Ultraya: Origins

Chapter 15: Hopelessness

27/05/4013 AD – 10:23 – Iceikco – Ultrayan Alliance Headquarters – Outskirts – Main Gate

"Push forward! Push forward!" Hyperzio continually repeated. The deafening sound of both kinetic and laser gunfire made it difficult for him to convey orders to his men. A group of soldiers marched towards the Alliance's fortress; the headquarters stolen from them by corrupt Wyperians. Alongside them were heavy tanks, camouflaged against the snowy ground with a white paint job. "Take cover behind the tanks; we've almost broken through and recaptured the base!" He looked back at his troops; 'Finally, we are able to deal a significant blow to the A.E.R! Three heavy tanks, loaded with ammunition, versus a weakened, undermanned fort? This hell is finally over! We will finally score a victory!'

"ENEMY ANGEL UNIT APPROACHING!"

It was a scream from a distant squad. Suddenly the battlefield was silent. Gunfire still flew over their heads and orders were still being barked, but Hyperzio could not comprehend any of it; that last announcement was the only thing echoing through his mind. The Dragoon tank in front of them exploded into a beautiful inferno, knocking the surrounding troops to the ground. No warning. One shot. One singular shot. His men ran over to the fiery remains of the tank; desperate, dying screams emitted from the metal shell. Horrific images flashed before Hyperzio.

'No!' he stumbled, holding his head in his hands. 'This is exactly the same as before! Twenty-five years ago!' He glanced up and saw a winged Wyperian hovering in front of the destroyed gates. The fires around the area intensified and small sparks roared into towering flames in this being's very presence.

Across the battlefield, Olicleaver focused his scan visor on the Angel.

"Elimiphlaren: Angel of Fire", he said weakly over the communications. "He's only equipped with basic armour and an assault belt. He's using a three-spiked combat helmet".

"That's all he needs", Hyperzio mentioned under his breath. The red, metallic creature floated above the battlefield, his crimson wings slowly flapped, unphased by the icy winds. Flames rose up; the white accents in his inner armour barely shining through as they were masked by the fiery aura surrounding him. His emblem, an 'E' engulfed in fire, decorated his chest piece. Flames on the ground started to spread and trap U.A. forces before closing in and slowly killing them. Elimiphlaren's visor was an emotionless black; the Angel's power had seemingly corrupted him.

"Hyperzio! What do we do?!" Anmarina cried. Elimiphlaren formed the holographic same arm cannon on his right arm from twenty-five years ago and fired at another blast at a Dragoon tank, striking it through the centre and destroying it. After the cannon fired, it started to vanish into fiery particles and his arm returned to normal. U.A. troops started to panic and retreat.

"An 'Angelic Cannon'", Olicleaver stated, still reading off his Scan Visor. "All Angels have the ability to summon a powerful energy cannon to replace their arm... it can be destroyed but will regenerate over time..."

"Hyperzio!" Anmarina whimpered. "Henry! What do we do?!"

"I don't know", Hyperzio looked depressed, he hated himself for not thinking about this outcome. He couldn't afford to risk the lives of his friends; he knew they couldn't defeat an Angel.

"Fine then!" Anmarina shouted. If she were still Human, she would be crying, scared, and confused. Her headache had increased but she didn't care; she had weapons now. She deployed her twin water cannons and aimed them at the Angel. "Angel or not, water will extinguish your flames!" she screamed as highly-pressurised water blasted from her twin cannons and towards her target.