Chains Of Pride

Whoosh!!

Rikona wasted no more time as she summoned a massive barrier to protect herself and the Taliums below her. A good choice, as the moment she did so, another shot flew over. This time in her direction.

There was even a slight crack on the shield she erected. The shock on her face was evident, the only thought going through her head, apart from Gin's condition, was what the hell were they firing?

"Everyone calm down and give him some space!" Rikona quickly descended to take control of the situation.

"This isn't our first battle, so we can't fall apart at the first possible casualty, especially this far deep in enemy territory."

When she landed on the ground, she quickly made her way to where Gin collapsed. Her eyes flashed a bronze hue as she inspected him.

She quickly turned her gaze to where Minayatsu Lerner was located, "We need to move fast, summon your construct Lerner, we can still save him."

"W-We can?!" Lerner asked.

"His breath is weak but it hasn't stopped, for now let's focus on saving his life."

Rikona might have appeared calm, but she was deeply worried. That shot, whatever it was, was blocking Gin's natural healing capabilities. It was as if it was breaking down the inside of his body.

She didn't share her findings with everyone else, only wanting the loli in front of her to do her work.

Lerner didn't waste any more time when she heard this, she quickly summoned her construct. A powerful fluctuation blurred the space before her. The particles that constituted air and other gases began to glow and became visible to everyone as they began their reconstruction.

"Heed my call and take root, Eden," Lerner called down her construc to play its role.

Before long everyone could feel a gentle breeze blowing, with the melodic sound of leaves rustling in the wind.

It compelled everyone to close their eyes in bliss, temporarily forgetting where they were, and to only enjoy this moment of serenity.

When everyone's eyes were opened, apart from the Invatas and Rikona, shock spread across their faces as a giant tree floated above them.

Its roots spread nearly everywhere, and one could feel a powerful life force surging within it.

Its leaves were a striking green with a faint glow upon them, and its bark and trunk were colossal, exuding a power that made it seem as if it could lift up the sky. A thin sheet of dew covered each leaf and a heavy haze surrounded the whole thing, giving it a controversial angelic and ghostly appearance.

Summoning her construct, Lerner compelled one of its roots to move towards Gin, gently coiling around him and lifting him up.

He was severely wounded, so she needed to do a bit more than she usually needed to. In normal cases, allowing a drop of dew to drip from the leaves would be enough to revitalize a person and heal most superficial wounds.

Gin, however, had a hole in his c.h.e.s.t, not quite superficial as far as that goes. Soon, the roots that held Gin brought him up to the heart of the tree where the trunk opened up to reveal a transparent emerald liquid that did not spill out.

Even though it rippled, it remained in place. The root brought him into the emerald like crystal liquid whereas after, the trunk closed up, sealing Gin and the liquid inside, presumably to do its work.

Now that Gin was being...treated, Rikona took her time to explain to the team what she saw and their game plan.

It should be noted that during this time around 3 more shots had been fired. Rikona had to focus on using energy to mend the damage that the sniper was causing.

"So we're dealing with a sniper that can reach us from beyond even the reach of your power? That's...disturbing," Hokori Nehone stated with a grim look.

Rikona nodded in agreement, "Right, and I can protect myself to get close enough and hopefully crush them before they can get a chance to retaliate, but you guys will be stranded until I'm done"

"That's pretty-"

"Risky, I know." Rikona said, finishing Xiao Yu's statement for her.

She continued further saying, "But it's the only viable plan we have, the three of you are responsible for generating a shield after I dispel mine, everyone can supplement it by adding their energy towards it."

Nehone shook his head in disagreement, "I have an idea, it doesn't pose that much risk, and you would be in a better position of control."

"I don't-"

Nehone cut her off, "Just, hear me out,"

…

"Stop wasting our shots Ariel, they're not cheap, every shot is millions of dollars!" Glover shouted at the female sniper in the aircraft he was in.

"Hehehe sorry sir, I just saw the crack in that annoying shield and thought it would be okay if we could break it down and take them out," the black-haired woman called Ariel replied.

Another one of their teammates chimed in saying, "It's useless if you break it apart, they can repair it, which is why despite your extra shots, you still haven't broken through."

"Yeah yeah yeah you can all stop with the lectures, I wish you guys could be more like Inu," Ariel pouted.

"He's deaf and mute!" Glover exclaimed.

"God why are you all so loud?!" The woman who was piloting the aircraft couldn't take it anymore. "Even Inu's annoyed and he's everything Glov- eh, I mean Boss Glover just said! Am I right or am I right Inu?"

Glover shifted his pudgy face to the pilot, and asked "Erza, what's the enemy's situation?"

"Oh, ah, no moveme- Wait! It's dispelling right now. Boss, if Ariel is gonna take a shot then she's gonna hafta start sizing them up from now." The pilot replied.

Glover nodded in accordance, "Keep an eye on them for me. Ariel, you have the green light to act as you see fit AND be frugal," the fat man stressed.

"Shush, I'm being frugal," Ariel quieted him, looking through the specialised scope.

The minute the barrier fell, she espied her target. Taking a deep breath, just before her finger pulled the trigger, she whispered to herself, "Show me what you got."

Boom!!

"Take time!"

Rikona's shout came from the forefront, prompting Perennial Mechanism into action, and in front of them was quite the peculiar sight.

"No wonder you were able to wound a Talium, so this is the case," Rikona's calm voice sounded, quieting the congregation below her.

Even the occupants in the aircraft and the viewers via the drone were shocked!

"Did she just stop a bullet?!" Ariel asked.

Rikona inspected the glowing projectile from a distance, the scrutiny upon her face was evident as she let loose a vicious whisper, "How in the world did these mouthbreathers get their hands on Divinus Plasma?"