KS52

Emerald grabbed something, a piece of rebar, and brought it up just in time to block Neo's thrust.

Come on. Why is no one hearing this?

Neo slipped under her guard, twisting her wrist to make her drop the rebar, and then slammed the pommel of her sword into Emerald's jaw. She barely had the presence of mind to duck afterwards, an inch or two before Neo took her head off, aura or not. Something caught her eye on the floor – Melodic Cudgel – knocked aside after John saved her from Roman.

Emerald dove for it, rolled and brought it up like one might a rifle. The scope popped up, but she ignored it, firing from the hip in the vague direction of Neo.

Something went wrong. Melodic Cudgel bulged and expanded, the shot misfiring. Metal warped and heated as the red dust ignited within the barrel, causing it to explode in her hands and fling her back. Emerald's back lit up as she struck the wall and slumped down.

John cried out in agony a second later, pinned to the floor by Neo's sword through his stomach.