Elizabeth cursed under her breath when the AGU only stumbled before using her magic to launch a barrage of large boulders at it. Hopefully, one of them would hit the thrusters on the suit or at least distract the unit so she could get a better stronger spell at it.
Some of the boulders do hit their targets, and the AGU falls to the ground. The others miss or are sliced apart by the halberd.
It looks in the direction the boulders had come from, then starts carving a path that way.
Elizabeth smirked when the unit fell but kept launching the rocks at the oncoming unit. Though she started adding spikes of rock and ice to slow it down. It took more concentration to use different spells at the same time but she needed to get rid of that halberd. So she focused part of her magic to heat up the metal of the weapon to either melt it or get the unit to drop it.
The AGU unit slowly and steadily continues carving its way through the ranks, letting some spells hit it while outright slicing others in half.
It could feel the metal heating up but it didn't matter. The mage didn't know about the full capabilities of the alloys the armor was made of, and the weapon was simply reformed parts of the unit's armor.
It wouldn't melt for a good long while. It would definitely be enough time for the AGU unit to dispatch the magic user.
Elizabeth kept concentrating, increasing the frequency of her attacks and the heat on the halberd. She wasn't sure how much her spells were actually working but she certainly wasn't going to stop.
The AGU continues forward, only chopping through people once it realized that the mage wouldn't run out of energy any time soon.
It reaches where the magic caster was slinging her spells and finds the woman that he'd had to let go a week and a half prior.
"Why are you here?" it asks.
“You?” she asks in disbelief, surprised to run into the same unit that had… just walked away from her. “This is my base. This is where I live.” she points out, gesturing to the buildings around her. “I guess they never augmented your brain, did they?”
The AGU unit sighs, slamming the butt of its halberd into the bloodsoaked earth.
"What is the point of insulting me?" it asks. "Is it your way of coping with your imminent death?"
“No. It’s more the shock that I am familiar enough with an AGU to have these kinds of conversations.” she admits, not letting her guard down. “I can't easily guess why you're here but the fact that we're in this same position is… What are the odds?” Elizabeth asks even though she wasn't expecting an answer.
"Just as it's strange to me that I am having a conversation with a mage." the AGU agrees.
It thinks for a moment, calculating in its head. Maybe no technologically altered brain, but it was still smart as hell.
"About 1,232 to 1." it says after a moment. "There aren't that many AGU units."
Elizabeth blinks at the calculation and gave a little half-shrug half-nod. “I didn't think there were a lot of mages either.” she adds thoughtfully. “Any chance of you just leaving again like last time? Or do we have to get violent again?” she sighs.
The AGU unit shrugs. "There's more of you than there are of us. But it only takes one of us to wipe most of you out. As has been proven."
"This time, one of us will die." it replies softly. "I'll make this easier."
The AGU's white armor starts to fold down into a briefcase.
Elizabeth rolls her eyes at the blatant way the unit commented on its ability to kill those who were not augmented but sighs at the softer comment on how this fight would end. “So be it.” she nods, accepting the terms. Though she was confused as she watched the unit remove its armor. “What do you mean by that?”
The AGU unit nods. "So be it."
"Last time, we didn't fight on fair terms. My only advantages in this will be my own body. You'll be able to damage me." it says. "I will use my body, and you, your magic."
Elizabeth was surprised to hear a unit talk about fighting fairly. But she nods at the new situation. “Alright then. That's… actually kinda chivalrous of you.”
The AGU unit smiles. The mage could actually see its face now.
"Chivalry is long dead."
“That's why it's especially amazing coming from you.” she pointed out, smiling back. “Are you ready then?”
The AGU unit tilts its head. "One last thing before we start. What is your name?"
It falls into a fighting stance as it speaks.
“Elizabeth Harper.” she sighs, a more skeptical part of her figuring it just wanted to know for her tombstone if it won. “I don't suppose you have a name?” she asks as she assumes a similar stance, gathering her magic to fingertips.
The AGU tilts its head.
"Augmented Mobile Unit Designation #376209-UNI." it replies. "That's my name."
“Not quite the same but… Ok.” Elizabeth nods, not having expected much more.
"I'm property. Not a human. I don't need a name." the AGU replies mechanically.
With that, it rushes forward. Without the encumbrance of the armor it was fast - almost to fast to keep up with.
Elizabeth rolls her eyes, already knowing that fact… but for some reason hearing it this time brought up a faint sting of sympathy for the unit.
She pushed the feeling down and launched a strong blast of lightning straight at it.
The AGU twists and kicks out at Elizabeth's legs, trying to knock her prone.
It had seen the faint shimmer of pity in her eyes, and hated it. It didn't need sympathy.
Elizabeth grunts as the hit nearly knocks her down but quickly uses wind magic to catch her and backflips onto her feet. Then she blasts a freezing spell at the unit's chest.