Chapter 454 - Break Through

"User is at great risk! Move!" Nyx's voice urges him, but the armour refuses to work with him!

Afton's eyes flitter at the many Legionaries approaching him, he grits his teeth and starts pushing against the malfunctioning servos, causing a low grinding sound to creak out of the armour. The approaching Legionaries stop their advance as they hear it.​​

They sheepishly look around at one another as if daring them to go first... This man had just killed hundreds, if not thousands of their brothers... There was nothing shameful about being afraid of him, even with the rather thin assurances made by the Assassin.

One brave man with a large still bloody scar running across his face steps forwards with a fierce expression. He looks up at Afton and smugly mutters, "Not so tough now with all that armour, are you?" he states, giving his chest plate a tap.

Afton scowls, "If you think you can beat me like the rest of the pathetic cunts wearing Power armour, you better think again!" he exclaims, abruptly pulling his arms, destroying the servos and allowing him to move...

Truth be told, any other man, no matter their strength, wouldn't have been able to do this... Power armour was only usable due to the servos and other mechanical components assisting their movement... It'd take someone as strong as a Supermutant to use it without assistance...

Unfortunately for the Legionaries, Afton's upper strength dwarfed most Supermutants...

*ccrrrreeeeeEEK!*

*CRACK*

*PING!*

The Legionaries back away with fearful looks as Afton literally breaks his own armour and starts moving under his own strength. The Saturnite plating was undoubtedly heavy, but despite that he was still able to move, even if he was significantly slower than before.

Afton grabs the head of the 'brave' mocking man from earlier and presses his thumbs into his eye sockets before beginning to squeeze, reenacting the Mountain' act of brutality against Prince Oberyn.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" he screams as he struggles to get out of Afton's grip... But nothing works.

The rest of the army are shocked and sickened as this happens before them. Soon enough, their compatriot's skull cannot take anymore!

*CRRRRAACK!*

*SPLASH!*

*THUMP!*

Afton tears the skull apart, causing blood and brain matter to squirt at the surrounding Legionaries. He drops the corpse and glares at the lead Assassin who'd ordered the attack in the first place. He breaks the servos in his legs and starts slowly stepping towards them.

All the Legionaries surrounding the lead assassin quickly back away, all pointing their weapons at Afton while disregarding the assassins safety.

The assassin himself was locked in place, unable to move at the fact his tried and true tactic had so spectacularly failed. His breaths become uneven as his heart begins trying to pound out of his chest. By the time he regains control of his body Afton was almost spear-distance away... He quickly backs away while drawing his 12.7mm pistol and pointing it ineffectively at Afton. "Get back! S-stay back!"

Afton ignores the notification that appears in his peripheral and bends down, grabbing the man's leg as he attempts to squirm away.

*BangBangBangBang!*

Shots ping off of his helmet, a few striking his visor, but all do essentially nothing. He grabs the man's other leg and begins separating them, forcing the man into a split... And even further.

The surrounding Legionaries shoot Afton to try and assist their companion, but all do nothing... A few even strike the assassin, even so, the pain of getting shot doesn't match what Afton was doing to him.

Afton held him mid-air and kept pulling his legs apart... Soon enough, an extra pull tears the man in half, from his ass to his chest! "FIGHT ME!" he roars as bullets continue deflecting off of his armour.

Elsewhere :

Boone had finally reached the top of the stairs while fending off the assassins... He and Anja were about to check the outside when the door suddenly explodes off of its hinges. They both look at the corpse now lying under the door and notice that it belongs to one of the assassins...

"Hey, thought you guys could us some backup" Veronica nonchalantly says as she walks inside, brushing some nonexistence dirt from her shoulder as she examines the room.

"Good timing. Guessing you heard what happened earlier?" Boone asks, finally lowering is weapon and looking it over for damage.

Veronica scoffs, "Yeah, who hasn't? Felt like an earthquake outside, but I'm guessing it had nothing to do with seismic activity?"

Boone shakes his head, "Probably Tamia, whatever she's doing down there." he shrugs, "Anymore hostiles outside?" he asks, and when Veronica shakes her head he nods and leads her into the bunker.

Veronica raises a brow at the many women and children here, but her gaze is soon turned towards the injured, Karl and Josie being the foremost among them... Though, judging by how worried Karl was for one woman, it wasn't hard to guess her identity. "Any idea when Tamia will be getting back? We've wasted too much time here already."

"*BZZTCH!* Hmm, strange armour you have there... But yes, Tamia will be with you shortly." House says from the monitors at the side of the room."

Veronica raises a brow, "So you're House, huh? You're pretty hot for a centuries-old man... But I'm guessing that photo isn't recent, right?" she jokes, but her laugh trails off at the lack of response.

"Yes, very funny." he states and immediately after he says this the doors of the room open with Tamia stepping through, slightly out of breath.

"Mission complete, let's get the fuck outta here!" she grins, giving a thumbs up.

"Well done, you have exceeded my expectations of you by massive margins... Join me back in the Lucky 38 so we can discuss things further." House states before the monitors turn off.

Veronica shakes her head at House's words, "That guy's one creepy bastard. Whatever, I'll cover you guys, but we need people to carry the injured."

Tamia nods, "Got it, Karl, you're with me. No complaining either, your back'll hurt way more if we leave you like this." she says as she helps the old man up.