Chapter 86: Save Meg
Scarlet’s playful smile vanished. These weren’t normal bullets. The air cracked differently when they passed, leaving trails of ozone, hitting with enough force to punch holes clean through the brickwork she used as cover. Faster. Heavier. Designed to kill things like her.
She dodged, weaving, the dance becoming desperate. Closing the distance was impossible now; the sheer volume of fire pinned her down, heavy slugs chewing up the crumbling wall she hid behind.
Then, small black orbs arced through the air, landing near her feet. They pulsed once, emitting a low hum before detonating silently, releasing waves of disruptive energy. Her mana pathways flared painfully, sputtering like faulty wires. Her movements grew sluggish, her enhanced speed faltering.
They saw the opening. Both suits stopped firing the heavy pistols for a split second, switching back to their original sidearms with practiced speed. Then they unleashed hell.
A storm of bullets slammed into her cover, shredding brick and mortar. She curled tight, trying to shield her head and chest, but it wasn’t enough. Rounds tore through the disintegrating wall, ripping into her arms, her legs, her sides. Pain exploded through her, hot and sharp.
She gritted her teeth, stifling a cry, collapsing fully behind the ruined remnants of the wall. She could feel blood pooling beneath her, hot and sticky. Standing was impossible now. Her vision swam.
Through the haze of pain, she managed a weak, blood-flecked smile. Freedom had been... intoxicating. Worth it.
"I got to experience what it means to be free," she whispered, the words barely audible over the ringing in her ears. "I have no problem dying again."
The gunfire stopped abruptly. Heavy footsteps approached. She heard the distinct click of the anti-hunter pistols being aimed again, ready for the final, killing shots.
Silence. An unnerving, absolute silence fell over the deserted lot. The heavy footsteps stopped.
Then, two soft, wet thuds echoed nearby.