her to parry or dodge. Yet death still didn’t come, as Rover moved directly to intercept it, and managed to deflect it with his blade... but he couldn’t avoid the heavy punch from its other hand, aimed directly at his face, the force of which propelled them both to crash painfully against the barrier that separated them from Chixia and Baizhi.
Crumpled on the floor, Yangyang could hear her friend gasping. ¨Keep it together¨ she heard him say, more to himself than her. His brow was bleeding, breached from where the nefarious fist hit him, but he didn’t seem to pay it any mind as he got up immediately and launched himself back into the fray, sword clashing against spear, grunts of effort coming from her friend’s mouth, mixing with Chixia’s unending barrage of bullets against the barrier, and the the monstruous roars coming from the depths of the fearsome destroyer that was that TD, creating a cacophony that assaulted Yangyang’s keen senses. The fight was even before this, but Rover movements became sloppier, the injury having rattled his brain, and it made him slowly but steadily lose ground against the fiendish warrior.
She was desperate, he got hurt because of her, would it have been better if she didn’t do anything? If she let him do all the work? Was she really that useless?
No, there must be something I can do. Yangyang recovers her sword, gripping it with intent. That TD is way more focused on Rover than her. She must find the best moment to strike and aid him, not just go in guns blazing, that’s more of Chixia’s thing.
Yangyang let her senses sharpen, taking in everything that was happening in front of her. It wielded a spear with its right hand, left hand free to grab and punch and block. Its covered in armor, plating most of its being, yet it was still devilishly fast. Tends to fly back to the left when dodging. Its wings and joints were uncovered.
That’s it!
Waiting for the adequate moment, Yangyang prepared to move.
CLINK sword parries thrust
SMASH Monstruous fist shatters the floor
Rustle Wing flaps, dodging a sword strike
Now’s the time!. Yangyang steps swiftly and slashes the back of its knees, making it fall on them, and with a precise move, unleashes an upwards cut at the monster’s left wing, separating it from its body. An inhuman roar filled the battlefield, but it was immediately silenced by Rover grabbing the TD’s head and slamming it to the floor, breaking the rock and burying its face in it, which he followed by plunging his sword on the center of its back, with it being enough damage to disperse its presence completely, leaving behind only the golden echo of the frequencies that composed the war hymn of the Crownless.
Rover fell to one knee, using his sword as a crutch not to fall, panting hard, drops of blood falling to the cracked stone beneath him. Yangyang immediately dropped her weapon and ran to him, wrapping him in a strong hug, staining her face with the blood that poured from his brow. ¨I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!...¨ she repeated, her voice breaking.
¨Sorry for what?¨, Rover asked, geniality back to his voice, even if it sounded tired.
¨You got hurt because of me!¨ Yangyang exclaimed, tears about to burst from her eyes. She was kicking herself, if she couldn’t even protect one friend, she knew she wasn’t strong enough to protect the citizens of Jinzhou, strong enough to shield them from misfortune, and give them hope for a brighter future.
¨Yes, I did¨ his words broke her heart, even if true. ¨But I… no, we won because of you. You were the one that created the opening for me to finish that monster, when you crippled its movement. Do not worry about this¨ he said, pointing at his lacerated brow. ¨Mistakes in the heat of battle must be avoided... but we aren’t infallible, and that’s what comrades are for, to cover them when they happen, and to share in victory when the enemy is vanquished. You are stronger than you think, Yangyang¨.
¨Rover...¨ Yangyang couldn’t help but start crying, and hugged him harder. The barrier finally dispersed, and Chixia and Baizhi were able to get to them, with You’tan ready to heal their wounds.
Rover could hear Yangyang’s whisper ¨I will become stronger... This will never happen again. I will do it… for you¨. The young man lifted his arms, and wrapped them around her, Yangyang could feel his strength, and she felt safe, as she felt safe when he protected her from that monster.
She would treasure this feeling.