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| NORFALL BARREN |
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( JEFF'S POV )
| Frontline |
The air was fucking electric, and the scattered remnants of the battle is a picture of a living come to life.
Jeff tightened his grip on his weapons, eyes scanning the horizon for hostiles. Every muscle in his body ready to attack at moments notice.
Rover's hair stuck to her sweat-dampened forehead, her knuckles white around her blade, but her eyes remained focus.
"Disruptor's at fifty percent,"
Yangyang's voice came over the comms, her tone dripping with urgency. She crouched behind a jagged rock, eyes to the approaching Tacet Discords. "Enemies ahead. Watch out, Rover!"
Rover didn't hesitate, sweeping her blade with precision, cutting through a blur of phantom-like forms that materialized from the mist.
Jeff mirrored her intensity, his resonance mark flaring as his weapons ignited with replicated Chixia energy, firing precise bursts at every advancing Discord.
Time felt stretched, the world reduced to the narrow corridor of the valley, the sound of the Disruptor charging beneath their feet.
"Disruptor's at eighty percent!"
Yangyang barked, pointing toward the control station. "Their offense is weakening! Hold on just a little longer, Jeff, Rover!"
Rover threw a glance over her shoulder, catching Jeff's gaze. For a split second, the exhaustion flickered in their eyes—muscle fatigue, adrenaline, and the ghosts of past battles—but it was quickly replaced by resolve.
The final surge of energy rippled through the valley as the Disruptor neared full charge. Sparks danced across the cables, the sound growing into a low roar that made the ground beneath them vibrate.
"Disruptor's fully charged!"
Yangyang's voice rang out triumphant.
"Rover, Jeff! Let's take out the remaining Tacet Discords—together!"
A shiver ran down Jeff's spine, not from fear, but from anticipation. He tightened his grip on the weapons strapped to his back, feeling the familiar surge of power ready to channel through him.
"Eat that shit, fuckface."
Rover's lips curved into a fierce grin, a flash of teeth against dirt-smeared skin, her eyes locked on the last Discords that skittered forward.
And then a familiar silhouette appeared through the mist. Jeff's chest tightened as recognition hit.
"It's him," Yangyang whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of charged energy.
General Jiyan strode into view, the rain-soaked armor clinging to his broad frame. His eyes, sharp as ever. "Well done," he said, "The rain has stopped."
A ping from the comms interrupted them. "General, the Retroact Rain's effects are subsiding," Baizhi reported. "We are observing a sharp decline in the number of Tacet Discords in the Norfall Barrens."
Jeff exhaled slowly from relief, muscles loosening, though only slightly. "About damn fucking time," he muttered, wiping grime from his face.
"Disruptor is fully charged and ready to fire," Mortefi's voice crackled in the comms. "But it takes an enormous amount of energy. If we miss…"
Jiyan's face was resolute. "…This is our only chance." His gaze swept over Rover and Jeff. "We must not fail."
Another voice cut in, smooth and commanding. "Greetings. Can you hear me?" The Magistrate's voice, firm and resolute, filled their ears. "I have obtained approval to use the Disruptor in combat. The enormous energy consumption, the risk of a misfire, the weight of this decision—I will bear it."
Jeff's fingers curled tightly around the weapons. He could feel the gravity of the moment, the pulse of responsibility threading through every breath he took.
So much responsibility for someone so young. I can see why the people of Jinzhou trust the Magistrate so much. Not just because of the Sentinel but because of who she is.
"I alone will be accountable for the outcome of this battle, whatever it may be," the Magistrate continued.
That's why I can't let someone younger than me shoulder this much burden. That's enough reason for me to keep fighting.
"General, Yangyang, Rover, Jeff—please march on. May victory prevail the lasting night. I pray for your safe return."
We will prevail it's already set on stone, with or without me.
Jiyan nodded once, acknowledging the trust placed upon them. "…Thank you for your trust, Madam Magistrate," he said, eyes narrowing toward the Norfall Barrens.
"No need," the voice replied. "We share the same goal. Do everything you can to assist. You are authorized to use the Disruptor."
Jiyan turned to Jeff and Rover, his eyes alight with resolve. "Target: the Norfall Barrens. Defend Jinzhou at all costs!"
Jeff inhaled, the sound of the Disruptor thrumming beneath his feet like a heartbeat. Rover's hand tightened on her blade. They exchanged a glance, silent words passing between them:
We do this for those who cannot.
And with that, they moved forward into the valley, the mist swirling around them, every step carrying the weight of responsibility, vengeance, and hope.
The wind howled through the cliffs. Rocks tumbled underfoot as the valley seemed to narrow with every step, mist swirling around them obscuring their vision.
"Rocks! One o'clock!" Jiyan's voice cut through the tension. He vaulted onto a jagged boulder, scanning the shadows where movement flickered.
Yangyang's eyes widened, heart pounding in her chest. "Watch out! Tacet Discords incoming!" She swung her grappling hook with precision, letting it hiss through the air as she swung herself to higher ground.
The creatures emerged from the mist in unnatural jerks, their forms flickering like shadows. "There's more of them!" Yangyang's voice trembled slightly, but her grip on her weapon didn't waver.
"Move!" Jiyan barked, eyes narrowing at the advancing swarm. "We're running out of time!"
Steel met rock as Jiyan landed deftly, adjusting his stance, boots scraping against debris. "We'll shake them off. Use your Grapple now!"
From above, a familiar figure appeared, hair whipping in the wind. "Master Jianxin!" Yangyang called.
Jianxin's face was set, eyes scanning the field. "There's too many of them. Someone must stay behind to keep them at bay. Carry on with your mission. You can leave the rest to me."
Jiyan's gaze hardened. "Yangyang, Rover, Jeff… follow me! We're going down from here! Mind the cliff!"
Yangyang clutched Rover's arm as they descended, muscles taut with tension.
"Rover, are you alright?" she whispered, voice muffled by the wind and the roar of distant explosions.
Rover's eyes met hers—unwavering, but shadows of exhaustion and fear flickered across them. "I'm fine. Stay sharp. More Tacet Discords incoming,"
The ruins rose before them, ancient stones suspended impossibly over the mist, their surfaces slick with rain. "The Suspended Ruins are ahead of us,"
Jiyan said, scanning the terrain, fingers brushing along the edge of a crumbling wall. "The Resonance Beacon here is still functioning, and the defense feature is intact too. We can catch our breath here."
He wiped sweat and grime from his brow, chest heaving slightly, eyes darting to every shadow. "The Ovathrax assault has been brutal, as expected. We've been cut off from our main forces. It's the four of us against them from here."
Yangyang's lips pressed together, gaze dropping to the floor of the ruins. "Master Jianxin… I hope she's okay…"
Jiyan shook his head slightly. "I tried to contact her and our base, but nothing came back. The Threnodian's power is possibly interfering with Terminal signals. We have no choice but to trust them now. Let's press on."
Every footstep echoed unnaturally in the hollow stone, and the quiet was fucking creepy with the promise of ambush around the corner. "It's unusually quiet inside. Tread with caution," Jiyan warned. "We should be able to pull it away with our Grapple."
Rocks shifted under their weight as they moved. "Every path ahead has been cut off," Jiyan said quietly, eyes narrowing at the shadows where darkness pooled.
"We're not seeing anything at the moment… something bigger might be waiting for us ahead."
And then it appeared—massive, jagged, and shimmering with unnatural energy. A Tacet Discord of impossible scale. Its presence made the hairs on the back of Jeff's neck stand on end.
Jiyan's voice rang out. "Creating a Tacet Discord of this level… but it won't stop us!"
Jeff didn't even hesitate. Pistols flashed in his hands, rounds streaking through the mist. Behind him, the Rectifier beamhovered behind him like halo, eyes glowing as it unleashed precise bombardment, and calculated shot. Each shot cut through the TD like it was made of smoke, shredding the phantom beast without hesitation.
BANG–!BANG–!BANG–!BANG–!BANG–!BANG–!BANG–!BANG–!
Rover's mouth fell slightly open, admiration flickering in her tired eyes.
Yangyang's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and even Jiyan's lips curved in a subtle, approving smirk.
Jeff continued, eyes locked on the target. Sweat trickled down his temple, but his hands didn't waver absorbing the recoiling like a fucking beast. Bullets and energy blasts cut a path of destruction, leaving only the echoes of the fallen enemy in their wake.
For a brief moment, the ruins felt silent, the storm outside pausing in respect for the devastation Jeff had wrought. The three of them stared at him—not just impressed, but shaken by the precision, the power, and the calm amidst the chaos.
Jeff wiped his brow, chest rising and falling steadily, voice almost casual. "Let's keep moving. This isn't over yet."
Rover exhaled, letting her tension ease slightly, though her grip on her blade didn't loosen. "Yeah… let's go,"
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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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Hello everyone, feel free to leave your collections, powers, reviews, and comments as you see fit. That's all; thank you for reading this fanfic, and I hope you have a good day.