Headed by a Snake

Elle grew up on stories of Tyrion Heroes fighting for entire suns against Realm-ending threats.

The gladiatorial matches in Caeruleum were full of insults, flashy moves, back and forths and upsets.

Real fights don't last that long.

All it took was a single, perfectly-aimed, perfectly-timed attack.

...Elle had lost enough matches against her boyfriend to learn that particular lesson.

Gaheris' ⌈Power Attack⌋ did a lot of damage.

A second one would probably end her opponent rightly.

Elle had the mana to spare... but the pressure was on.

She only got the first hit in because her opponent underestimated her.

With that changed... Elle was betting that he didn't want to get hit again.

She had Gaheris feint. Their opponent fell for it.

...and the angel was right where she wanted him to be.

Elle lowered her left arm, allowing her mana to flow into her Saronite Protector... and she channeled as much power as she could into Gaheris' mana-frame.

"[ ⌈Saronite PUNCH!!⌋ ]"

**BAM**

Gaheris' fist made impact.

Elle's ears rang.

Her skin felt numb. Her insides felt like jelly.

It felt like the world around her was spinning.

...She used too much mana and too quickly.

She opened her eyes-- but that made it worse.

...Her stomach whirled. Bile rose to her throat... and tears formed at the corner of her eyes.

She was hoping to see a broken angel, his wings pulverized, bones sticking out...

She was hoping to see something sickening... something bloody... a sin against the heavens, but a sign that she and Gaheris and Coraline might make it through the night.

Instead... through Gaheris' interface, she saw the angel's silver stare.

He didn't look... scared or... hurt-- or even surprised.

He looked... bored.

Sweat and blood trailed down his half-naked body. His once-perfect hair was soaked through, trailing down his face.

But... the silvery glow of his eyes also sheathed the angel's entire right arm.

He stopped Gaheris' mana-empowered punch... with his bare hand.

**BANG**

Elle blinked.

Gaheris had been hit.

It felt like her organs tried to leap forward out of her stomach as she and Gaheris flew back from the angel's strike.

The weightlessness... felt so surreal... like she was floating through clouds.

Then, Gaheris struck the beach, sliding on the sand.

Time seemed... disjointed? Elle furrowed her brows-- it was only for a moment, but she was pretty sure she lost consciousness.

For all the restraints she was wearing, she was certain all her insides were bloody and bruised after the impact.

But... she was alive.

She could still fight.

Elle didn't think too hard. In her situation, trying to *think* just wasn't working.

Keeping their momentum, Elle flipped backward, Gaheris splashing to the shallows, but stable on one knee.

"We're NOT done yet!!" She shouted.

Elle was almost confused that she did. But... if crazy-fighting-b*tch Elle wasn't done, then there was no reason for rationally-thinking Elle to stop her.

Gaheris attacked with Summer Song.

They needed to make space-- they needed to set up another attack.

**CRACK**

The angel kicked out with his right leg, the base of his foot stopping Gaheris' swing at the wrist.

"Metal puppet," He spat, "Toys for children-- nothing more."

Elle watched in horror as the angel's mana wires wrapped around Gaheris wrist.

They sank deep.

They cut into the metal.

Summer Song fell to the sands. Its enchantments faded, returning it to a regular-sized weapon.

Chunks of metal fell too... parts of Gaheris' hand-- parts of his arm. Each looked aflame in brilliant bursts of silver and blue, leaking mana... losing their form.

Gaheris swung his other fist. The angel slapped it away with his opposite hand.

It made no sense that the angel could ignore Gaheris' weight and mass... but he did.

He... was supposed to be a Rogue-Class.

It didn't feel like she was sparring against Stickyfingers. It was more like... she was fighting Petty Officer Bob... an invincible behemoth made of steel bones and rock flesh.

Elle shot to her feet. She nocked her knee high, then rotated her hips for a kick.

Her long legs... that was her 'thing'-- her height, the range it gave her.

Tychon always said he admired them.

She felt the impact.

She screamed from the mana-feedback... feeling Gaheris' leg break at the knee.

Again, came the weightlessness.

Again, came the fall.

Ah.

She made a mistake.

She had a high center of balance.

...Tychon warned her about that.

Elle shook as, once more, Gaheris hit the ground... and she found herself staring up at the clear night sky.

⟬ Gaheris is terminating the mental link. ⟭

"No..." Elle sniffed.

Tears were running down her face.

She had failed.

"Gaheris... please..."

The humming and whirring of the Divine Armor's interface began to power down... leaving her alone in the darkness, unable to see outside.

The numb pain she was feeling in her muscles and bones... was only a tiny fraction of the pain Gaheris was feeling.

When the connection terminated... that feeling went away.

And in its place... was fear.

"Gaheris... we still... have to--"

⟬ It is standard protocol. The safety of the pilot is paramount. ⟭

"Gaheris... don't do this."

⟬ Emergency ejection activating... ⟭

"C-cancel process," Elle begged. "I... I'm not leaving."

⟬ ...Please evacuate. Divine Armor Gaheris can be restored to full functionality as long as-- ⟭

The creak of bending metal threatened to deafen Elle as Gaheris' chest was violently ripped open by the angel's mana-threads. The cold beach air rushed in... and a nauseating silver light shone upon her.

"No more toy to save you, child," The pale boy sneered.

He reached down, a thin, pale hand wrapping around Elle's throat... while his other tore  apart her safety restraints.

Elle clawed at the angel's impossibly strong grip, "Let... let go of me!!"

"As you wish," He shrugged, tossing her aside.

Elle landed on the beach, her side against a rock. She thought she felt something crack. Her whole side was on fire with pain.

The light beat of wings taunted her from above.

"Maybe pray to gods?" The angel chuckled, "In last moments, they always pray. Who is it, then? Titan god? By clothing... Tyrion god, perhaps?"

Elle leaned over, spitting out the blood that was pooling in her mouth.

"T... tychon."

As desperate as her situation... as impossible as it was...

--she still hoped for that man to come save her.