I gritted my teeth, pushing more of my strength into him.
My vision blurred, the exhaustion creeping into my limbs, but I refused to stop.
Co on, Edward.
Fight.
His breathing steadied, barely.
Color returned to his face, but his body remained limp.
He was still too weak.
"Damn it," I muttered, sweat dripping down my temple.
I wouldn’t lose him.
Not like this.
I didn’t care how much it took out of .
I would keep going until he opened his eyes again.
A sharp gasp tore through the silence.
Edward’s body tensed beneath my hands, his chest rising in a sudden, desperate breath.
His fingers twitched, his eyes fluttered open, dazed, unfocused, but alive.
Relief hit so hard I nearly collapsed.
I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling as I pulled away.
My entire body felt drained, exhaustion creeping into my bones, but it didn’t matter.
He was back.
Edward groaned, shifting slightly.
His muscles twitched, stiff from the brutal beating he had taken.
His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke.
"Amber... what the hell is going on?"
I swallowed, forcing myself to sit up straighter.
He deserved an answer, but where did I even begin?
So much had happened in such a short span of ti.
I glanced up, my eyes locking onto the battlefield where the fight still raged on.
Beth.
She was a blur of movent, her figure darting between the orc lord’s massive strikes with an agility that seed almost inhuman.
Her dual pistols fired relentlessly, the rapid shots echoing through the battlefield.
And sohow, sohow, her bullets weren’t just stopping in mid-air like the others.
They were actually landing.
I turned back to Edward, whose gaze followed mine, his expression hardening.
"There’s a soldier, First Class Private Beth," I said quickly. "She showed up out of nowhere and, Edward, her bullets are getting through his barrier."
His eyes snapped to , sharp and alert despite his weakened state.
"What, how?"
I nodded.
"I don’t know how, but they’re breaking through. And she’s fast. Really fast. She’s holding her own against him, and he’s actually--" I hesitated, glancing at the orc lord.
The massive beast was grinning, seemingly amused by the entire ordeal, as if Beth’s attacks were rather than threatening.
Edward followed my gaze and let out a slow, controlled breath.
"She’s actually making him move, huh?."
"Yeah," I whispered.
We both knew what that ant.
Until now, the orc lord had been practically toying with us, treating us like insignificant pests.
But Beth?
She slightly seem to have his attention.
And that terrified .
I hooked my arm under Edward’s, bracing myself as I helped him sit up.
He gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling from the strain.
Every breath he took was ragged, every movent slow and painful, but he was still alive.
That was all that mattered right now.
"Co on," I muttered, shifting my weight to support him better. "We need to get you on your feet."
Edward let out a low groan.
"Yeah... easier said than done."
He pushed against the ground, trying to lift himself, but his legs barely responded.
His injuries had been severe, I was honestly amazed he could move at all.
I didn’t let go.
With one last push, I pulled him up.
His body swayed unsteadily, and for a mont, I thought he’d collapse again, but he held firm.
His breathing was heavy, sweat dripping down his forehead, but his grip on my arm tightened.
"I got you," I assured him.
He let out a dry chuckle.
"Feels more like you’re the one carrying ."
I didn’t argue.
Because it was true.
But there was no ti to dwell on that.
I turned my gaze back toward the battlefield, my heart pounding.
Beth was still there, still fighting.
She was a blur of motion, ducking, weaving, her twin pistols firing in a relentless rhythm.
And the orc lord...
He was actually moving, dodging, acknowledging her.
Although with ease.
That was what scared the most.
Edward followed my gaze, his expression darkening.
"She’s really... actually making him work for it."
"Yeah," I said, my voice tight. "And if we don’t step in, she won’t last much longer."
Edward exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his lips.
"So, what’s the plan?"
I t his gaze, my grip tightening.
"We help her, ofcourse" I said, "she may look strong, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is still a soldier, and not an high rank"
A faint smirk crossed his face.
Even injured, even barely standing, Edward still had that fire in his eyes.
"Then let’s not hesitate."
Edward and I moved as fast as we could, though every step he took was labored.
He was still recovering, his body sluggish, but his usual strength kept him going.
I stayed close, keeping an arm ready in case he faltered.
We had no ti to waste.
The sounds of gunfire and heavy impacts filled the air.
As we pushed forward, the battlefield ca into view again, and my stomach twisted at what I saw.
Beth was fast, insanely fast, but the orc lord was learning.
Adapting.
Each movent she made, each shot she fired, he was reacting to them faster, closing the gap between them.
Her twin pistols blazed, their reports sharp against the ruined landscape.
Unlike before, her bullets pierced through his invisible barrier, sothing none of us had been able to do.
And yet... it wasn’t enough.
The orc lord grinned, his hulking fra moving with deceptive speed.
He didn’t just dodge, he anticipated.
The mont Beth squeezed the trigger, he was already shifting, his body tilting just enough to avoid a direct hit.
Mocking her.
Then, in an instant, he lunged.
Beth barely had ti to react.
She twisted to dodge, but the orc lord’s massive hand lashed out and caught her by the arm.
My breath hitched.
No.
He swung her like a ragdoll, her body crashing into the ground with a force that sent debris flying.
Beth coughed, trying to push herself up, but the orc lord didn’t give her a chance.
He stomped forward, raising his foot—ready to crush her.
Edward cursed under his breath.
"She’s not gonna last much longer."
I didn’t need to be told.
My grip tightened around my sword, my pulse hamring in my ears.
"Edward," I said, my voice steady.
He t my gaze, already understanding.
"We’re not letting her die here," I said.
His lips curled into a grin, even through the pain.
"Damn right."
Beth looked strong, faster and capable than any soldier I’d seen.
But she couldn’t take another hit like that.
We had to act, now.
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