Chapter 343: Two Sides (2/2)
Alton shook his head, overpowering Alice, who couldn't even get a single arrow off. Ice pierced from the ground everywhere, never giving her a moment of rest. Then, moving his hand forward, Alice was propelled back with a psychic blast. Alice pulled her arrow, backfiring across the snow, sliding across the snow only for the arrow to burn away the moment it got close to him. ”Face it, Alice, you aren't a match anymore. You're weak compared to the Stages. So don't fight this pointless battle.”
Alice stood up, looking troubled, but her determined look never faded either. Looking to her bow, she squeezed it tight, speaking softly. ”If it was me and you were on the other side Alton, would you give up on me? Would you watch a friend fall to their inner demons?”
Alton stared on, giving it some thought. ”No, I suppose he wouldn't. But that doesn't change anything after all.”
”Agreed,” Alice whispered, dropping her bow looking to Alton, a flash of yellow piercing through her eyes. ”But nonetheless, I will not stop fighting till my last breath. That's what I owe all of you.”
Alton raised his eyebrow, intrigued. ”Could this be?”
Crackles of portals began to open up as Alice pushed her hair back, bearing the endless pain as her Garden form began to show. ”The Alice cannot give up. Not until she has saved Alton Brantley.”
A shockwave was immitted as chains held Alton down. He looked around as portals opened everywhere, keeping him away. ”I see. This is the shared power of Alice and Eve.”
Struggling to keep her form Alice held her hand up as chains were wrapped around her arms. Without Eve it was much weaker, but she wouldn't give up. ”Eve and I made a promise, we would save Alton no matter what. That promise was never given an end date meaning. We will keep running to save you no matter what.”
The idea pissed Alton off as he stood up, pulling against the chains. ”Eve save me?! Don't make me laugh; the idea is sickening to the touch. All she's done is trick and use me; I won't sit here and listen to such lies!”
Breaking from the chains, Alton strung his arm around to strike only for the area to be doused in countless chains sending him into the air. Wrapping around him once more, he was pulled through constant portals again and again thrown and dragged against the floor. Finally, Alton snapped, breaking from the chains holding his hand out pulling his pocket watch out. ”Not so fast!” Alice roared, wrapping her chains around his hand until he was unable to move. Sliding in front of Alton, she held her hand tightly, keeping him from moving as the two looked face-to-face. ”Everyone has sacrificed so much to bring you back, Alton. Sam, Iris, Zinnia, me. We can't let those deaths be for nothing. I'm bringing Alton back once and for all.”
Stringing Alton up, she turned her hand, tugging at Alton's chest. Looking confused, he squinted. ”What are you doing? Wait, what?!”
Alton roared in pain as the chains ripped at his soul. ”If I know Alton, he is still fighting. I will fight alongside him and free this parasite from your body.”
Alton gritted his teeth, trying to fight back. ”That bitch! Those chains are pulling at my core tearing it apart. Do this enough, and I'll lose control of the host! Was this your sick joke, Eve?!”
In the middle of the battle, Zinnia flipped back as her own attacks kept getting countered over and over. Then, swinging her katana around, she deflected her own attacks taken back. ”Damn it, just how many attacks can you counter.”
Holding both blades behind his shoulders, Lucas pushed his foot through the snow, putting up a stance. ”As many as you see fit. My power isn't anything to ride on home about, nor does it hold a candle to Alton's, but. My power is to counter any superpower sent to me, no matter how daunting or powerful. So I call it shut down.”
”Dear God, it sounds like something I would come up with….” Zinnia whispered, seeing Alton in pain. ”Crap, I need to.”
”Not so fast.” Lucas roared, slamming into Zinnia with both of his blades. Holding her katana sideways, she blocked the attacks looking at her friend frustrated. ”I won't let you stop, Alice. Your power cannot stop me.”
”Power…. ALTON! ALTON, DON'T FORGET. DON'T FORGET HOW MUCH YOU'VE INSPIRED ME!”
Alton turned to Zinnia hearing her screams of desperation as he nodded. ”Yes…. We've inspired each other. You are the lightning to my storm, Zinnia. Out of everyone, you've inspired me the most!” Alice looked desperate as Alton began to flicker with electricity pouring through his body. Snapping his eyes open, they exploded with purple lightning as the chains were all shocked trailing down towards Alice. Taking the brim of the attack, she cried out, unable to hold back. Her chains faded as she fell to the floor defeated. Alton landed, stumbling back, holding his chest. ”That was too close…. She sure is something else that Zinnia.”
”Alice, damn it!” Lucas roared, pushing Zinnia back, moving his attention to Alton.
Alton kneeled down, smirking. ”Inspiration. What a joke of power, having to be inspired by my allies to grow stronger how cliqued. But I won't deny its potential.” Pushing his hand back, a portal rushed forward, scooping up both Lucas and Zinnia, throwing them elsewhere. ”That's enough of that. To think I would find inspiration from someone like you, Eve…. How revolting. Now with no one to interrupt us.” Picking up Alice, he held her in a bridal position carrying her away. ”Adam is waiting for us, Alice. Let's not keep him waiting.”