[AN: Question. Should Belle become a Thiren? If so, what kind?]
Things had not gone as planned for Belle. Of course, jumping into the Hollow was supposed to happen but being separated from Nicole and Anby sure weren't. Neither was Miguel of all people being a real threat.
At least it was a two on one. That way, there's no way they'd lose.
*CLANG!*
At least that's what Belle had thought until she was pushed back once more by Miguel while Billy covered for her by shooting at him. It had been five minutes since they entered the Hollow and the bandit was still going strong. On the other hand, Belle was feeling fairly worn out.
"Damn it.. Victory looked so secure. What happened?" Belle huffed and shot two Ether bolts at Miguel for him to back away from Billy.
"It's because he's fighting for his life, Belle.." Billy answered, uncharacteristically serious as he reloaded.
"He's tired too. But pushed to the brink, humans will surprise you. I'll take the lead. I'm running low on bullets but I can fight longer. Just wait for the right timing." Billy stated before taking a running position and dashing straight at Miguel.
Miguel huffed in annoyance and anxiousness. Watching Billy and Belle suddenly switch up tactics left him extremely cautious.
*CLANG! CLANG!*
He deflected two shots and rolled backward as Billy slid to a stop right in front of him and raised his right foot, kicking him in the stomach. It was then followed by three more shots, but by then Miguel had already corrected his position and rolled to the side. Belle leapt over Billy's head and swung down, forcing Miguel to do an overhead block. Leaving him open to Billy.
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
Three shots fired, the bullets burying themselves in Miguel's arm and shoulder while the other missed his head thanks to a quick activation of his speed skill.
Belle quickly backed off, just in time to avoid a sword slash to the face. She stumbled back as Billy once more charged at Miguel.
Miguel grunted in pain and used his speed skill once more to get distance from the machine man. He quickly figured out their new tactic. Billy would pressure him, force him to either use his skill to avoid getting shot point blank, then Belle would take his attention with her wrist blade and Nikana, which would leave him open to get shot. And while he was durable as a Hunter, he was no tank. Those special guns Billy had could and would kill him if he was careless enough.
He had to eliminate Belle as a threat.
*VRRRRR-*
"Belle! Look out-" Billy warned as Miguel pushed his speed skill to the maximum and closed in on her.
She could see it too, already making a move to avoid his blade. She just didn't expect him to forgo slashing her and kick her in the stomach with both of his feet.
"Guh-!" Blood and spittle flew out of her mouth as Belle rocketed back, rolling across the ground. If that wasn't enough, a fissure suddenly emerged in front of her. Her body's trajectory launching her straight into it.
"Damn it.." Billy muttered, almost mutely.
"What shit luck! Hahaha! Well it saves me the trouble of cutting her head off. Now let's settle this, bot. You and me." Miguel mocked, taking a deep breath as he squared up against Billy once more.
"That was a big mistake." Billy said, as if warning him.
-☆-☆-☆-☆-☆-☆-
"Belle..! Belle! Are you okay!?" Wise called out to her through Eous, having been in her backpack throughout the entire heist.
Belle groaned as she slid to a stop. That kick luckily didn't break anything but there was sure to a big bruise. She shakily stood up, her muscles aching in protest.
"Yeah.. I'm just tired and sore." Belle admitted, petting Eous' head.
"You were kicked deeper into the Hollow. Thankfully you brought Eous. You need to regroup with Billy, Nicole and Anby." Wise stated, Eous, eyes lighting up as he started to calculate a path.
Belle waited, trying to catch her breath as she reflected on her current biggest weakness.
'I may have Photographic reflexes but the stamina, speed and strength needed to flawlessly execute all those moves is a bit beyond me. I need to seriously train..'
*Bzzzzzt!*
Eous' ears stood straight and his eyes glowed a bright red. It was a clear sign of Ethereals nearby.
"Belle.. run!" Wise warned, looking to Belle, who had prepared to fight again.
"What? How many are there?"
"Too many! Your fight with Miguel must have kicked the hornet's nest!" Wise stated.
Suddenly, hundreds of multi-colored signatures appeared a few dozen meters away. An army of Ethereals had appeared, several of them being true threats. Dog-like ones, massive hammer-fisted ones, flower petal-like ones and ones created from machines.
Belle immediately started to run, Wise closely following behind as the Ethereals gave chase.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Wise! Is there any exit? I can't run for very long!" Belle shouted, doing her best to ignore her fatigue and pain.
"Yes! Ahead. Two hundred meters! There's a fissure that will take you closer to the exit." Wise stated, keeping calm.
Ether energy bolts flew past Belle, forcing her to quicken her pace and keep one eye on the Ethereals shooting at her from behind. She ran, her lungs burning from the exhaustion and her muscles nearly giving in. The fissure was in sight, pushing her to endure until she finally leapt inside.
"Hah... Aah..." Belle's legs gave out as soon as she entered the fissure. Giving the area a quick glance she noticed she was inside a mall.
"Hurts to breathe... Keh.." Belle grunted, relaxing a little once she saw no Ethereals nearby.
"Catch your breath, Belle. I'd say grab some water but the area's got high levels of Ether corruption. You'll need to keep moving. Nicole and Anby should be closer to the exit, since they have their own Bangboo." Wise pat her shoulder.
Belle nodded and sat near the water fountain, catching her breath and trying to ignore her exhaustion and the loud pounding of her heart she could hear in her ears. She stood up and gave Eous a thumbs up before moving once more.
The Ether crystals around the mall were growing in number. Belle felt a strange swell of energy coursing through her that slightly relieved her physical stamina. But as she walked, the energy coursing through her gradually intensified, making her feel as if lightning were running through her veins.
"Damn.. Is there another fissure ahead, Wise? I don't feel great.." Belle groaned.
"Yeah, just up that escalator and you should be home free." Wise replied, running ahead and pointing up the large escalator in front of her.
*KSSSSSSH!!*
A loud, visceral hissing nearly made Belle jump back. Coming from the fissure, Miguel Silver flew out, smashing into the glass barrier overseeing the second floor of the mall.
"YoooU... You... GenTle... HOUUUUSE!!" Miguel stood up, black crystals and Ether swirling madly around his body.
Belle's eyes widened as he used his skill and lunged at her, his mutated Ethereal arm stretched out toward her.
Belle quickly ducked and rolled to the side, avoiding a lethal blow. Though the bladed arm still made a sizable gash from her shoulder to her ribs. Her blood splashed along the mall's floor. She heard Wise yelling but her entire focus was on Miguel. As a Hunter, he was already too much for her. But as a corrupted Hunter?
He lunged toward her again, body blurring in a multicolored light.
[Magnum summoned!]
The Halo: Combat Evolved Magnum materialized in her free hand as she braced for impact with the Sword of Extermination.
The bladed arm clashed against the Sword of Extermimation, forcing Belle a few meters back and stabbing into her shoulder. Wise was about to yell until he saw the earlier cut along Belle's ribs heal. Belle raised the Magnum and shot several times into Miguel's stomach.
*BAANG! BAANG! BAANG! BAANG!*
*Crack!*
It managed to pierce deeper than Billy's previous shots. The corrupted Miguel jerked violently, his other hand batting Belle's hand away as he bled a thick ichor and stumbled back, freeing Belle from his blade.
"Guh.. My wrist.." Belle groaned, looking at her now broken wrist. The Magnum had clattered across the floor and Miguel wasn't going to let her simply have it.
Belle stumbled back as Miguel roared and began to swing wildly at her.
"Diiii..E!!!!" Miguel's demented roars echoed through the mall as Belle kept up the Sword of Extermination, struggling to remain standing as the corrupt Hunter battered her with rapid strikes.
"BELLE!!"
Belle's eyes widened as her arm detached from her body. Her crimson blood pooled along the ground as she fell back. Her muscles giving way to exhaustion and stress. She started to crawl backward, staring at the arm that had one of her most essential weapons.
"N..No.. I can't.... not here.." Belle breathed shakily, pulling out her phone with her remaining hand, hoping to God something inside could save her.
Then she saw it. Past all the miscellanious items and outfits.
[Battle summon ticket! (Vargram the Raging Wolf. Elden Ring)]
She hurriedly pressed the 'Summon' button in desperation.
*Schk!*
And noticed the Ethereal blade impaled through her chest..