(Stan) That idiot…

  Meanwhile, Stan and his group were facing off against a peculiar group of agents. A group of agents that wielded nothing but nail-spiked wooden bats.

  Barely managing to dodge the agent’s attacks, Stan couldn’t land a blow even if he tried, since his right hand was still recovering from a month prior. But with his left hand, he wielded nothing more than just a simple black spray can.

  And by just merely dodging a bat to his left side, Stan used the open window to spray a little bit of content from out the can.

  (Stan) If he’s going to use Luke’s weapons, then so am I.

  One of the agents, a tall burly man with a curly mustache, raised both hands and wielded his baseball bat. Aiming it down toward the ginger-brown-haired elf who started to pant, the agent let out a roar from his unclothed vocals as he extended his arms in the back of him.

  And with just a simple swing, the agent tried to move his right hand to—-

  (Agent #1) What the?

  Both of his hands were suddenly lodged in something that caused his hands to go numb, with the substance spreading all around both of his hands that were connected. Trying to pull back his right hand evermore, the agent remained still as he spread both feet apart to create a stance to pull out his right hand.

  Stumbling back, his arm was finally free from the constraints that were…

  (Agent #1) M-My!

  His right hand was still stuck on the absolute zero ice, while his right arm was moving freely.

  Scrunching up his face, the burly agent immediately dropped onto his knees, letting out a tearful groan. Dropping the wooden bat, the agent curdled himself like a ball while Stan pointed his interest elsewhere.

  Looking at the others that were still battling with the other agents, Stan noticed that many of the agents had ice scars around their chest and arms.

  (Stans’ thoughts) They can’t even aim the freaking cans!

  Gritting his teeth, Stan charged forward while he left the burly man to be alone with his frozen left hand and chopped off his right hand. Making his way toward Fred, Fred began to spray the entire can in front of him to try to repel the agent like an annoying mosquito.

  The agent in front of him took a step back away from the metal can, placing his bat in front of him like a shield.

  (Agent #2) You guys and your damn spray cans!

  (Gary) Says the one wielding freaking bats!

  (Fred) Gary, we have to pull back as much as we can.

  (Gary) Does it look like I already know that?

  Meanwhile, Diego was backed into one of the columns, with both of his hands holding the metallic spray can in front of him.

  Being cornered by two agents who had their wooden bats over their shoulders, the two of them let out devilish grins as they dropped the tip of their bats on the floor. As the nails screeched and tore the marble away, Diego scrunched up his face.

  (Diego) Just leave me be!

  (Agent #3) Don’t think so, bud. You’re coming with us.

  (Fred’s thoughts) Diego’s really in a pinch huh?

  Unable to reach Diego, Fred continued to keep the agents at bay while spraying the frozen air. Glancing at the spiky-haired man with glasses, Fred gripped the spray can with his right hand while using his left to dig deep into his jacket’s pockets.

  Pulling out a small circular glass sphere the size of a tennis ball, Fred cupped the ball carefully as the glass was filled with yellowish gas.

  A gas that put even himself into a nervous sweat.

  (Fred) Get away from Diego or else!

  Showcasing the yellowish gas that was trapped in the glass ball, Fred lifted his left hand high as most of the agents glanced at the chemical. Widening their eyes, many of the agents took a step back as they began to raise their hands up to the level of their ears.

  (Fred) Diego! Let’s go!

  Both agents surrendered in defeat as Fred made a throwing bluff with the glass ball, their faces clouded in a ghostly color. Pulling Diego out of a hinch, Stan placed himself in the front of the group, as they fastly walked backward out of the courthouse from the open hole. Keeping their eyes on the agents, Fred lowered the glass bottle down to his side.

  Until a random agent lunged toward the silver-haired young man.

  (Fred) W-W-

  Without thinking, Fred thrust the glass ball toward the agent, as the agent was feet away from Fred.

  The glass shattering at the agent’s chest, the agent got hit with the yellowish gas, the putrid odor, and the irritating smell clogging up his airways. Taking a step back, he stumbled down onto the ground with most of the agents keeping away from the area of the gas.

  Unfortunately, Fred was too close to the release.

  (Stan) Oh no…

  Pulling Fred quickly, Stan and his group pushed their heels off of the marbled floor, the tips of their toes already starting to get blistered. Taking in a bit of the yellowish gas, Fred’s eyes began to water and sting as if he rubbed his eyes with ghost peppers.

  Losing the momentum to run, Stan carried Fred on his back, with Fred starting to cough and wheeze. Making a red face, Fred began to close his eyes as the light from outside began to brighten.

  (Fred’s thoughts) We’re finally getting out…

  But because of Fred’s trick, it left the three final sinners to wait for the gas to cool off.

  David, who kept his eye on the judge in front of him, had his hands inside of his pockets the entire time. Tapping his foot, David didn’t glance to the sides nor in back, while allowing his cowboy hat to block the judge’s view of his face.

  (David) Aren’t you going to make your move?

  (Judge Golden) You think I could fight?

  (David) I heard about your power.

  (Judge Golden) I’m surprised you keep tabs on fellow government officials. Nice to know that someone knows just how truly powerful I am…

  Golden took a single step forward.

  David brought out his pistol with his finger already on the trigger. Aiming the barrel straight at Golden’s forehead, David noticed that all of the agents around him weren’t even drawing out their weapons to stop him. Which caused David himself to shake his finger.

  (David) Here goes.

  Pushing the metallic trigger, the mechanism of the gun burst a rapid light that boomed the enclosed courthouse around him.

  Bits of dust and shook from just the firing of his gun, the recoil ricocheting the sound back and forth amongst the stone walls—

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The bullet lodged itself on top of the roof.

  (David) What the…

  His own hands and gun were pointed at the roof.

  Letting no voice or peep come out from his old throat, David looked to the left of him as the target that he was supposed to shoot. Was still alive, just standing as he let out a yawn.

  Turning pale, David slowly stepped back as Golden started to walk while letting out a chuckle. His own hands unable to bring themselves to shoot the cardinal robe judge, he glanced from behind as Hope huddled herself in back of him.

  (David) I’m getting the hell out of here… this man is too much…

  (Hope) B-But what about Luke?

  (David’s thoughts) I forgot about that boy. How’s he doing?

  Finally glancing toward where Luke’s original position was, David lowered his gun to the ground despite keeping track of Golden.

  In just one single glance, David crushed his front teeth against one another.

  (David) Luke!

  Laying down on top of a layer of debris and stone, Luke slowly glanced up as a boot lodged itself onto his upper back.

  Gripping onto the edge of the debris tightly, his palms began to scar and tear from the sharp ragged edges. His throat convulsing from the blood that was trapped inside of his vocals, the blonde-haired agent pinned more pressure on the poor young man.

  His vocals formed an encrypted code among his gurgles.

  (Agent Briggs) Pathetic.

  (Hope) Leave him alone!

  Her lips curled to form a disgruntled frown, her eyelids began to sharpen at the agent who toyed with him like a chained-up slave.

  Swiftly, she pulled out the combat pistol that was holstered on her right hip, aiming it straight at the agent’s chest with her finger to the side. In response, the agents around Briggs finally aimed down their sights on the young woman in return.

  Briggs, who still had his boot deep into Luke’s upper back, coldly looked at the glaring woman with his hands in his pockets.

  (Agent Briggs) Out of all the men in the world, you pick this loser. He couldn’t even fight let alone defend himself.

  (Hope) Get off him.

  Briggs looked down at the top of Luke’s head, analyzing the gurgling young man who tried to crawl out of his grasp. The color, the shape, and everything about the young man’s hair matches the description.

  Darkening his eyes, Briggs put a more absurd amount of pressure onto Luke’s back, causing Luke’s gurgling to cease as blood poured out from his mouth.

  (Luke) Gah!

  His eyes reddening, and bits of water streamed out of the corners of his eyes, causing Hope to hover her finger right onto the trigger of her pistol.

  Briggs raised his right hand into a fist as if signaling the agents to lower their weapons despite Hope’s brash behavior. Glancing in the back of him, all of the agents around him followed his order as they lowered their weapons, aiming them down onto the floor.

  (Agent Briggs) Take your shot.

  Without thinking, Hope pulled the trigger, releasing a flaming bullet right toward the sadistic agent.

  As if he memorized the motion of the metal, Briggs let the bullet barely graze against his right ear, his foot taking him back a couple of feet. Making a low monotone groan, Hope scrunched up her body like a shriveled prune.

  (Agent Briggs) I guess I see why you like him, you both are pathetic in your ways—

  He combined both of his hands and arms to form a shield, a shield to defend his face from a knuckle-breaking fist. Knocking him back several feet, a high gust of wind blasted away many agents' fedoras, their suits rippling from the air that was created by none other than…

  (Luna) YOU’RE DEAD!!

  Clouded with rage, Luna crouched down as she steadied her feet deep onto the marble floor. Using all the strength that dwelled within her legs, the floor itself cracked open to let bits of dirt and soil be set free from the marble that covered it.

  Instead of using her swords, Luna thrust a bone-creaking fist that she aimed at either Brigg’s right or left temple.

  Still wobbling from the punch from earlier, Briggs shook his head once before he causally dodged the berserk attack from the tanned woman.

  (Agent Briggs’s thoughts) She’s strong.

  Her fist blowing through across his dodged face, he gripped the ends of her wrist just as she was about to pull back. With his strength alone, it was enough to put Luna at a standstill, as she tried to pull back her hand with all her strength.

  In just half a second, Briggs cupped his hands so that all the force would be centered on his palms. Having his fingers tucked, he thrust his palm to strike underneath Luna’s rigid chin, the force of the strike alone to let go of Brigg’s right wrist.

  Her feet not touching the ground anymore, her entire body became one with the air as her head was pushed back deep into her upper back.

  A simple crack was heard.

  The force of the thrust locked her jaw shut, she only looked up toward the ceiling that Jack saw.

  Landing right next to the hole to the outside, she lay there as blood spurred out from the corners of her mouth. As the gas still lingered right along the outside of the burst-open hole, Stan stood right where the gas wouldn’t be inhaled, trying to see through the yellowish toxic air.

  (Stan’s thoughts) Even though the agents wouldn’t think twice trying to get us, but at what cost…

  Squinting his eyes, Stan saw Hope drag his bloodied face and body out with all the strength she had. Clutching onto his shoulders, his body was designed so that he would sit and watch, while not having the strength to do anything.

  Despite her breathing turning rapid, Hope continued to pull even though small rips could be heard coming from his jacket. Luna, who happened to slowly lift her head, opened her parched lips as the gas in the back of her head continued to linger.

  (Hope) This … pants … is a good chance.

  Closing her eyes and biting down her teeth, the entirety of her small body began to shake, her feet on the verge of letting her body collapse. Stopping right where Luna was, another obstacle was in wait as two members were now injured.

  Seeing David sweat, Hope glanced at him as she took in his worried look that was filled with ghostly fear.

  (Hope) D-David … What's the matter?

  (David) Golden … he’s…

  (Judge Golden) Hmm?

  Golden managed to be in the back of them, his back being grazed by the yellowish gas.

  And in no time, the rest of the agents all placed their guns at the three of them, their weapons all locked onto David who stared down at the rest of them. Tilting his cowboy hat down, he knelt and cradled Luna like a sleeping baby, while still having his undivided attention on Golden.

  As for Hope, she gripped Luke like a life support, as he sat down on the floor barely trying to configure the simplest of colors.

  (Judge Golden) What was that saying again, David? That line that you always say at the beginning of every battle during the skirmishes?

  (David) Please don’t…

  Briggs aimed his revolver down at Luke who was cradled by Hope, her eyes glaring at the cold and shrill man who didn’t let a spark of light into his eyes.

  And right beside him, was the wobbly Eren and Ada who panted heavily as blood continued to weep from their chests and stomachs. With Alexandra carrying Miles to the left of him, she nurtured the sleeping man like a little toy as bits of smoke got into her eyes.

  Since her body barely kept her standing from the single fulminated mercury explosion.

  Golden, who noticed that everyone was accounted for, snapped his fingers while maintaining his eyes on the middle-aged man.

  (Judge Golden) ‘For every beast-human killed, there is one less mouth to feed.’ Heh, even I didn’t come up with that.

  (???) People grow, Golden.

  Silence fell as another voice joined in the mix, a soft and charismatic tone that made Golden freeze.

  The aura, the pressure, every agent that heard that shrill voice slowly turned their head in the back of them.

  Behind them, a simple man wore a dark oversized hoodie, along with him wearing gray sweatpants that were too loose for his waist. Having his hands inside of his pockets, he stared right into Briggs alone as if his soul was being evaluated by the said person.

  (???) And sometimes, people change for the better, but what good does change do to a person who doesn’t want change?

  Pulling out his right hand, the hooded man extended his exposed palm, his skin smooth yet coarse as it glowed under the morning sun.

  Gulping down, Golden stuck out his hand as he pointed at the hooded man in a twitching manner. With just his finger alone, every agent including Briggs and his group aimed down their sights onto the man alone.

  (Golden) F-Fire!

  A requiem of bullets whistled in the air as they all barraged onto the hooded man who paid no mind. As if his world slowed down, the man simply let the barrage of bullets graze his clothes, letting his luck be the better of him.

  The barrage of bullets continued to fire, letting the man let out a simple glow from the center of his palm, clearing his throat all the while with bullets grazing the ends of his cheeks.

  And in two words, his world wept with silence.

  (???) Atomarer drucken.

  Everyone was pushed back.

  Like a tsunami wave, every agent that had their feet steady on the ground found themselves in the air like a bunch of ragdolls. As most of them ended up hitting their heads or backs onto the columns and walls of the courthouse, they all seemingly gave into the atomized pressure that kept them chained on a cross.

  As for David, Hope, Miles, and Luke, they all seemingly got pushed back perfectly out of the hole that they had their eyes on.

  And because of the pushback, the yellowish gas that trapped them inside of the courthouse ceased.

  Unlike the agents, David surprisingly didn’t have a hard time adjusting to the organic wave that helped them get out. Fixing his cowboy hat on, he glanced at the hooded man with his mouth slightly opened.

  (David’s thoughts) Can it be…?

  But David shook his head, not allowing the simple thoughts to get in.

  (David’s thoughts) Not likely.

  Turning his head away from the hole, the rest of The Dark Angels ran toward the brown van that was already turned on.

  With Stan having Fred on his back, Jack and Diego barely holding up Miles with both their arms, David carrying Luna in his arms and Benn on his back, and lastly, Luke being dragged by both Hope and Benn…

  A couple of agents started to rush out of the burst hole from the courthouse.

  Another automobile was located right next to the brown van, the automobile being none other than a Chrysler model that held three people. On the driver seat was a chubby man with a black fedora, and on the passenger seat lay a monolid woman.

  And in the backseat, was a teenage girl having long braided pigtails.

  (Boris) Let’s go! Good thing that I arrived late! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to set up the charges!

  Despite being somewhat groggy, Jack got into the driver seat while he leaned his head back onto the headrest, letting the soft cushion relax his head. The sounds of the back door being swayed open, the rest of the Dark Angels piled into the back of the van, as David placed both Benn and Luna inside the van before going to the other car.

  Placing Luke onto the passenger side of the van, Gary and Hope made a bee-line for the back as now a battalion of agents started to come down the stairs from the courthouse. With everyone inside of the van, Jack turned his head toward the back.

  (Jack) Alright, where to?!

  (Stan) Anywhere but here!

  Giving him a simple nod, Jack placed his entire right foot onto the gas pedal as he drove away from the courthouse, trying to escape the now blaring alarms that alerted the rest of the military. Looking into the left side mirror, the many government buildings began to fade away as he then saw what lay in front of him.

  Having the tires burn the concrete with its desolate rubber, the static of a speaker churned the entirety of the military complex.

  (Speaker) Attention all units! Attention all units!

  The van drove through the metallic gate that was as sturdy as cardboard.

  Passing through what was considered to be the last exit from the military complex, Jack didn’t pay the bullets and gunshots any mind as he swerved left and right. All the soldiers who tried to regain and rest were swayed back and forth with the motion of the van.

  (Speaker) The Dark Angels have gone rogue!

  Finally reaching the city limits, Jack didn’t dare to look back, driving forward into the city that they protected and yet betrayed them.

  (Speaker) I repeat; The Dark Angels have gone rogue!