Despite his best efforts, Karl was unable to match the speed of the others, as they had at least a few minutes head start in the pursuit. He decided to take a diagonal route, aiming for where he assumed the Marine would be on the opposite side of the hillside. After a minute’s mad scramble, he reached the crest of the hill in time to see the Marine scramble to his feet, making for the forest ahead. There was no time for a snap shot, the trees made it difficult, if not impossible, to aim accurately at the fleeing soldier.
As Karl processed this information, he heard a whirring noise as of a flail or whip, but deeper, heavier. Then Ari flew past him, about twenty meters to his left, a chain swinging around her at lethal speed as she seemed to take flight after the Marine. Karl dodged to the side as she sped down the hill in a massive leap, one that seemed to occur in slow motion, as Karl realized the distance she had covered was incredible for anyone.