I spotted one of the Legionnaires climbing a building, an RPG slung over his shoulder, and instinct kicked in. I had to take him out before he could level a rocket at Piper and the others. I followed him, heart racing as adrenaline surged through my veins.
Just as I located the soldier, a sudden grip from behind caught me off guard. I spun around, engaging in a quick scuffle. With a burst of instinctive movement, I pushed back and fell, tumbling down the stairs in a chaotic roll.
I landed in a heap on the ground, briefly stunned but unharmed. As I regained my footing, I saw the Legion soldier dazed and unsteady from the fall, still near the bottom of the staircase. Without a moment's hesitation, I launched myself with a flying kick, connecting with his chest and sending him crashing backward into the wall. He slumped down, unconscious.
Quickly recovering my knife, I lunged forward and cut his throat with a swift motion, ensuring he wouldn't be a threat any longer. I could still hear the distant sounds of the battle, but I needed to find that RPG guy before it was too late.
Drawing near the edge of the building, I spotted the soldier aiming his weapon, and in a moment of urgency, I threw my knife. It struck true but only clipped his shoulder—not fatal, but enough to disrupt his aim. He fired a shot towards Piper, and I felt a surge of panic well up inside me.
As I turned to face the nearest threat—another Legionnaire—I charged forward, launching into action. I executed a leg sweep, throwing him off balance momentarily. He responded quickly, lifting his leg to set up an axe kick aimed at my head.
Anticipating the move, I rolled to the side and scooped up a handful of dirt and rubble. I flung it at the soldier, and he instinctively shielded his eyes, jumping back to put distance between us.
Seizing the opportunity, I charged at him, tackling him against the wall. I threw two heavy punches; initially, they connected, but as I aimed for a third hook, he caught my fist under his armpit. With swift precision, he headbutted me twice in succession, stunning me momentarily.
Before I could regain my bearings, he pivoted on his left leg and swept mine out from under me. I hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs and leaving me momentarily dazed.
Feeling a hand tightening around my throat, I struggled against the grip, panic surging as I realized the gravity of my situation. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a grapefruit-sized chunk of concrete debris not too far away. Summoning every ounce of strength, I reached for it, desperate to find a way out of this chokehold.
With a final burst of determination, I rolled away, grabbing the concrete block with a firm grip. It was now or never. I needed to fight back and turn the tide of this confrontation before it was too late.