If You Can't Take My Sass, Fuck Outta Existence

16 | Hope

"God fucking damnit!" Shizuko cursed. "This fucking fucker can go suck a lemon! The hell are you so weak?"

Atalanta wiped the sweat off her brow. "This isn't helping the case. You're not doing much better, either."

Shizuko rolled her eyes. "I haven't slept for thirty days. If you can't beat that, I suggest you shut the fuck up and stop complaining."

"Thirty days—how are you still alive?" Atalanta scanned the area below. The battle raged on, but three figures had vanished off the face of the war. Only Sky and Diana remained, and they were wearing out fast. "We have to help them!"

Shizuko ignored her. Her pale-yellow eyes were fixated on the vicious captain ahead, still unbeaten and very much unscathed. It's been a while since she's gotten serious, and this was a good time to be. Unfortunately, her monthly sleeping routine was approaching, and she did not want to spend the rest of next month surviving on caffeine.

She wiped her black blood on her shirt, cleaning her fists. Punching through metal would consume unnecessary time. Atalanta's voice control would serve no purpose over this ruckus. If Shizuko could silence the raging war, they would have a fighting chance.

Despite battered and bruised, Atalanta's voice was still mellifluous. Like Shizuko, Vargoba was prone to mind-control and held no resistance.

"I'll be right back." Shizuko jumped off the ship.

Atalanta and Vargoba stared at her disappearing silhouette.

Atalanta groaned. Of course. Villains are always the selfish ones, and this was no different.

Diana looked around in alarm. "Where's Ainya, Lara and Death X? They just disappeared!"

Sky looked equally scandalized. "They can't just teleport! Can they?"

Diana gritted her teeth. She'd always imagined going out in a blaze of glory under APSHU's service, but she had abandoned APSHU and dying to pirates was no glorified manner. With the main fighters out, they stood no chance, even if Sky had super regeneration on her side.

This was no selfish matter of surviving. She had to live for the universe. This was more than petty instinct. She had to make out of this alive.

Despite her willpower, her physical strength could no longer keep up. Her arms trembled with exhaustion. Her legs were struggling to support her body weight. In spite of their efforts, the enemies they faced were in countless numbers.

Sky fared no matter. She may be immortal, but she was torn out of her home ground and literally thrown into space. Her efforts were barely recognized, and they were after her.

She was no stranger to pain. She'd experienced it first-hand. None of it mattered. None of them did. The only goal in mind was to survive to save the world. Usually, her death would save everyone else. Now, her death would be everyone's undoing.

Sure, she couldn't die, with the exception of supernatural causes or dire circumstances, but she wouldn't take the chance. If they were out for Cloudbot, they would have to kill her to get him.

They were barely supporting themselves. They had to retreat to live to fight another day. But just as they glanced up, they saw Shizuko's ship powered up and leaving off into the opposite direction. Dread settled in their stomach.

"She left us!" Sky shrieked. "I can't believe she did that!"

Diana growled. Villains will be villains.

Their perceptions were altered when a figure crash-landed onto the far end of the deck. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Shizuko, who was rendered unconscious. Fortunately, she was just asleep. And unfortunately, the battle was still raging on as pirates swarmed to take her into custody.