Akino jumped back, biting his tongue as he collapsed to the unstable, treacherous stone ground. He screamed, crawling away as a Stage One Compactor ran towards him with its tentacles spread. It's black and gooey outgrowth shot at Akino, penetrating through his shoulder and shredding it to pieces. He grabbed the wound, pulling himself up as his arm clung on for survival.
He stumbled towards the hole he came in through, panting and screaming from pain and fear. Suddenly, a tentacle wrapped around his waist. The boy looked down, feeling the rubber-like restraint wrapping around him. He leapt forward, trying to push himself away before the Compactor pulled him back.
The creature slammed him into the ground with all its might. Akino's head bounced against the stone, another flash of white blinding his eyes as he felt the warmth of his blood soak the back of his skull and dye his hair red. He stared up at the stalactites hanging over him, watching the droplet of water bead off it's tip and land on his cheek.
The grasp around his waist became tighter. He pushed his teeth together, preparing himself for the wave of pain about to follow. The Compactor hovered over him, its massive teeth pushing through its jaw as it smiled. Akino heard his spine snap and shirt tear when he closed his eyes, struggling to collect his thoughts. Then, he felt his blood trickle over his stomach before he was severed in half. His torso was split with a gross, wet crunch. Akino's upper half went numb, thick strings of blood getting choked out of his mouth as his consciousness faded.
With a final ditch effort, Akino let his arm fall off. He used his other one to grab it and toss it up at the roof. His hand slapped against the stalactite hanging above him and the Compactor. Snapping from its base, the stalactite broke off and fell onto them, stabbing through the Compactor's neck.
Akino groaned, pushing the monster off of him. His breath pushed through his lips as Akino struggled to keep awake. Lifting his trembling arm up to his ear, Akino pushed against his earpiece. Through shaky breath, Akino groaned, "…Compactors… they're here…"
Hideyo and the others heard his voice through the static. She looked up, her stomach sinking as she stared at the mountain. "Just what I didn't want to happen! He sounds hurt, why didn't he contact the Grand Hall?!'
"The signal must not have been as strong in the cave!"
"Damn it… what about the others?" Hideyo asked, not expecting an answer.
Suddenly, Rena came rushing out of the entrance, covered in dust. All of the Omegas raised their weapons, preparing for a Compactor to follow. The Omega stumbled down the trail, her feet skidding against the gravel as she reached the bridge. "Makina is gone! She ran off somewhere in the cave!"
"What?!" Hideyo gasped in disbelief, her blood boiling. "Where's Matoi and Akino?!"
"M-Matoi is chasing after her," Rena said in between gasps of air. "Akino told me to come get you guys!"
"Akino is badly injured. He discovered the Compactor's base," Hideyo informed, her voice unstable with stress.
"I heard…" She repeated, still struggling to catch her breath. "The worst has happened… what now?"
The Omegas surrounding Hideyo turned their heads, all eyes and ears on her. Hideyo stared out at the ocean, her head aching with rushing thoughts. She clenched her fist, the fabric of her gloves folding around her tense fingers. "The worst hasn't happen… we still have hope! They're still alive, and so are we, but we need to act before it gets any worse. We need a plan…"
Makina was rushing down the cave tunnels. Her eyes were bright with anticipation and the streaks on her uniform pulsed rapidly with her breathing pattern. She twisted her body around, avoiding the boulders and cave structures standing in her way. Suddenly, Akino's voice rang through her ears. She stopped, her jetpack coming to a halt as she let herself back onto the ground. Her eyes widened as his message came through.
"Akino?" Makina called out, pressing her finger against the earpiece. "Akino?! Where are you?!"
A blue light bounced off the walls of the cave as Matoi quickly approached from behind. "Makina?!" The brunette landed, grabbing Makina's shoulder. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"Shut up," Makina demanded, staring at her from over her shoulder. "Listen!"
Suddenly, a tentacle wrapped around Makina's neck from above and yanked her up. Without hesitation, Makina used her weapon, Kaminari, to slice through it and fall back to the ground.
Matoi, taken aback by the sudden attack, lifted her weapon up to the roof of the cave and blindly fired, unable to see the Compactor through the darkness. Chunk of rock and pebbles rained onto them as an inhuman squeal echoed through the cave.
Makina tensed her muscles, lighting up her uniform as Matoi aimed her flashlight. They caught a glimpse of the creature climbing along the top of the cave, retreating towards the exit when suddenly, Makina spotted a shadow behind them from the corner of her eye. She twirled around, gripping her weapon as she cut through the darkness, blood splattering across her face as a Compactor collapsed to her feet.
"Makina!" Matoi screamed, pulling her away as she aimed her gun, firing a blue beam of light ahead of them. Makina's pupils shrank, terrified as the light from Matoi's weapon exposed the countless Compactors scaling the tunnel in front of them.
The beam of light fired into the upper corner of the tunnel, collapsing the roof just a few feet from them and blocking off the Compactors. Matoi grabbed her hand and started running towards the exit. "Come on, we need to go!"
"We need to find, Akino!" Makina stopped, catching Matoi off guard.
"What?" She asked, her heart sinking and eyebrows arching. "Where is he?"
"You didn't get the message? He sounds like a deadman! I'm not leaving this cave without that bastard!"
Akino lifted his head, his sprained neck aching. He looked at his waist, the blue strings from his flesh pulling his torso back together. He dropped his head, sighing as he started to heal. His eyes trailed to the side, noticing the map from across the tunnel. He turned the other way, noticing the Compactor beginning to get up.
He groaned in pain as he rolled over onto his stomach. He crawled towards the map, but unable to reach it now that his arms were connected. Cursing under his breath, Akino used all of his strength to pull off his weak left arm. Blood poured from his flesh once more as he grabbed his severed arm, reached for the map, and pulled it to his chest.
The warmth of Akino's legs returned to him. He smiled slightly, now able to completely flex his legs without excruciating pain. He gripped the shelves of the cave wall and pulled himself up, still clinging to the map as he unsteadily walked past the Compactor and towards the hole.
Matoi and Makina's voice rang through Akino's ear. He winced as their shouting pounded against his eardrum. "Akino! Akino! Where are you?! We're coming! Wait for us!"
Akino slid down the mound of rocks leading from the hole, his heart racing. "Guys, I'm okay! You need to get back to the busses!"
Without a second to resist, the Compactor jumped down from the hole and onto Akino's back. He screamed, hurling himself forward onto the cold surface and tumbling down the rubble, throwing the Compactor off of him
Matoi felt the hair on the back of her neck raise as his frightened scream cut off through the earpiece. She tensed her muscles harder, triggering her jetpack to go at maximum speed. "Akino!" She screamed from miles away.
He climbed up, shouting and running away as its tentacle wrapped around his face and pulled him back. He grabbed the side of the cave, digging his fingers into the rock as the creature tugged him back. "Agh, shit!" Akino gained traction from the cave wall, enough for the Compactor to let him go.
He fell to the ground, his body clapping against the wet and cold stone. The Compactor wrapped around his ankle and slammed him into the ceiling. Blood poured from his nose and mouth as he coughed. Then, it pulled its tentacle back and then chucked Akino forward. He slid against the ceiling, his momentum defying gravity as his body pummeled through the stalactites. He eventually fell to the ground again, his body rolling around like a puppet on strings.
He peaked his eyes opened, his body aching from the pain. He cursed, unable to pull himself up as the Compactor jumped towards him. He gasped, his face dressed with a horrified expression as the monster's jaw clamped onto his throat. The veins in his neck became pronounced as its skin tightened around the Compactor's teeth. He felt the long, canine-like teeth push themselves into his jugular. Blood shot out, most finding itself running down the Compactor's throat.
He grabbed under the Compactor's arms and threw it over his head, ripping its teeth from his neck. Blood spewed from his neck, even shooting through his fingers as he covered it up. His focus adjusted to the end of the tunnel, noticing the map at least one hundred feet from his current location. He started running towards it, limping from his injured knee.
Just before he was able grab it, Matoi flew by and grabbed him. The map flew further back with the gust of wind expelled from the Omegas' jetpacks. He exhaled, his breath being knocked out of his lungs as Matoi pushed herself into him. "Akino! Are you okay?!"
"Matoi, turn around!" Makina directed as she noticed the Compactor ahead.
"Shit!" Matoi whipped around, her jetpack struggling to keep up with her jagged movements. Without enough momentum built to keep them going, Matoi was too slow before the monster grabbed them and chucked them into the wall. The two were sent to either side of the cave, each rendered immobile for the time being from the strength behind the Compactor's attack.
"You vermin! You never stop, do you?!" Makina screeched, flying past the monster and slicing its head off. She bent her back, spinning back in its direction as it shot its tentacles at her. She flew around them, narrowly missing it before she eventually ran herself into a wall, unable to make such dramatic and quick movements in the confined space.
The Compactors head regenerated in a bubbling amalgamation of pulsing, vaporizing flesh. Makina stared at it, her weapon several feet from her. As its teeth began to form, the steam suddenly disappeared. Makina leaned back, noticing Matoi's robotic blade pushed through its gut, and its core crumbling down. Matoi pulled out her weapon, letting the creature collapse on itself.
"…thank you," Makina said reluctantly.
"Don't fuck this up for us," Matoi mocked, repeating what Makina had told her from earlier. She turned her head, watching in shock as Akino ran further into the cave. "What the hell… Akino? Akino, what are you doing?! Akino!!!"
Ignoring her, the boy continued, his eyes locked on the distant map. The noise of animalistic shrieks echoed in the distance, warning Akino to the threat that was approaching. He continued, despite the fact that hundreds of Compactors had turned the corner and were racing towards him.
"Oh, no… Akino, get away!!!"
Matoi flicked her wrist, switching her weapon back to a massive gun. The two Omegas began charging towards the Compactors, both with their weapons aimed and ready. Matoi pulled the trigger, shooting explosive beams of light into the herd ahead of Akino.
Makina grabbed Akino and started pulling him away, much to his reluctance. He punched at her as she folded him over her shoulder. "Matoi, fall back! I have him!"
As Matoi continued fighting, Akino was trying to pull himself from Makina's hold. "Let me go! There's a map over there, I need it! It's a clue!"
"I'm not letting you lay down your life for something that trivial, I don't care what it is!" Makina declared, hurrying down the tunnel. "I know you can regenerate, but who's to say that power wont fail you if you're completely devoured!" Akino stared at her, surprised. "Humanity needs us, needs you! To be completely honest, I'm not letting you die. I wont let you taste the satisfaction of death, not yet! You haven't experienced enough of this hell to deserve it!"
Matoi continued shooting as they advanced towards her. Blood and black goo flew past her as she slowly inched back, realizing that she wasn't sparing them anything other than a few expendable seconds. She looked back, horrified to see another hoard of Compactors blocking the entrance.
Makina stopped, dumbstruck. Akino pushed himself off of her shoulder. The Compactors slowly started creeping towards them, piled on top of each other from their sheer numbers. She backed away, glancing in the other direction to see no such desired hope of escape as Matoi continued struggling to fend off the beasts from the other side.
'What should I do…? We have nowhere to go! Hideyo and the rest of the squads can't possibly get through these Compactors without an atomic bomb to blast their heads off. Should I stay here and wait for my death? No! I won't! I don't care what Makina says, we're dying here either way, and I'm not going to sit around and do nothing! If I'll die, I'll die knowing I tried to save humanity!'
With his mind made up, Akino whipped his body around and started bolting towards Matoi. He ran past her, diving into the crowd of Compactors.
"What? Akino!!!" Matoi shrieked, now aiming her weapon in Akino's direction, shredding through the monsters to get to him.
Akino pulled his way through the hoard. Tentacles and jaws tore through him for every centimeter he got closer. He pushed his way through, using the mess of scurrying limbs around him to push his way through as they crawled around him. His body itched and ached from the slashes and bites carving through his body from every angle, but he persisted.
Unable to see him, Matoi became desperate and began shooting recklessly in his direction. "Get out of there, now!"
The light radiating from Matoi's projectiles peaked through the bodies climbing around him, giving him a glimpse of the map from under the creature's feet. His yellow eyes pulsed with relief and excitement as he reached for it, his arm getting bit and attacked from every angle. "Damn it, just… a little… more!"
Finally, Akino grabbed the map. His hand wrapped around it, crumpling it in his fist when Makina came up from behind him, slicing through the Compactors overhead. Blood fell down on them as her blade's spun, cutting through several at once without mercy. She grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him out.
Matoi lifted her weapon to the ceiling and fired, outlining a circle around the three of them with the beam. A shower of stones collapsed around them, barricading them from the Compactors swarming them from both directions. The trio got to their knees as the roof above them started to crack.
"What now…" Matoi asked, looking at the dome of rocks surrounding them. "We're trapped." Makina jumped up and kicked Akino to the ground, pointing her red blades at his nose. Matoi gasped, immediately rushing over to Makina and pulling her back. "Hey, stop!"
"Well?!" Makina asked, shouting angrily. "What is so important?! We could've escaped!"
Akino's stomach twisted and churned with terror. He looked down at his clenched fist and opened it, revealing the crumpled piece of paper in his palm. Makina pushed Matoi off of her, grabbed it from Akino, and started unfolding it when a gray arm emerged from the rock walls. They stepped back, startled. Akino grabbed the map back from Makina as she and Matoi got in position.
"I have an idea," Matoi stated as the Compactor's stared tearing through the barricade. "I don't know if it'll work, but I'll be damned if I won't try! Stay close to me, got it?!"
The Compactors bursted through, the rocks tumbling down as they all leapt towards the three of them. They piled on top of them as they huddled together, tearing through their clothes and digging into their flesh. Akino and Makina clung to Matoi, screaming through the deafening growls and hisses. Matoi forced her gun up and pressed it against a Compactor's stomach. She flipped a switch beside the trigger, prompting her weapon to unfold into an even bigger form of itself. The two beside her watched in amazement as blood and drool rained onto them.
"How dare you look down at me," Matoi mumbled. "You should be kissing my feet, begging for mercy for what you've done!!!"
Then, a brutal gust of wind knocked them back as a Compactor lit up in bright blue flames. The rest of the monsters around them were shredded to pieces as they flew back. Massive chunks of stone began crumbling from the tunnel as it transformed.
"It's transforming!"
The black goo of its tentacles disassembled and wrapped around the Compactor, creating a black shell that grew with every pulse of its levitating core. It's head pushed against the ceiling of the cave as it increased in size. The three grabbed each other tighter as the cave began to collapse in front of them. The Compactor continued to grow, its body now occupying the entire area, groaning as its muscles stretched.
Everything went black as the mountain above them collapsed.
Matoi pulled the trigger. She swung her gun across the sky, evaporating the rocks confining them. Suddenly, the light from the sun was in full view and the dull blue sky enveloped them. The three looked up, frozen, as the remnants of the mountain blasted into the sky and rained onto them. Massive boulders and clusters of rock fell from the sky with trails of dust and smoke onto the now flattened and unstable makeshift plateau they stood upon.
Continuing to grow, the Compactor's head excelled way past the cloud of debris encircling them. The environment screamed as it was ripped apart from beneath. The remains of the base of the mountain crumbled beneath its heels. The blueness of the core pulsed through the Compactor's black armor until it was completely done transforming. The joints groaned as they bent towards Matoi, who was now clinging to her friends so they wouldn't get injured from the falling boulders. The Compactor's face peaked through the cloud of smoke, its mouth open and eyes angry.
Matoi's body trembled in fury induced adrenaline. Her blue eyes glowed with resentment, her uniform glowing with them. She aimed her gun at the creature that towered above them. She closed an eye, focusing all of her senses before pulling the trigger again. The gun exploded off the handle as a deadly beam of light fired into the Compactor's underside. The armor immediately surrounding the impact zone was decimated, prompting the rest of the Compactor to unravel in a stream of black goo and warm entrails.
Hideyo and the others watched from the sidelines as a thin, blue light penetrated through the skull of the Compactor with a cloud of dust. Abruptly, the light expanded with a massive explosion, completely vaporizing the area. The sonic boom echoed through the district, disassembling the clouds and shaking the area to its core. The ocean crashed against the shore violently and angrily. The bus behind them rocked and the bridge cracked.
The Omegas all fell to the ground, covering their heads. The explosion continued with a third wave of power. The beam expanded once more, breaking what was left of the mountain into nothing but shambles of its former self. The sky lit up as the beam skyrocketed into the atmosphere. Boulders flew out from the impact and rained onto the district, crashing into the ocean and flattening the tourist attractions surrounding it.
Hideyo watched as a boulder flew over them and into the river, shaking the bridge even more and sending the people bouncing off the concrete as salt water splashed onto them. Through the waves, Hideyo caught a glimpse of the beam thinning and eventually disappearing.
Amidst the clouds of minerals gliding past them was Matoi, Makina, and Akino. Their clothes were torn, skin burnt and caked with dust and soaked with blood. Makina and Akino's limp bodies were clinging onto Matoi, who was knelt in between them with her arm lifted to the sky. Her hand was still clutched around the handle of her gun, which had completely disappeared with the blast. Matoi let her body go numb, collapsing onto the flattened heap of scorched rock beneath her. She huddled with the two, sighing from fatigue and exhaust as smoke billowed around them.