Realms Apart..

Chapter One: Stay Alive

~♤~♡~◇~♧~☆~

3rd person POV:

Chaos wasn't even close to what was happening in Imperium. People screaming, weaving around uprooted trees and great piles of rubble , desperate to evade the manically cackling Empress in her soot-stained mech. She had lost it to say the least.

The eye-watering stench of smoke and flames was overpowering, bad enough to bring the most cold-ridden people to their knees.

Though she had been raised by dragons herself, literal fire breathing creatures, Wyldfyre even had to admit that her eyes were staring to sting and water.

She glanced around, desperately trying to find a flash of red amongst the glow of the orange flames. Kai. He had to be here somewhere, she had seen him no less than 5 minutes ago when they blew up the armory together.

Someone reached out and grasped her shoulder from behind, she whipped around, prepared to brandish fire in their faces. She was however, met by the now-familiar warm, amber eyes that could only belong to Kai. Behind him stood an anxious and jittery Lloyd, his gi stained with the noxious soot and his eyes darting all around, watching people get pulled into various Merge-Quakes.

"Impossible, Boogers and I are about to launch an attack so stay close to us 'kay?," he said, eyes -not so discreetly- scanning her face for injuries
"You had me at attack old man," she smirked back at him, not addressing the action.

Kai nodded and gave Lloyd a reassuring smile before lining up in between the other two. "All right then, let's go,". They began to run - Beatrix's back was turned and her focus diverted until they were less than 10 metres away.

She turned. Eyes reflecting the flames, her face seeming to relish in the havoc. "Please your efforts are futile, pathetic, simply pathetic!"
The Empress picked up a nearby toppled lamppost and lobbed it at the trio; Wyldfyre and Lloyd managed to evade her attack but Kai was not so lucky.

The metal structure barely missed his head, clipping his shoulder slightly as it hurtled past.
"Cheī̀y xê y!!" he exclaimed, flipping upwards to dodge a chunk of rubble that followed suit. Something unfamiliar rose up in Wyldfyre's throat, it felt clammy and tight like a chunk of food was lodged there. It was dread.

The girl gave a furious roar, her eyes only seeing red as she charged forwards, beelining for the Empress. There might as well have been smoke billowing from her nostrils due to the pure anger she was experiencing. It was not unlike how she felt as she watched Heatwave get carted off by those pesky Imperium drones.

She charged forwards, her hands lit up with blue and scarlet flames; nothing could stop her now. Sending fireballs towards her target, she pressed on, wanting nothing but to demolish the woman who hurt Kai.

Beatrix was not going to allow a measly child to cause her downfall, however. After a split-second decision she powered up her MergeQuake weapon and fired. The girl never stood a chance.

Wyldfyre had no idea what happened, it went by so quickly. She was harshly pulled backwards - the flames on her hand instantly extinguished- her arms flailing desperately. The girl was gone within seconds.

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From his place beside Lloyd, Kai watched the scene unfold fear gripping his intestines like shackles. This couldn't be happening, Not Wyldfyre too.

Kai didn't think, though this wasn't unusual for him, and he ran - crimson flames ignited on his hands, fueled by his anger and thirst for revenge. It didn't matter how he got it. He charged forwards, glaring white-hot daggers at the witch that dared to harm Wyldfyre in front of Kai, master of fire and Cole's heart.

Nearing the crazed woman, the brunette darted sideways leaping upwards - his hand outstretched reaching to grab a remaining lamppost behind the Empress. His hand clasped firmly around the cool metal; using his momentum, he swung around, landing gracefully and steadily upon the narrow structure.

Even in a time like this, Kai had to admit he must've looked pretty awesome.

Kai roared "FOR WYLDFYRE!", and took aim. Flames shot from his palms, directed straight to the unsuspecting Beatrix. It was a direct hit. Her mech stumbled backwards and she faltered - though the powerful blast was not enough to capsize the large machine.

She regained her footing, eyes widened in shock. Beatrix had not expected that, no matter, this roach had dared to attack her and now he must face the consequences.

"Well I really thought you had more in you ninja but I guess your just as weak as the girl," she scoffed at the man before her. The Empress looked at his features, his face taught in suppressed rage, his eyes seeming to glow a dangerous amber. It was the eyes that scared Beatrix, she wasn't sure why though. Was it that there was a strange power emanating from his irises alone? Perhaps it was just shock from being attacked, Yes that must be it. Nothing more than shock. The Good Empress Beatrix wasn't scared of a pair of eyes. Was she?

She shook her head, clearing her mind; she must focus, she can't lose to that girls overprotective father -or whatever he was to her-.
"Just stop your efforts, in a few hours I will be the victor of this skirmish and you ninja will be no more than ants under my boot," her voice rang out, sharp amongst the din. Kai couldn't take it, he gave a frustrated yell and launched himself at the crazed woman. The mech raised it's massive sword and shielded the Empress from his attack.

However, the blade of said sword was sharp as a saw and cleanly slashed through the skin of Kai's face, slicing at his left eye. Hitting the ground like a stone, the man yelped in agony, his hand clasping the wound , blood flowing from between his fingers and spattering the floor. His breath was frantic and shallow. From off in the distance he heard a strangled cry "KAI NO!" that was probably Lloyd, he was too far to do anything now.

This distraction was all that Beatrix needed; the ninja before her had been enough of a hindrance and she had toyed with him for long enough. She powered up her weapon once more and took aim. Seconds slowed to what seemed like minutes, the Merge-Quake opened behind Kai, shining deceptively in shades of magenta and orange, concealing the malice that was fired all around Imperium that day.

Kai's right eye widened, the realisation etched on his blood-stained face. His mouth hanging open in an unshared shout, an unsaid scream. Nobody would hear his pleas, Not even he could as he was tugged away from this realm.

The man never stood a chance...
The man was gone within seconds...

~♤~♡~◇~♧~☆~

*1142 wordsss*

A.N: Wow.. I really just wrote that!! I'm sorry it took so long to release this chapter. But it's finally summer so I can focus on this story a bit better. Bear with me, I'm not sure how frequent updates will be but I'll try to keep on top of it!

¤SINCERELY ME¤
•Oooh P.S there is like one intentional hidden reference to musicals in each chapter so try to find those!!

*published on 19. July 2024*