A few days had passed since.
The rain still poured relentlessly, drumming against the rooftops of zekil city in a cold and unending rhythm.
Inside the command center, Alice stood before a wall of monitors, her voice cutting sharply. Operators moved swiftly across their panels, switching camera feeds that displayed multiple live visuals.
"We've got visual on the Bearer, codename Pix!" one of the agent chasing reported. "Target is fleeing through the ruins!"
"She's heading south," Alice ordered. "Agent Adam, try to cut her off, we cannot let her get away this time."
"Understood," Adam's voice replied through the comms.
He turned to the man beside him, his new squad comrade. A freshly formed elite squadron called Eclipse. it consisted of exceptional agents. After getting back on active duty, Adam had been assigned as a member of the team.
"Move out!" Adam said.
"Finally, some action!" his comrade laughed, loading his weapon as they both rushed into the storm. They sprinted past the remains of collapsed buildings, the sparks of lightning briefly illuminating their silhouettes.
Back on the streets, the eclipse agents that chased Pix through the wet highway, they struggled to keep up as they try to balance themselves with every steps against the puddles.
"Damn it, she's slowly getting away!" one of them shouted, breath ragged. "Adam, we need an update now!"
"We're close by! We'll be there in a few seconds!" Adam responded through the Comms.
"She's heading for Main Street, if she reaches it, it's going to get dangerous for us!" one of the agents shouted, breath ragged.
"We're in position!" Adam answered, voice clipped.
"Good. Hold her there for a few seconds, the Captain is only a few meters behind me," said the eclipse agent over the comms.
"They're coming. Get in position, Bart," Adam said as he hid in a corner, waiting for the right time to intercept.
Beside him stood a towering man with a thick mustache, muscles that strained beneath his tactical vest, and a pair of sunglasses, even with the city drowning in darkness.
"Aye, I'm always ready," Bart said with a grin, a rough chuckle rumbling from his chest.
Not long after, a lone figure appeared in the distance, a blur against the rain. Adam squinted through the downpour, unable to make out who it was, only the shifting outline cutting through the mist.
"We're at the mall, just before the main street!" an update for the agents chasing pix, through the comms.
Adam's eyes narrowed. That was all the confirmation he needed.
He raised his rifle, finger brushing the trigger but before he could fire, Bart's heavy hand clamped down on the barrel.
"Don't," Bart muttered, his tone steady but firm. "You'll risk hitting our own. They are right at her tail."
Adam looked at Bart, then gave a sharp nod. "Understood."
He slung the rifle back over his shoulder and pulled out a combat knife instead, the steel gleaming under the faint light, rainwater sliding down its edge.
They held their ground, steadying themselves into position as the rain hammered against the cracked pavement.
The silhouette drew closer, fast, unnervingly fast.
And then, through the haze and flashing lights, her features came into focus, a girl, she had a small frame, with pink hair whipping behind her in the wind.
Adam froze for a split second. "A kid…?" he muttered under his breath.
Bart's voice cut through the rain. "Don't let your guard down. Kid or not, a Bearer's still a Bearer."
Without hesitation, Bart surged forward, boots splashing through puddles.
Adam tightened his grip on the knife. "You're right." He followed, his figure vanishing into the storm after Bart.
As they closed the distance, the girl skidded to a halt, water splashing around her shoes. Her glare cut through the storm.
"Get out of my way!" she shouted.
Bart raised his fist but didn't advance, rainwater dripping from his sleeves. Adam took position just behind him, eyes locked on the girl.
"Surrender yourself!" Adam called out over the storm. "I don't wanna hurt a kid!"
The girl's eyes flared. "A kid?! I'm not a kid! I'm nineteen, I'm an adult!" she snapped, her voice trembling between anger and pride.
Bart snorted, not lowering his weapon. "Sounds like a kid to me."
The girl's face twisted in fury, her expression snapping from irritation to rage.
In an instant, a metallic sheen rippled across her arms, catching the dim light of the street.
"Get ready!" Bart barked.
Before the words even left his mouth, the girl launched herself forward with explosive speed. Her metal-coated fist came crashing toward him, slicing through the rain.
Bart raised his arms to block. The impact rang out like steel striking steel.
"Huph!" he grunted, his boots scraping against the wet pavement as he held his ground.
Adam lunged forward, blade flashing under the rain. He slashed at the girl but she reacted fast, springing backward just in time. The knife cut through empty air.
Smoke curled faintly from Bart's forearm as he lowered it from the clash. He exhaled through gritted teeth.
"Careful, Adam," he warned. "Her punches don't feel like they're coming from a kid."
The girl scoffed, folding her arms with an indignant glare.
"See? Now you get it. Leave before I hit you even harder next time!"
"Unfortunately, we can't do that," a calm voice said from behind the girl.
Pix spun around. Two men stood a few meters away, one with slicked-back hair and glasses, the other older, his hair stark white and a jagged scar cutting across his right eye.
The rest of the Eclipse Squad had already arrived, spreading out in a loose formation that boxed her in from every direction.
"Rye! Captain!" Adam yelled, greeting his team.
"Tch!" Pix clicked her tongue, her stance lowering. "Don't think you've got me just because you outnumbered me!"
She turned again, just in time to see Bart already airborne, his massive frame descending with his fists clenched together above his head.
In a flash, Pix flinched and instinctively thrusted her arm forward. Metallic ripples spread across the wet ground, and a steel wall surged upward between them, shielding her just in time. Bart's fists came crashing down with a thunderous clang, the impact rattling the metal barrier and sending vibrations through the rain-soaked street.