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[color=silver][hr][color=9e0039]𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟜, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕚𝕤𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕕, 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕪𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕   / /   𝕋𝕠𝕨𝕟   / /  ~𝟙𝟟𝟝𝟝[/color]
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Her screams did exactly as Angel tried to accomplish. Seeing the elephant clockwork toppling down as the sonic waves demolished the creature’s joints on its legs and sent it crashing to the ground. If a wide scream wasn’t enough to affect a machine of that size, then she had figured targeting smaller but vital parts of the construct would be just as beneficial. She had missed one shot out of four, but it was to be expected. Her focus had begun waning as pain and fatigue started settling in.

This development doubled the Aberration’s confidence in her own abilities. She proved to not be so useless after all. She was quite capable in fact. Now if only those weren’t mechanical creatures, she could only but fathom how useful her forceful shouts would be combined with the ability to inflict mental trauma. Images of Angélique bringing down enemy Subnaturals to their knees in front of the dominant and superior sonic Mage flickered in her mind, bringing a rather grim smile to the rockstar’s lips.

Grant’s pat on her back did not go unnoticed as well. Her confidence was further bolstered by the rare encouraging words offered by her teammate. Her wicked grin turned into a genuine and appreciative smile. Angel offered no word in return; feeling like she should save what strength remained in her vocal chords for more shouts. However, she did return his pat on the back with a slight fist bump on his shoulder, combined with a smile and a thumb up. 

But with the toppled mammoth-sized clockwork, Angel would soon figure out why those creatures were named ‘Collectors’. She did not expect what would come out of the giant metalwork as it crashed on the ground, spewing a mess of mangled corpses and clothing all across the ground in front of it. 

The stench and the sight were unbearable for the faint-hearted Angel. If it wouldn’t be for her overwhelming pride, she would have thrown up her lunch right on the spot. But she held onto her dignity, feeling she had already experienced enough embarrassing moments for the day. Keeping it all inside though, she felt sick. 

Even as unfocused as she was from feeling so nauseated, she could clearly hear something coming out from inside the elephantine mechanical creature. It sounded like human voices. As a matter of fact, it sounded like moans of suffering and pleas for help. 

The raven-haired Mage froze on the spot as she recognized human voices. Her eyes widened in shock and brought a hand to her slack-jawed mouth, stifling a [color=9e0039]“Oh my god… there are still people alive inside!”[/color] underneath her fingers.

Immediately, Angel thought of helping those poor people out of Factory’s large minion, but her thought process was stopped as a voice manifested itself loudly in her mind.

[i]
[color=f7976a]Leave them be. They are as good as dead in there.[/color]

[color=9e0039]This isn’t the right thing to do![/color]

[color=f7976a]Even if you do save them, they’ll have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Spare them a lifetime of misery…[/color]

[color=9e0039]But… I want to prove we are better than this. We’re still humans inside.[/color]

[color=f7976a]Regulars will see you as a murdering monster all the same…[/color]

[color=9e0039]Maybe I am… but not the others. I will change this mindset, for their sake.[/color]
[/i]

Angel turned to Grant, a confused look etched on her face. Was she really in the position of someone calling the shots? She did it so far, but most of what she called was outright ignored by most of her team so far. It’s just as she feared. No one recognized her as a reliable person for taking decisions. 

Despite telling everyone to communicate about their whereabouts and keep together, Emma was gone on her own as soon as the fight ended, Hazel simply ditched them and walked away alone without saying anything and Siena teleported away by herself (granted, Angélique misinterpreted Siena’s words into believing she would get everyone to Evac team by using one of her useful names).

[color=9e0039]“W-what should we d-“ [/color]

[color=silver][hr][/color]
[i]Again, she was standing in absolute darkness, as if this scene was a continuation of her previous waking dream. Only this time, she was suspended and protected by a force unknown yet familiar to the singer. The screaming waves of the ocean crashed all around her, like water against a cliff. 

The chants of hope weren't satisfied with blocking the tidal waves of screaming despair anymore. This time, Serenity and Wrath both retreated, leaving the girl as an empty husk, devoid of thoughts. Then, both came back, colliding against each other with unspoken but yet loud violence. 

The singing voices all around the existence in the middle of it all were oh so very familiar to the young woman lost in the darkness. Was it her own voice, echoing all around her? Varying pitches, multiple tones, each expressed one mood, a thought, an emotion. From giggles of glee to screams of anger, it was as if each passing voice was reminiscent of her past and present feelings. Were her feelings so conflicted, at war against each other, so undecided?

Everything felt so distant, from her lack of understanding and everything happening beyond her control. And yet, everything felt closer than it ever was. Familiar feelings, emotions, states of mind. Some she acknowledged, some she refused to fall prey to. But in the end, they all belonged to her. It was a matter of accepting them and controlling them.

The screaming ocean grew louder, its waves pounding more fiercely against the rocks that were her willpower. Amidst the cacophonous struggle happening all around her, a strand reached out to her being. A drop fell into her cupped hands, sullying them with sparkling stains. It felt like it was her very life force.

An angel's blood.[/i]

[color=silver][hr][/color]

Her sentence was interrupted as her eyes suddenly turned unfocused for only a second. What was she about to say to Grant? Was she conflicted about saving the humans alive inside the Collector? Was it worth saving them? Would it be better to listen to the voices inside and leave them to their fate?

Of course not. If she ever wanted to prove a point, tell the world Subnaturals weren’t the selfish and murderous kind depicted in the media, then she’ll have to cast this doubt aside and use this opportunity to prove it. She’ll use this day as a stepping stone to bring change into this twisted mentality.

The confused look she had given Grant was now gone, replaced by fierce and determined bright eyes. 

[color=9e0039]“Aim for the eye. We’ve got to disable this thing.”[/color] Angélique ushered in a whisper to Grant. 

Not too far away, Angel’s attention fell towards Hazel as the girl screamed just about as loudly as even herself, clawing her head. The girl was surely dealing with her stigma right now, Angel figured. For a moment, she felt bad for being so hard on the girl. Hazel was an Aberration, just like her. She knew what it was to deal with something nagging at her from within. Much to her surprise, she witnessed the fury launching herself at a Collector not far from their current position. 

Overhead, the Aberration could see Chris flying towards their direction, seemingly searching for the offensive team. So he heard her call and acknowledged it. Good. That gave Angel an idea while he was still on his way to their position.

[color=9e0039]“Transmit to Christopher.”[/color] The obsidian-haired Mage waited for the beep on her cuff to acknowledge her request. [color=9e0039]“Chris, help Hazel take out the other Collector nearby. Ernest and Christmas are surely about to cross its path.”[/color]

Now, to focus on her duty, Angélique faced their own crippled elephantine clockwork, watching the flickering eye of the machine. She mustered every last bit of focus and aim she could get a hold of. Inhaling through her pained vocal chords and nausea, the screaming Mage let out a concentrated sonic wave towards the creature’s eye.  But it soon revealed to be a bad idea to shout despite her condition, as she heaved from the contraction of her throat, followed by another coughing fit that seemed to only worsen the state of her vocal chords. Right now, Angel felt pin pricking at her throat.

[color=9e0039][i]I've got to hold on. For everyone's sake. I will bring change![/i][/color]

[hider=Ability Notes]
Shout used this round: precision force effect

Shouting Limit: 18/24
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