Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 497: Suddenly There Were Two

"We fight and buy our people time." Jace answered as he stood ready. "Why have you come to our galaxy?" Hoping to distract her as the others got into position. While also taking stock of how many enemies there were in front of them while also classifying them.

{Because of your sentient population. Once the population of a galaxy gets too high, either one of two things happen.} The General began explaining as she pulled the massive hammer she hit him in the head with off the ground. Looking at it for a moment to assess the small scratch he made with his knife. {They will either try to expand and colonize other galaxies. Which could include a war between galaxies or the extermination of races that already live in that galaxy. Or they could erupt into a war within the galaxy that would result in a galaxy’s complete destruction of a galaxy.}

"I see. So your people have taken on the task of limiting the population?" Jace asked as he waved his hand and both Victor and the Valkyrie spread out. At the same time the angels opposite of them spread out as well.

There are five angels with two wings. Then there are three angels with four wings, but only one of them has four arms as well. That one seemed to be their healer or doctor. Then there were also three angels with six wings including Gabriel which had already been subdued. Finally there was General Ariel who seemed to have no wings.

{We have. Although...} She looked over at Valkyrie who flinched at sensing the glare coming her way. {It seems the last time we were here we left in a hurry and left something behind which might have influenced the developmental path of some groups.} She pointed out.

But although he understood it he had to disagree. "Maybe somewhat. But ancient Earth lore has records of angels and demons long before we ever came to this galaxy." Jace informed her. He had already picked out the General as his target. He could probably injure one of the four wings as well, but he would aim at the healer instead. Try to take them out first.

{Earth lore?} General Ariel seemed intrigued by what he said. {Interesting... I will have to have a more in depth conversation about this with you after I capture you. Although, I will say that we had visited Terra a long time ago before it became a target. In fact it was the first world with sentient life that we visited.} She pulled back her hammer as suddenly ten golden wings that looked more like feathers appeared around her back.

Jace could almost hear a faint hum as she readied to leap forward. He smirked under his helmet as he spotted a figure suddenly appear from the sky as an invisible Nero Hawk flew overhead going toward the Wolfsbane.

{An invisible spacecraft?} General Ariel looked up to the sky at the Nero Hawk that was already out of range.

When she did is when Jace leaped forward and slashed toward her with his knife while also shooting at the four armed healer with his magnus. The sound of the gunshot seemed to break her out of the trance and she blocked the slash from his knife with her hammer just in time. But it still pushed her back a foot. While Gabriel held up a hand and all of her weapons blocked the bullet that flew toward them. Although the longsword and lance were both broken and still laid on the ground.

Just as he moved, so did the others. Victor launched forward and his dual swords clashed with the dual swords of a four winged angel. While his illusion clone caught three two winged angels off guard and distracted them. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

On the other side the Valkyrie attacked rapidly and sent one of the six winged angels flying backward with her initial strike. While her feathers distracted the last two winged angels and her follow up attack was blocked by the last of the four winged angels.

General Ariel scoffed. {You are impressive but against greater numbers-}

{AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!} The scream of pain which was as loud as the bell ringing echoed throughout the area. General Ariel and the other angels all looked at the source in shock to see the last angel who had backed up and was holding a weapon that was probably some type of rifle was slowly falling apart. Or rather their shell was falling apart after their core body died.

As it fell apart. Another set of Spectre Armor was visible. This armor was grey with the symbol of a lizard on the shoulder. They slowly disappeared as the corpse of the angel seemed to wake the others up.

But the distraction Nina caused by killing one of their comrades was enough. Jace closed the distance again and stabbed toward a weak point. But was blocked by a shielding that seemed to be almost golden in color. {An enemy that turns invisible. Are you sure you are not daemons yourselves?} General Ariel asked but he could sense the anger behind the words.

He could hear another screech of pain as another angel retreated from Victor who managed to completely cut off a wing. But it started to fade from the spot it landed while it slowly appeared on the back of the angel it was cut off from.

{Damn human!} He could hear from the other side as the Valkyrie was pushing back her own opponents. She was switching seamlessly between heavy and lighter strikes in order to keep her two opponents off guard.

"Nope." Jace fired several shots at the same spot he struck at with his knife and the golden shielding shimmered before turning red. He fired off his remaining five shots before trying to attack with his knife again. But then had to retreat as her hammer slammed into the ground and an impact he felt in his bones shook the ground.

That was not like the attack he got hit with. If that hit him his armor would have completely broken. The attack he took earlier from her was only a glancing blow because he managed to dodge since the portal was so bright and eye-catching. Gabriel must have called them in when Jace had put them in a near death state.

{You are right but I can already tell I am going to regret it if I let you leave this planet alive.} General Ariel declared as Jace reholstered his magnus. {You may have struggled at first with Gabriel. But it is clear right now that my subordinates would be dying right now if I was not here to fight you.}

Jace chuckled quietly. "Solisa, send crate EX-6411-8UR to my location. I am going to have a need for it in a minute." Jace requested but it was clear the crack in his helmet and visor was no longer blocking the sound from leaving because General Ariel tilted her head in confusion.

"Are you sure? That device... it will..." Solisa was hesitant to immediately follow the order. Which might have made sense in normal circumstances but to someone on the outside it seemed to be an odd choice.

But Jace was understanding. Mostly because the device he requested could destroy the planet if not used correctly. Which in turn would kill all the people on the planet as well. "I am. Send it." Jace answered.

{You will be dead before whatever you asked for arrives.} General Ariel claimed as she readied her hammer and prepared to dash towards him. But Jace jumped backwards and threw his knife which was coated in electricity. She hit it to the side with her hand and flinched in surprise as her golden shielding flashed before disappearing completely.

Jace pulled his experimental rifle off his back and released several shots at General Ariel who spun her hammer and deflected each one. Unfortunately for her one of the bullets ricocheted and hit a two wing angel that was staying near Gabriel to protect them. It only pierced through their shoulder but it showed the difference between the various types of armor or shells each of them use depending upon the number of wings they have.

Just as General Ariel was about to jump at him and attack him. She flinched and then swung the hammer to the side. There was a flash of metal before Nina started appearing and Jace could pick up on her annoyance as she resheathed her dagger.

"How much time will you need?" Nina asked, her automated external voicebox still sounded automated and emotionless coming out.

Jace, without looking, snaked out his left hand with his knife that had rematerialized in his hand and another of the angels screamed in pain as he cut right through their shell’s arm and two of their wings. Before he could follow up Ariel was upon him and he had to side step in the opposite direction of the angel or risk dying of the attack.