Platinum Skies (The Manifests Series #2)

{([46])} The Cold, Lost Cause

Back-up.

That was something that Zeke did not expect to occur.

Perhaps the end made him think narrowly, about how no one will be able to save them, if they dont save themselves. The stakes were on the extremes, and the fights went over far too long already that his body was already on the verge of just collapsing, like an unbalanced Jenga tower wobbling and trying to keep itself upright.

The others, like him, didnt fair well either.

Jihyo was bloodied, her crystalline wounds now having a tinge of red in them. She bled faster than she could heal, and her strength was on the edge, too. He could hear her exhaustion in the form of exasperated panting---a little more than just a single movement from her and she could just faint right there and then. But she still barely stood in defense of the others.

Mina looked fine, despite having multiple lacerations on her body. Yet Zeke thinks that the wounds she sustained might've been on the inside, for she was coughing blood, after all. Perhaps it mightve been due to the wounds or injuries she may have sustained during her time as Platina's experiement, aggravated by this catastrophic battle. Who knows what else was on her mind?

Yejun was still raring to go. He just got pummeled down on the ground once, and if not for the intervention of Sanghoon, he wouldve been dead. But he still wants to punch Platina. Nobody can blame his dedication to this. He wouldve charged right then and there if given the chance and the means. At least he was smart enough not to.

IU 's trigger finger was sore. All that firing, concentrating, focusing... it must be so hard to maintain delicate in such extreme scenarios. To also become a protector of everyone with a long ranged weapon mustve been difficult too at times---all it took was one wrong shot for even the most detailed of plans to fail. That's why she tries to never miss. But even if she didnt this time... why did she look defeated?

Sana didnt even know what in the world is going on. She suddenly became a superpowered wielder, and now, she has to fight a god-like entity without any warning. None of this made sense. Perhaps she was feeling how Zeke felt the first time he got his powers---but the environment was just too hostile to make room for significant growth. In the end, even with all that power coursing through her veins, she still felt helpless.

Not all hope is lost for the five of them, however.
Minhyuk, the leader of the place that they called home back in Gyeongsan, arrived to their aid in a heavily armored helicopter.

And what a helicopter it was.

It was twice as large as a regular copter. Frames and platings made from scrap and Koul'in steel scattered along it's body. The turrets and rocket holders underneath the huge airborne vehicle were chock-full of glowing bullets and electrified missiles.

A combined mix of a tank and a helicopter, all in one.

"Sir Minhyuk!" Zeke declared with hope in his already hoarse voice. "Its nice to see you and all, but what in the world is that opening quote?!"

Minhyuk turns and looks inside to copter, saying, "Told you that was lame, Hangyeol."

Inside the vehicle was Ryujin, Bang-Chan, Cat, Hyungwon, Vanta, and Hangyeol, all rescued from the hellfire that was ongoing. They were surrounded by soldiers treating their wounds.

"Hey, you asked me, Minhyuk-nim. Not my words anymore, hehe." Hangyeol shrugs.

Platina stands after taking a hit from Minhyuk's helicopter. She assesses the situation, and sees that the projectile they threw to her contained an electromagnetic pulse that renders her armor useless for a short time---just like how Hyungwon modified a crysotine cube to one.