Unchosen Champion

Platinum’s fuming gaze was fixed on the single exposed control point that Neon Park had managed to reveal. The glowing arena was no longer protected by the alien fortifications of the Primal Constructs, the metal walls having been torn down, but that was only a small consolation given its current state.

Her brows were furrowed and she clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth as she replayed the battles in her head, unable to suppress her agitation. A flame of frustration burned inside her, causing her features to smolder with impatience.

To the residents of Neon Park, she was an open book. They had long since grown familiar with the moods of their Champion’s right hand. If they had to pick an individual who best represented them, it wouldn’t be Neon, it would be Platinum. Neon was the leader of leaders, but Platinum was the hero who embodied the character of their settlement. She was a reliable bellwether that they all looked up to, one way or another.

Throngs of people watched her as they rested in the dirt, naturally separated into groups of those familiar with each other. Spirits were surprisingly high, at least relative to her own, but the reality of their continued mortality was upon them. They were all being confronted by the fact that they hadn’t taken full advantage of the regular variants on the surface now that the enemies were significantly more advanced in both power and sophistication.

Those of the Neon Park residents who were wounded were nearest to the chasm that had brought them into the Underlayer in the first place. They were receiving treatment by the handful of people who had skills in healing, but more likely being attended to by those who simply knew first aid from before the assimilation. As a result, what could have been a cataclysmic loss of life was moderately allayed.

Platinum didn’t look back. The wonders of mana provided no relief for her anger. Her eyes were locked on the cylindrical illumination of the arena they had fought and bled for. It was a solid crimson color once again, indicating that the human defenders had completely lost control of the objective. Though they had briefly initiated their claim on the point, they had not held it, and that pissed her off.

“Hmph.” Platinum made a frustrated noise as she changed directions.

Her body language said it all. Though she stood tall, surveying the army of Elite Primal Constructs that had come to reclaim the event’s control point, she repeatedly clenched her fists, kicked clods of dirt out of her way, and paced like a caged predator. Regardless of logistical nuances, she just wanted to keep fighting, even if it was on her own. Half a million Elite Primal Constructs formed orderly columns and watched the makeshift camp form in the distance, as if they didn’t care that their opponents weren’t defeated.

“A stalemate? After all that?” She expressed her disappointment, interrupting the ongoing conversations among the decision makers.

The burrough leaders who were present with Neon, discussing how they would proceed at the front of the still massive army, raised their eyebrows. It was a rare event for Platinum to voluntarily share her thoughts during one of their meetings. They may have been holding an informal conference at the head of their army, but the mood was as official as it got in Neon Park. Normally, Neon would have to prompt her to provide her perspective, though he was more likely to simply share it on her behalf.

“It’s not a stalemate.” One of the other leaders corrected. “We have the upper hand, especially now, but we can’t be greedy.” He reiterated the popular opinion among them.

“We regroup, we fortify, and we push again.” Another added.