Halo: Heroes Awakening

40. The Note

Third Pov

With the precision of lightning, Sina's arrows mowed each body that trespassed past the doorway. She held her arrow out at Sora and her glistening blue blade, gritting her teeth as she couldn't get a clear shot with Malia and Halo in the way. She couldn't make the shot.

Sora's sword washed the car with its eerie blue light, its energy blazing as she slashed at Malia. The threatening blue crackled on impact as Malia parried, gritting her teeth as the force slid her back in her tracks. The bones in her arms tingled from the shock, but Halo was right by her, already closing in the distance. He seized the opportunity of Sora's distraction and thrust his rapier towards her side, his own potion adding heavy strength to his blow.

Sora side-stepped quickly, his blade nicking her arm instead, leaving a line of red. Her counter was instant, a harsh upward slash that Halo barely dodged. Malia lunged again, but Sora was quick, as if she drank a speed potion herself, her scimitar meeting Malia's blade with a powerful clash. Malia had the strength to push, but Sora swung her blade in a tight arc, forcing both of them to move back.

The car became a confined space of calculated attacks, Sora's blade releasing a hynotizing hum each time it was struck. Malia and Halo pushed with everything they had, moving together as if they were one sword, and despite Sora's intense fighting style, each dodge and block pushed her closer to the edge of the car.

Sina watched the exchange with sweat at her head, knowing that if Malia and Halo did not defeat Sora whilst they had the potion induced strength, they would be no match. She remembered meeting the woman at the Hira farmhouse so long ago, she knew the woman had an ominous feel from the moment she saw her.

Her energy-lit weapon was a sign she was a trained Moon Ranger–and knowing she worked for Vaea, he picked the most rogue Ranger he could, and that made her dangerous. This was a threat none of them had ever faced, Sora was no small rabbit they could just pin down with a
bow.

To make matters worse, Augus showed up on the scene, running into the car. Sina turned her arrow on him, gritting her teeth. She knew he couldn't show any hesitance with Sora around, he'd look like an obvious traitor. She shot an arrow at his leg to prevent him from jumping into the fight, and to her dread, Augus had the nerve at that moment to swing his sword. The arrow was flung into the floor, and Augus turned his eyes on Halo.

Damn it! He chooses now to be a good Marshall?!

Sora landed a harsh blow on Malia's arm, slicing just under her shoulder. Halo lunged at that moment, ramming his shoulder into Sora, sending her stumbling into the wall of the train car. Augus seized that moment to advance on Halo, their blades meeting in a harsh clash of steel as Malia darted at Sora.

"Prince Halo, end this at once!" Augus shouted as their blades met. "You know you cannot beat me! Even with your false strength!"

"I'm no Prince!" Halo screamed, throwing out a kick to Augus' wrist to disarm him. Augus held onto his blade, spinning as he swung it back out at Halo. "And you're right! Strength doesn't beat skill, but you taught me everything you know!"

Sora and Malia continued their fierce exchange, keeping it wordless. Their heaving and harsh grunts matching the sickening screech of their blades. Sora had gained the upperhand, sending a wave of energy towards Malia as she swung her scimitar in a wide arc. The energy threw Malia into the wall, her hand losing grip on her sword but not letting go as she regained herself.

Sora attacked again, lunging forward with her blade aimed high. Malia barely dodged, ducking underneath and kicking her heel into the back of Sora's leg. It buckled and knocked her down to one knee, and Malia quickly thought on her feet, aiming her shin at Sora's head.