The Bigshot's Superstar Wife

The ground beneath them trembled as more of the creatures emerged from the shadows, their grotesque bodies illuminated by the flickering flames of the destroyed outpost. Athena and Xavier exchanged a glance, knowing there was no time to hesitate. Their hands tightened around their weapons as they stepped forward in perfect sync, ready to fight.

The creatures moved unnaturally fast, their elongated limbs stretching as they lunged forward with razor-sharp claws. Athena ducked just in time to avoid a swipe aimed at her throat, rolling to the side before delivering a precise shot to its abdomen. The bullet barely slowed it down. Xavier, beside her, was already slicing through another, his blade moving in a deadly arc as black ichor splattered onto the cracked pavement.

Athena moved with lethal precision, her instincts sharper than she ever remembered. Every step she took, every motion she made, felt as if it had been ingrained into her body long before she lost her memories. Her footwork was flawless, her aim unerring, and her reactions eerily swift. As she twisted to avoid another strike, her mind flashed with an image—another battlefield, another enemy, but the same seamless execution of movement. It was almost as if she had fought these kinds of battles before.

A creature lunged at her, its massive form blocking out the sky for a brief second, but before it could reach her, Xavier was already there. His blade sliced clean through its chest, his strength overpowering the beast as it collapsed with a guttural screech. He turned his head slightly, glancing at her with that ever-present smirk. "You keep zoning out. Something on your mind?"

Athena exhaled sharply, kicking a severed limb out of her way as she reloaded her gun. "Just wondering why this feels so damn familiar."

Xavier's smirk widened, but he didn't respond immediately. Instead, he shifted to her side as more creatures advanced. "You sure you wanna know the answer to that?"

She narrowed her eyes but didn't press the issue. Now wasn't the time. They had to survive first.

The battle dragged on, each second stretching into an eternity. The creatures weren't just fast; they were learning. They began dodging attacks, moving in coordinated patterns, their screeches forming a twisted form of communication. Athena clenched her jaw. This wasn't normal. This wasn't how zombies or even mutated beasts should behave.

A piercing shriek echoed through the battlefield, louder than the rest. Athena turned her head sharply and saw it—a towering figure standing on the remains of a collapsed building. Its body was skeletal yet covered in thick, pulsating armor, its face humanoid but devoid of eyes. It raised one elongated arm, and in an instant, the creatures stopped their chaotic movements.

Then, they attacked with purpose.

Xavier cursed under his breath. "Great. Now they have a damn leader."

Athena didn't waste time responding. She aimed her gun at the towering creature and fired. The bullet struck its chest, but instead of piercing through, it stopped mid-air before falling harmlessly to the ground. She gritted her teeth. "It's protected."

Before they could devise another plan, the controlled creatures swarmed them. Athena barely had time to react before one tackled her, sending her crashing into the remains of a shattered vehicle. Pain shot through her back, but she rolled with the impact, dodging a claw that nearly impaled her. She fired point-blank at its head, splattering dark blood everywhere.

Xavier was faring no better. He was fast—faster than any normal human should be. His blade flashed as he cut through the horde, but the creatures were relentless. Even with his skill, he was being forced back.

Athena gritted her teeth, frustration burning in her chest. They needed to take out the leader. It was controlling the swarm, giving them a coordinated advantage. She scanned the battlefield quickly, calculating her next move. Then, she saw it—an exposed part of its body beneath the armor, pulsing faintly like a weak point.

"Xavier! Cover me!" she shouted, already sprinting toward the creature.

He didn't ask questions. He moved in tandem with her, slashing at any creature that got too close. Athena leaped onto the wreckage of a fallen building, using it as leverage to propel herself higher. The leader turned its head toward her just as she raised her gun and fired.

The bullet struck true.

A piercing wail erupted from the creature as its body convulsed violently. The swarm hesitated, their movements faltering for the first time. Athena didn't let up. She landed swiftly and sprinted forward, drawing the sword that had always appeared in her moments of desperation.

The moment her blade met the creature's flesh, glowing red butterflies erupted from the wound, their luminescent bodies scattering into the air before the monster burned away entirely.

The battlefield went silent.

The remaining creatures, leaderless, lost their coordination. Xavier wasted no time in cutting them down. Within minutes, it was over. The ground was littered with the corpses of the fallen, the air thick with the stench of death.

Athena exhaled, gripping her sword tightly. She looked at Xavier, who was wiping the blood from his blade with an almost lazy expression. "That was a little too close for comfort," he mused.

She let out a breathy laugh, exhaustion creeping into her bones. "You think?"

He chuckled, stepping closer. "So, about that feeling of familiarity…"

She tensed, knowing where this conversation was going.

Xavier's smirk was gone, replaced by something unreadable. "You're remembering things, aren't you?"

Athena looked away, staring at the ground littered with corpses. She didn't want to admit it, but the answer was obvious.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's only a matter of time before you remember everything."

She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

For now, all she knew was that the battle was won, but the war was far from over.

Athena remained silent, gripping the hilt of her sword as she stared at the remnants of the battlefield. The glowing red butterflies had long since disappeared, but the memory of their eerie beauty lingered in her mind. She knew Xavier was watching her, waiting for an answer she wasn't ready to give.

"I don't know what I'm remembering," she finally admitted, her voice quiet. "But it feels… real."

Xavier exhaled, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "That's because it is."

She turned to face him sharply, but before she could demand an explanation, the distant sound of movement broke the tense moment. Both of them tensed, weapons at the ready.

"Looks like we don't have time for reminiscing," Xavier murmured, rolling his shoulders.

Athena tightened her grip on her blade. "Then let's finish this first."

Whatever truths awaited her, they would have to wait. The fight wasn't over yet.