LOST // BAKUGO X OC

The Line In The Sky

Estelle weaved in and out of the debris to view the pathway ahead. She had never seen so many buildings fall so rapidly, but as the spirits fell to the earth like thick hail, bricks and cement blasted everywhere in the aftermath. The atmosphere around them was dulling, the blue sky fading from view as the darkness began seeping across the clouds like a disease.

Minor blips of light flickered between them, far too diminutive to hold their own against the shadow swiftly surrounding them. Knowing they were squads heading to their assigned locations, Estelle felt her eyes harden at the awareness that this fight wouldn't be on even grounds.

Her ear buzzed with voices of The Commission, an agreement made so they would be her eyes and ears around the country. The landscape was too enormous for Estelle to understand the full scope of what was happening, and The Commission could also communicate with her squads. The heroes had been designated to evacuate the civilians and, therefore, could be dispatched to inform her squad captains of any urgent news they needed to be aware of.

As much as Estelle opposed the idea of humans being close to the battlefield, it was her only option. Since Nyx had more significant numbers, every soldier counted in the face of this war. It made her wonder if Nyx had become impatient under his lack of growth in garnering territory; he must have desired to beat her whilst she was weak and her numbers paled in comparison. He laid it all out on the table by revealing the portal to her world.

The void in the sky was a shock; if she had a second to spare, she would have marvelled that it had been above them this whole time. It had never even occurred to her it could be in the atmosphere, but it suddenly made so much sense as she recalled the conversations with her comrades.

Dashing down when she reached her assigned area, Estelle had no time to greet her soldiers, her feet hitting the concrete as the air thickened around her. Twirling as she pulled her katana out of her saya, Estelle was met with the presence of a roaring Minotaur that was heading directly for her jugular. Sliding underneath its legs, the general slashed at its kneecaps, ignoring the roar above her as blood splattered onto her gear.

The yells of her affiliates filled her ears, joining together with the snarls of darklings around her and The Commission that it evolved into a jumbling mess. She wanted to tell them to shut up, her forehead beginning to pinch due to the tension of her brows as her body moved in combat. She could see that they were migrating down the street as they started to make headway against the creatures in front of them.

Clenching her jaw as the Stalker before her turned visible, Estelle threw herself headfirst towards the opportunity. Flinching to a stop mid-strike, Estelle broadened her eyes as the sound of a gunshot rang in her ears, her body jerking to the side as the creature turned invisible, its tail smacking into her leg with so much force that Estelle's instinctive response was to blow fire in every direction. Ignoring the pained screech, her sights immediately searched for the cause, only to find the hero Snipe atop a building.

Following his line of fire, Estelle pursed her lips at the image of civilians ahead. Attempting to duck as a Batsnout swooped in from the sky to attack, the warrior cringed as more gunshots pierced her thoughts, a rabid growl eventually leaving her when she realised the beast caught her shoulder. Using her air bending to practically suffocate it, Estelle struck its core as her mind rampaged in her head. Feeling her heart stutter at the memories flashing before her eyes, Estelle breathed before barking, "Gah! Put some music on the earpiece!"

"But, Estelle-"

"I don't care! Just do it!"

Estelle didn't have time to question why the sounds were bugging her; she didn't have the space to wonder why her mind was like a hammer, badgering her like a reminder that her worse fear may be coming true. What could have changed from yesterday to cause such a reaction? Estelle was angry, tired and fed up. This was the last thing she needed right now.