Chapter 36: Escape

Ifalna and Aerith bided their time, Ifalna learned a lot from Ramiel throughout the years. And one of them is how to protect themselves. Alex and Ramiel taught Ifalna some basic CQC and spell combos. Though one of the most important ones were to always wait patiently and strike when the time was right.

After some time, Ifalna knew that there was no better time as they felt the explosions up above. And she knew that the Mako reactors got blown up to pieces. As a Cetra, she could feel the planet's lifestream. And three reactors suddenly went offline.

"Come on honey, let's go!" Ifalna casted quickly destroyed the cameras of their cell and casted fire magic at the metal doors. When the doors were red hot, she immediately began casting an ice spell and caused thermal shock on the otherwise strong doors.

She kicked it open and was really surprised at how strong her body has become. Seeing the results of project Minerva on her own body was quite different than just feeling it after all. "Gast, dear. Even now, Ramiel helps us even with just his research."

Ifalna carried Aerith and she tried to feel for the best route by feeling the Mako reactors at the south. Intending to escape at the opposite way where the explosions happened. "Mom! That was cool! Can you teach me that?" Aerith chimed at the side which made Ifalna smiled as she ran like the wind.

"Not now honey, don't worry. Mommy will teach you that later alright?" Ifalna patted her head and she snuck around the relatively large lab. But although Ifalna learned a lot from Ramiel and Alexandra in the past on how to conduct themselves in these kinds of situations. She was only a relatively normal person that isn't a supersoldier like them. Forgetting that the whole lab was always under surveillance. And she was trying to sneak out of the place to avoid any engagements.

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Hojo who was watching how his Underground SOLDIERs fought received a report from the lab facility which project Minerva was being conducted in secret. Not even president Shinra knew that he had the last Cetras there. Wanting to consolidate power in the shadows.

"Well, well, well. It seems we've got a couple of runts that managed to get out of their cell. Capture them at once, I want the little one alive. She is much more pliable, unlike the older one. She's too dangerous too. We can just clone her when we get her body."

The scientist gave his orders, Ifalna could be taken dead or alive. But it was much easier to kill her and just experiment with her body. Minerva cells proved to be too effective, and she was basically a walking time bomb in which Hojo did not know what her true capabilities were.

Unlike the young Aerith where he was confident that they could still manage. Especially because she wasn't really as smart as Ramiel or Alexandra who were outliers.

"But Vincent Valentine… I haven't seen your face in a decade, it seems that you have come back and are more interesting than ever." Hojo looked at Vincent's portrait that has been captured by Shinra's surveillance with a smirk. Thinking that Lucrecia's research wasn't so baseless after all.

After some time, Ifalna thought she was making good progress, getting closer and closer to the exit which she memorized through a helper of theirs. One of the scientists was against the Jenova project. And seeing a mother and child being experimented in the name of science wasn't right with them.

"Honey, just a little bit more. Don't worry, we'll be meeting Alexandra and Ramiel shortly." Ifalna smiled tenderly at Aerith and was quite sure that because of the commotion outside, the lab wasn't defended as heavily.

Travelling some more and arriving at the exit, Ifalna destroyed the heavy doors with a firaga spell after casting a magical barrier on them. But her heart immediately sank when she saw squads of Shinra troops that were already aiming down their sights.

"Mom, I'm scared… Who are those people?" Aerith retreated to her mother's bosom as Ifalna gave a heavy frown. "Don't worry honey, mommy will take care of the bad people." She patted Aerith's head and immediately put a barrier on them with as much strength she could muster.

The leader gestured for them to fire and they focused all their shots at ifalna. Shinra troops might be just mobs for people like Vincent and the twins. But they were actually trained really well and were more akin to special forces in skill at their marksmanship.

Ifalna gritted her teeth and knew that she wouldn't be able to escape without making a path. She quickly looked around for escape routes and found a sewer grate that was a bit away from them. Ifalna fought back and casted her spells haphazardly, frowning heavily at the thought that she was killing people.

Waves and waves of troops replaced them though. And unlike them who are great in numbers. Ifalna didn't have as much energy to spare. So she decided to bombard them with firaga spells before their barrier gives.

"Take this!" With her superior advantage in controlling Mako and the lifestream, multiple balls of fire were conjured in the air and got launched at the soldiers. They got carpet bombed by the spells and Ifalna quickly made her way to the sewer grate. She pulled on it with her bare hands and due to her enhanced strength, she made quick work of the opening.

"Yes! Aerith, go down quickly! Mom will follow you after!" Ifalna looked behind them and saw that more soldiers were quickly converging to their position. Aerith hesitated for a bit because she was anxious and scared. "But I don't wanna! I'm scared, mom!"

Ifalna had a deep frown on her face as she furrowed her brows. She quickly used her powers and vines took Aerith down to the sewers. She was about to follow her down, but the Shinra troops saw a chance and used grenades in order to kill her. With Aerith out of the way, they had more options to use.

Because of the loud gunfire and the adrenaline coursing throughout her whole body, Ifalna didn't notice the grenades and one of them landed gingerly below her feet. With an explosion, she felt the fragments of it hit her body in multiple places, her ears ringing from the shockwave.

The air escaped her lungs as she fell down on the ground with a thud. Her brain concussed, not knowing what happened. Shell shocked and confused, Ifalna shook her head and created a barrier of ice for some breathing room.

She then crawled into the sewer grate and fell down with her limp body. After falling down, she groaned. Feeling the wounds that were obviously severe. Adrenaline and her enhanced body keeping her alive still.

"Mom! What happened to you!" Aerith gasped, seeing her injured mother fall down from above. "There's no time Aerith! Quickly, we must get out of here!" Ifalna froze the entrance to the sewer with every drop of energy she had.

She stood up with difficulty and hissed, feeling the shards of metal in her legs and torso. "I'm fine, honey. Come on, let's go." Ifalna held on to Aerith's hand and put on a facade of being strong.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.