Catalyst

Chapter 46: We'll Persevere!

Amanda: "(coughing) Is everyone okay?"

Amanda, Phillip, Makoh, Jade, Ashley, Eryth, and Jack are stepping out of the storm.

Eryth: "(coughing) We should be."

Makoh: "I don't think our lungs are okay."

Another dozen surrounds them.

Ashley: "They'd better be!"

Everyone readies for combat.

Chloe: "Just try and be a challenge."

Jade: "I like the way you think!"

Two soldiers rush in.

Eryth: "Watch out!"

Jade blocks with her sword.

Jack: "Jade?"

Jade: "These things have cannons for arms!"

Jack leaps over another attack.

Jack: "(smiling) Missed me!"

Jack then gets stomped back into the ground from above.

Eryth: "Jack!"

Jack spits up some blood.

Phillip: "That's gotta hurt."

Amanda: "Duck!"

Amanda and Phillip dive to the right to avoid another two attacks.

Makoh: "H-Hold on Jack!"

Makoh dives into the ground.

Jack: "(coughing blood) Rune... #11..."

Jack is still pinned to the floor, with the soldier putting more strength into Jack's stomach.

Makoh: "Get off him!"

Makoh is trying to yank the soldier off of Jack, but he can't budge him.

Ashley: "Regalia Wave!"

Ashley is using her Waves to avoid three attackers at once.

Phillip: "My powers are doing nothing!"

Phillip's flames can't alter the soldiers' emotions.

Jade: "Then we're fucked?"

Phillip and Jade dodge another attack.

Chloe: "I'd say we are."

Meanwhile...

The girl with the grey skin, dark grey coat, goggles, and white hair is doing everything in her power to stay at least a half mile away from the roads.

Girl: "I-I-I..."

She's in the middle of nowhere.

Girl: "I... feel so alone..."

She sits down and curls into a ball.

Girl: "Where are they?"

A vision of Makoh getting pummeled flashes in her eyes.

Girl: "M-Makoh?"

She turns to her side to see dust kicking up a storm.

Girl: "Th-There?"

She stands up.

Girl: "My visions don't lie."

She pulls out a pair of daggers from the inside her coat.

Girl: "I-I'm coming!"

She hurries towards the dust.

Meanwhile...

Chloe: "I can't see the weakness!"

The group is getting beaten to death.

Eryth: "This is getting ridiculous!"

Their blood trickles and mixes in the dirt.

Makoh: "(bleeding) We're dead if we don't find it!"

Phillip and Jade are blocking onslaughts.

Jade: "(annoyed) I'm sick of this shit!"

A final attack sends the two to the ground.

Ashley: "(in pain) Same!"

Jack is barely breathing.

Amanda: "Jack!"

A soldier heads for Jack.

Makoh: "(bleeding) Here!"

Makoh uses his strength to defend Jack.

???: "No!"

A dagger slits the back of the soldier's neck, making him drop dead.

Chloe: "What just-"

Makoh: "(bleeding) Xaena!"

Xaena is a few meters away from the scuffle as she heads for her dagger.

Xaena: "A-Are you okay?"

She picks up the dagger.

Makoh: "Y-Yeah, but..."

Makoh looks at Jack.

Makoh: "... he took a nasty beating."

A rainbow aura surrounds Xaena.

Jade: "The backs of the necks?"

Jade swings her sword, slicing a soldier's neck.

Xaena: "Wh-Who're you?!"

Xaena is primarily looking at Phillip.

Phillip: "On the same side."

Ashley punches and snaps another two necks in one attack.

Eryth: "Ashley! Get Jack out of here!"

The base is within sight.

Jade: "We'd all better get out of here!"

The aura around Xaena glows bright as everyone is evacuated.

Xaena: "B-B-But..."

Phillip's aura glows bright.

Phillip: "I'll melt your brain later, because we're going to kill these guys first!"

The remaining nine dive towards the two.

Xaena: "O-Okay..."

The two have a light blue glow in their eyes.

Phillip/ Xaena: "Synergy Attack..."

They flawlessly weave under the attack.

Phillip/ Xaena: "... Nervousness Synchronization!"

The soldiers head for the two, five at Phillip and four for Xaena.

Phillip: "I see your every move."

They dodge between the attacks like a child and it putting the square hole in the square hole.

Xaena: "Now!"

They begin to punch and slice the backs on their necks mid dodge.

Phillip: "See ya!"

Within a minute, all remaining soldiers drop to the ground.

Xaena: "That was..."

The light fades.

Phillip: "They're already a mile ahead!"

Phillip heads to join the others.

Xaena: "W-Wait for me!"

Xaena hastily follows...