Tomorrows Knights 3: Endgame

Chapter 20: Faltering

One hour later...

Anthony: "Were literally stuck here."

Isabel: "That means we can't get any new augments."

They all had blown their money on items and top quality gear.

Zack: "Tori, Cole, everyone, we're gonna get you out of there!"

Edo: "Anti-Aegis is waiting."

Micheal has been trying to get an on Bio-Link Z.

Micheal: "Walker says that he'll be finished in fifteen minutes."

They look towards the mountain.

Asaka: "Let's go."

They begin to walk towards the mountain with sheer determination.

Meanwhile...

Walker: "(focused) I'm nearly there, but with only half of them may not be enough to stop that thing."

Walker takes a quick, but important glance at the respawn system.

Walker: "Wait. Maybe I can isolate their ID's and create a separate, but smaller pathway to get them to fight again!"

Walker begins to type away as they arrive at the pedestal.

Roy: "I guess we just step onto the platform."

They all step on to no effect.

Risa: "O-kay..."

The green light envelopes them.

Risa: "H-Here we go!"

They close their eyes when the light gets too bright and open them to find themselves at the same platform as the first encounter.

???: "You chose to accept your fate sooner than expected."

They turn around to find Anti-Aegis standing there.

Zack: "(gritting ) Where's Tori and the others?"

Anti-Aegis changes to the binary cloud form, only to see hundreds of faces screaming in agony as they try to separate from Anti-Aegis.

Players: "(screaming in pain) Stop it! Let me go!"

Anti-Aegis changes to a more humanoid form.

With Walker...

Walker: "I can start this separation program now!"

Walker presses enter as numbers flash across the screen as Caleb hugs the stuffed tighter.

Walker: "(comforting) Don't worry Caleb. I'm pulling them out of there."

Walker continues to work on Bio-Link Z.

Meanwhile...

Anti-Aegis: "A of identity, enough to shatter the entire human society."

They ready for battle.

Edo: "We're going to end this game your playing here!"

Asaka: "You're forcefully taking these helpless Players and use them as a source of power."

Micheal: "They didn't have a chance to fight back!"

Micheal's flames turn black as everyone else begins emanating red energy.

Anti-Aegis: "Sadly, we had to give up a random Player so we could get those four."

Binary begins to swirl around Anti-Aegis's feet.

Anti-Aegis: "All that remains is you eight."

It vanishes.

Asaka: "Where did-"

Asaka is sent flying with the tap of a finger from behind.

Anti-Aegis: "We are even stronger than last time and half of you is part of the source."

Asaka barely stands on the platform.

Anti-Aegis: "We are confident in our power. That is the only reason why you're here."

Micheal and Zack attempt a back attack.

Anti-Aegis: "You want your friends back Del?"

With the snap of their fingers, the swordsmen are sent flying into the twins.

Roy: "Guys!"

Anti-Aegis: "You're faltering."

Roy and Risa sync for a second and land an attack on their head.

Anti-Aegis: "Was that supposed to be an attack?"

They pick up Risa and Roy by their heads.

Risa: "(in pain) Take this!"

Risa punches Anti-Aegis.

Anti-Aegis: "Here you go."

They toss the two into the air.

Edo: "Don't forget me!"

Edo makes a few bullets hit the neck.

Anti-Aegis: "You need these back?"

The bullets return and make contact with Edo's chest.

Meanwhile...

Walker: "The alternate pathway is ready!"

The group sees a blue light behind Anti-Aegis.

Asaka: "Why do I have a good feeling about this?"

Anti-Aegis: "(smirking) Well played Walker. You figured out our weakness, but is it really enough?"

They see eight faces emerge from the light.

???: "We won't fight our friends bastard!"

The fallen members of Shining Hope stumble out of the light.

Other 8: "(crying) Guys!"

Kyle: "Now that's some cheap shit Anti-Aegis!"

Tori: "Blocking off respawn?!"

Cole: "We aren't gonna let that fly!"

Robert: "We are going to end this!"

Robert's begins to growl.

Emily: "Well get some food after this."

They ready their weapons.

Anti-Aegis: "And you four had just become one."

William: "(pissed) Well good thing we weren't long to come back!"

They begin to attack all at once, along with the other eight.

Andrea: "Here we go!"

They all have an attack that connects.

Anti-Aegis: "Such a touching moment."

The binary surrounds them.

Anti-Aegis: "But that build up was for nothing."

Everyone is sent flying, barely able to keep themselves on the platform, and sadly exhausted.

Kyle: "(panting) Coming back, only to be exhausted and hungry."

Tori: "(panting) Yeah."

Binary begins to charge in Anti-Aegis's hands.

Anti-Aegis: "We'll finish you all off nice and slowly."

Anti-Aegis begins to slowly walk up to them.

Serena: "(exhausted) Well, we might lose, but at least we got the group back."

Zack: "(tearing up) Yeah..."

With Walker...

Walker: "(excited) Here we go!"

Walker presses enter as the ID Gloves begin to have a light blue light inside the ID Card slot and the ID Cards have a small light blue light.