Achlys glanced around every corner. She was amazed to see that so many cartridge holders and hybrids slipped out of her grasp back at PISTOL. Still, her mission wasn’t focused on them anymore. She did what she could in that department.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb74F2vgou
There was only one choice left. To destroy the world.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhOHQyJO0m
If she could manage keeping her allies safe, they might be able to bring back humanity while remaining off Kronos’ radar. Still, there were no guarantees. World destruction was a tricky situation. If Abyss and the others stayed at the hotel, they might hold out long enough to move them somewhere underground.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dMmd93GV8
Achlys shook the sentimental thoughts away. She had to focus. There was too much at risk to be distracted. She had to get Helios’ power no matter the cost.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdUyeam4FQ
Achlys quickly slipped behind a dumpster and peaked around it cautiously. Was that a rosork? No, this has got to be too soon. Is this our fault?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2z3kYZsGt
That’s when it dawned on her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7ctSZrrLp
They released Kronos’s army when they destroyed PISTOL. They’d unwittingly moved Kronos ages ahead in his process.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSkzz5qV0V
She had to move faster if she wanted a chance to so much as stall Kronos’ plans.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ckUFSybL0
Project: Disaster is in full swing starting with this mission, but am I too late?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KCVC0SMA5
Achlys felt the weight of the world on her shoulders as she carefully navigated, he way to the Palace. No more detours, no more taking your time. Get it together Achlys or Kronos will be able to drain the life of every planet in the Milky Way like chocolate cow juice. Khaos, I sound like a child.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwEiZI1bU7
Achlys was back to the hotel in 11 days. The guards, Rosork, and rampant power wielders gave Achlys more trouble than she expected. She had dragged the queen through the sewers, which proved to be a more difficult task than Achlys had hoped.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqvJHfgGlQ
In Ember’s desperate attempts to escape, she released a flurry of flames. Most of Achlys’ own abilities would either blow up in her face or be negated by the flashes of light Ember’s fire triggered. This is what I get for taking a nap before mission complete.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxaU6gag3a
Achlys’ laughing gas had worn off before she woke up. That’s what a week of no sleep will do to you. Nodding off at the most inconvenient times. Achlys was lucky only a portion of her hair was singed. If it weren’t for the cuffs Achlys stole from the dungeon guards, Ember could have been finished with Achlys and made an escape.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV2OrbOWH9
If only the queen understood that her kidnappinh and the destruction of the world was for the betterment of many.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclCh4Ij5Z7
* * *
Despite Achlys’ best efforts to hurry back, she was too slow. Achlys surfaced, but she left the queen bound in the sewers.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHVxiqNfCN
The hotel appeared normal at first, but once Achlys got to the suite, everything was wrecked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOAjVlHq8D
A handful of hotel workers were cleaning the lobby when Achlys arrived. They stared at her in surprise and terror.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSRPai69Mo
“It’s her!” One of them whispered loudly. “Do any of you have Commander H’s card?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLonlC5l80m
Someone else fumbled with a slip of paper. Achlys rushed towards them and snatched the card, stuffing it into her pocket.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVIRFlwjrW
“You’re lucky I don’t snap your neck. I’m not here for trouble. What happened to the others?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOCdTRX4Fr
“P-P-PISTOL came,” the scrawny man stammered. “They said they would leave peacefully if we turned over the people renting the residential suite. We had no choice! They came with dozens of soldiers!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc99PmMJ8i
“Excuses from weaklings!” Achlys exclaimed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jkfJO3AxR
Nobody was killed,” one of them spoke up in defense. “A man and his son were taken.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnxySOHf67
Son? What in Kronos’ name? Achlys paused in confusion.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt1aua3sj1
...Do they mean Corder and Antonio? That might mean...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr223285sH8
Achlys turned and snapped at the other workers. “All of you, out, now!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWglGBcAa9
The man she was talking to tried to hurry out, but Achlys grabbed him by his shirt collar. The man yelped.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEqON5QHlF
“Not you. I still have questions. How long ago was this?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLcLHPVlXO
“This morning,” he blurted out.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8szhHq00BV
“Did PISTOL say where they were going?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIxlXvkBqO
“N-no, but there’s a new rebel base a little way south. I-I-I wouldn’t go there though! It’s in the middle of-of a warzone!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblWB09QYpB
Achlys let out a frustrated growl and shoved the man into the elevator just before it closed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX1SV4es9f
* * *
“It's safe! The rest of you come out if you’re still here!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN9IqugRVl
It took a moment, but slowly Lucy came out from a large bush that certainly wasn’t so full before.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v5j7fDUDC
Water flowed overhead as a pitcher emptied as if gravity reversed. A cup followed suit, and water came through the crack beneath the bathroom door. The water reformed into Vivian.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORzeKtcEqU
Achlys waited another beat which turned into 5 minutes of silence. She glared at Vivian. “Where is Abyss?” Her tone was steady and laced with poison.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIF6kx67rI
“He left days ago,” Lucy answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZWxjTv8CN
“What?! Where did he go?!” Achlys stepped menacingly toward Lucy. The older girl was in a panicked outrage. He can’t be gone. Anyone but Abyss.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYGKPRL40P
“He never said. We tried to stop him. He was in a hurry,” Vivian answered quickly to redirect Achlys’ attention from Lucy.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcegxk0CI1
“We need to find him,” Achlys said firmly. “He’s the only thing that matters now... He’s essential to the plan!”
ns216.73.216.197da2
