Chapter 261 Madness. {2}

Words : 1096 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

The figure stepped closer, its heavy steps crunching against the debris. Pax's vision blurred, but he could make out the silhouette of someone huge, someone who didn't belong here. The figure crouched down, tilting his head as he examined him with a mix of curiosity and disgust. "You're a mess," the voice said, almost amused. "What kind of freak are you supposed to be?" Pax tried to speak, to beg, to threaten, but all that came out was a gurgling, incoherent noise. The figure sighed, standing up and brushing off his hands. "Well, whatever. Not my problem." With that, the shadow turned and walked away, leaving Pax to writhe in agony, his body slowly succumbing to the venom. The last thing he saw before his vision faded completely was the retreating figure, disappearing into the darkness of the destroyed city. "What!? And you're telling me this just now!?" Carlos snapped, his voice sharp with frustration. He spun on his heel, his instincts screaming at him to go back and finish the job. Pax was a monster, a threat that needed to be eradicated, especially in his weakened state. But before he could take a single step, Argos intervened. [There is no need.] The AI's voice was calm, almost unnervingly so. [Scans indicate he is heavily injured and suffering from severe poisoning. It is only a matter of time before he succumbs. Eliminating him now would be a waste of resources. More importantly, we have an objective, reaching the spaceport and securing a ship for extraction. We cannot afford to lose time.] A holographic image of Pax's broken, writhing body flashed across Carlos's HUD, confirming Argos's assessment. The once-mighty Viceroy was a shadow of his former self, his body twisted and convulsing as the venom coursed through his veins. Carlos exhaled sharply, his fists clenching and unclenching as he wrestled with the urge to go back. "Mmm... yeah. You're right." He forced himself to turn away, pushing the thought of Pax from his mind. "How far to the spaceport? You said there was one in this city." [The objective is 20 kilometers from our current position. I recommend activating propulsion systems for faster travel.] Carlos let out a bitter chuckle while shaking his head. "And you don't think I want to do that? Seriously, Argos, I swear you're bugged. We barely have enough energy left to keep systems stable, let alone fire up the propulsors. Hell, you don't even have enough power to activate Halberd. That damn reactor is recharging way too slowly... We need to let Cleo know about this." [Understood. Upgrade request has been logged. The issue will be reported to the Kaelzar factory once long-range communication is reestablished.] Carlos nodded while following the holographic path displayed on his HUD. He moved carefully through the ruins of the shattered city, every step feeling heavier than the last. The weight of exhaustion pressed on him, but he couldn't afford to slow down. He glanced toward the sky, silently praying that the Titan wouldn't shift its rampage toward this side of the planet. His voice dropped slightly, his tone edged with unease. "You think that poisonous bitch is still after us?" [Negative.] Vortigan, battered but still standing, scoffed. "Hmph. None of this would've happened if you bastards hadn't come to invade my world!" His eyes flickered, scanning the battlefield. "Speaking of which... where the fuck is Percival!?" Madame Rose snorted, her lips curling into a bitter smirk. "Who the hell cares? Probably ran off to hide under his mama's skirt like the sissy he is!" Her breath was ragged now, her energy nearly drained. Even standing took effort. Vortigan glanced at her, taking in the way her shoulders heaved, the way sweat dripped down her pale face. He sighed while shaking his head. "Rose... You need to retreat." His voice was quieter now, firm but steady. "There's no point in staying. Just you and me? There's no way we're bringing that thing down. Get out while you still can." She glared at him but didn't speak. "And don't even try to argue," he continued. "You're barely—" Before he could finish, a fireball shot past his face, close enough to singe his cheek. Vortigan's expression darkened as the flames flickered out behind him. Madame Rose stood there with her fists clenched and her eyes burning with fury. "What's the point of playing the fucking hero when you're the one who unleashed this thing onto the galaxy!?" Her voice cracked, raw with rage. "Do you have any idea how many will die because of you!?" Vortigan stared at her, his eyes unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he let out a slow, tired chuckle. "Hmph. Who cares?" He muttered, his voice eerily calm. "I'll be dead by then." He turned away from her, gripping his sword tightly. "Let history find whatever scapegoat it wants. I don't care anymore." He took a step forward. His body began to glow with dark gray and silver energy pulsing around him, growing brighter with each passing second. "Go, Rose. Retreat." She clenched her jaw, every part of her screaming to stop him, but she knew he wouldn't listen. There was no talking him out of this. Vortigan had made his choice. With a final, defiant roar, Vortigan launched himself forward. Like a black-and-gray comet, he became a streak of light against the void, charging straight toward the Titan, a final stand against the beast that had shared his world for centuries. And this time, he didn't plan on coming back. Madame Rose watched him go, her fists trembling at her sides. For a moment, she hesitated between staying to fight and following his command. But deep down, she knew he was right. There was nothing more they could do. With a bitter curse, she turned and fled, her fiery wings carrying her away from the battlefield. Behind her, Vortigan's energy flared like a dying star, a final act of defiance against the Titan. Amidst the chaos, the transport ship meant to carry Sharon to safety lay in ruins, its twisted metal frame smoldering against the shattered landscape. The evacuation had failed. And Sharon... She lay motionless among the wreckage, her breathing shallow. A jagged metal bar had pierced straight through her abdomen, pinning her to the cold steel beneath her. Blood pooled around the wound, staining her once beautiful white dress...

Chapter 261 Madness. {2}

Comments (0)