Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

If the dragons had been with them, they would have taken to the skies and reached each other in moments. Instead, they were left racing against time on the ground, knowing every second lost could cost lives.

Since most of the population remained near the core of the Empire, the outer edges were nearly empty.

Sandra didn’t encounter a single civilian, not even a stationed soldier, as she moved through the barren routes at full speed.

She could have tried using the patrolling soldier, the one lying unconscious near the road. But he was still out cold, and she didn’t have the luxury of waiting.

Worse, he could wake up at any moment, and she couldn’t afford to slow down now.

Honestly, this situation was their mistake. None of them had anticipated things escalating to this extent, and they had only warned others to stay clear, not to mobilise or prepare for combat.

The tall metallic figure, instead of looking at the patrol to do the usual thing... it made a move on their team.

That alone meant their plan had failed before it could even begin.

Sandra leapt down into the valley, rolling hard as she hit the ground before forcing herself upright without pause.

Her face hardened as she kept running, her body holding up thanks to the brutal training she had endured under Master Snape. She knew she would be fine, but she couldn’t say the same for the others, who were already panting and close to exhaustion.

/I am on my way. Just hold on a little longer!/

The reply came almost instantly, Nightfire’s voice cracking as it echoed through the connection.

/Awweeee... I don’t think we have much time./

The fear in that sound made Sandra grit her teeth, her pace increasing despite the burn in her legs.

Meanwhile, back at the tower, Celestia staggered toward the entrance, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Sweat clung to her skin as she pushed inside, only to freeze at the sight before her.

The entire control panel had been forced open, metal plating peeled back as exposed wires spilled outward. Xara stood at the centre of it all, her body partially wrapped in glowing cables, while Lyirrs worked frantically, hands moving with desperate precision.

Xara glanced up when she noticed Celestia.

”Oh?” she asked casually. ”What are you doing here?”

”Nightfire’s direction,” she said grimly. ”A new type of metallic figure appeared. We need to do it now.”

Xara’s expression shifted instantly as she turned toward Lyirrs.

”Lyirrs, we don’t have time,” Xara said sharply.

”...”

”Lyirrs!” Xara snapped.

”...Give me... five more minutes,” Lyirrs muttered, her voice strained. ”Or... hmm... wait... no... that’s not...”

Hearing the uncertainty in her voice, both Xara and Celestia went pale.

Meanwhile, back with Nightfire, she pressed herself against the tree as she tried to steady her breathing.

Suddenly, the rough surface on her back vanished.

She fell backwards.

Thuck.

Before she could react, the tree was ripped clean from the ground, roots tearing free as it rose into the air. It ascended impossibly high before coming crashing down straight toward her.

”SHIT!!”

Nightfire screamed as she rolled desperately across the ground, her body spinning uncontrollably. Behind her, the massive metallic figure slammed the tree down, dragging it through the earth as it pursued her.

Slam!

Slam!

Slam!

The ground trembled violently under the sheer force. The tree shattered into splintered fragments as it struck, wood exploding outward in a deadly spray.

Chunks of debris slammed into Nightfire’s body, sending her flying. She hit the ground hard.

Bruises instantly appeared along her arms and torso as she struggled to move.

Her eyes widened in horror as she looked down at her stomach, where a massive broken log had pierced into her, pinning her body to the ground as blood began to spread.

”...Ah... shit. I should have run away,” Nightfire muttered as blood spilled from her lips, her breath coming out in wet, broken coughs.

A massive shadow swallowed her vision.

Her heart sank as she forced herself to look up, eyes shaking as they locked onto the towering metallic figure looming above her.

Its large red glass lenses stared down without mercy, reflecting her broken form on the ground.

*Haha... crawling like a cockroach. I guess now I understand why my little brother was wounded by a bitch like you. You monsters never deserved to live!*

The figure raised its arm slowly, deliberately, savouring the moment as its massive hand prepared to crush her into the earth. Nightfire squeezed her eyes shut.

Crack!