Jakery gritted his teeth, keeping his eyes on the Sky Beast above. Crackling energy built up in his arms, transitioning to a sphere of raw electrical surges in the middle of his chest.
He continued to charge it, wasting stamina the more he held it in his grip. Until he heard the sound of melting metal and breaking plates.
"Drop him!!" Jakery ordered.
As requested, Hazen ordered her Sky Beast to let go of Hitirus. Sending the elite pummeling to the ground, where Jakery patiently waited with his blinding blue fury.
"RRRAAAGH!" Jakery howled.
The sphere darted across the sky, not losing momentum as it got closer to his target. When tyrant clashed with ability, the entire world beneath the explosion felt it.
Grass permanently faced away from the explosion, trees leaned back hoping to dodge what was coming for them, and a deafening ringing sound dazed everyone around it.
"Sh - should keep you down... for good," Jakery panted.
Focus fell on the falling skeleton that crashed not too far from them. Jakery stumbled closer, getting a better look at what this thing was. When he saw the skeleton, he jumped in shock.
Whatever this thing was had no clear identification. No large bones, no frail bones, sharp teeth and claws didn't exist on it, and it didn't have the added Zegus bones for protection.
"Huh... what the..? I don't think this is normal. It's just... barren. Nothing to tell what Variant this was," Jakery continued.
As he stumbled closer to the downed skeleton, he realized something was off. For starters, it did not seem done yet. The position it was seemed like the thing was ready to go for another round.
Not just that, but it appeared to be slowly breathing. Although, not really. Its shoulders expanded and compressed, emulating a body when it breathes.
Realizing this, Jakery took a step back. If Hitirus was capable of standing back up after getting impaled and beheaded there's no telling what was the limit.
And to his credit, the skeleton slowly stood up. Keeping its empty eye sockets towards him as it rose over its former grave.
Hitirus opened his hands, spreading his arms a fair distance away from each other. Then from within his skeletal palm, energy began to flow. Something green and ethereal-looking, almost a blessing.
A bright explosion of green light stunned Jakery, buying enough time for the skeleton to regenerate. Skin and muscles regrew, bringing the other extra features with it. Leaving a brand new Hitirus in its stead.
While Jakery recovered from the flash, Hitirus dashed closer. Driving a powerful upwards punch to his gut, sending Jakery over his head. Then he grabbed Jakery's ankle, slamming his body down after.
"On the day of my creation, my inspectors said I only die when time claims me or when my duty is complete. An inexperienced manifestation of brute force and zero combat logic cowers beneath a brute with plenty of thought put into it."
Everything was blurry for Jakery, he struggled to crawl away from the impact. The crater he created on impact felt like a near grave for him.
Some sort of undestroyable brute loomed over him, lecturing Jakery of how much better he was. In that moment of desperation, he turned to one side of his memory.
All the times his brothers spent together with Lya, their struggles and experiences together. Comparing them to the lack of a childhood Hitirus surely grew up with.
"I was made in the eye of battle. The experiment was the result of intense fear and desperation. Do you seriously think your region could compare to the product of a last stand?" Hitirus growled.
Jakery struggled off the ground, keeping his head low. "D - do you... believe yo - you can compare against the product of... a normal life... brute?"
The second the sentence finished, Jakery delivered a powerful blow to Hitirus stomach. Sending the brute flying out of the crater.
"RAGH! Learn how to die, already!" Jakery screamed.
Energy engulfed his frame, escaping out of his eyes and armor cracks. Electricity crackled as it rapidly surged through, allowing Jakery to leap up into a lighting strike.
Hitirus grinned, lifting his head from the battered grass. As Jakery flew towards him, he noticed Hitirus' teeth were flattening out, except for the corners of his mouth. Those grew sharper.
Right on impact, Hitirus used the back of his hand to slap Jakery off course. Sending him flying backwards. Hitirus grabbed his ankle again, this time he forced the entire body closer to his.
A devastating knee clashed with his crotch, sending the pain pulsing through his veins. Instead of resisting, Jakery fell to his knees. Which was followed by an elbow to the back of the helmet.
"Do you know how it feels when I transition? How about I show you?" Hitirus mocked.
Using his left hand, he grabbed Jakery by the shoulder, lifting his body up to his knees. Then used his other hand to place it over Jakery's crown.
Hitirus eagerly smiled, slowly twisting his head around. Until a bloody fury jumped on his back, Valentine was back on his feet.
Two crimson arms wrapped around a brute's neck, yanking back with all the strength a Thawed could possess. It was not a struggle for dominance, the victor was already decided.
"You just don't learn, huh?" Hitirus taunted.
Valentine felt himself get lifted over the tyrant's head, then slamming down on Jakery. Dazing his ally in the process, while also giving Hitirus the advantage.
All the Thawed could see was tight muscles jump over him, gripping onto his mask. Then yanking with all the force in the world. Small metal hooks, along with the mask, erupted out of his face.
The force was enough to send Valentine onto his feet, stumbling forward into a direct impact against his mask. It dented as it pressed through the bridge of his nose, then dug into his eyes.
Everything got blurry for Valentine, everything felt off balance. Hitirus watched in amusement, keeping his eyes fixed on the stumbling elite.
Jakery drove his foot against the brute's back, sending them stumbling forward. Then he grabbed Valentine by the wrist, keeping his eyes on Hitirus.
"Let your abilities flow down to my other hand, we can't defeat this thing," Jakery ordered.
Understanding this was the wiser decision, Valentine obeyed. A profuse amount of blood washed down to his ally's hand.
Allowing Jakery to combine it with his energy to unleash a beam with the intent of pushing the creature away.
Blood formed a light barrier for Hitirus to clash against, and the electricity provided the push needed. After several seconds of trying, the leader began to cave in.
Eventually, the duo's power became powerful enough to send the tyrant flying far away. Somewhere off over the horizon where they hoped another creation could end it.