"What have you done…" There was no time to scream, a precious member of his team was dead due to him playing safe.
So in response to the death Girisia caused, Yoshikov was left with no choice.
*Sweei *Sweei...
Two bullet sounds, silent as they were, Girisia was still able to sense them. But dodging them? That was another matter.
His body was able to react to one shot, but the next one struck accurately on his foot.
Then came the onslaught of Yoshikov. Javelins, sleek and thin, flew over from Yoshikov and struck the chest of Girisia, who was still recovering from losing his leg. His armor, was paper-thin in the face of the javelins as they lodged deep into Girisia's body and grew out metallic spines. That not only made Girisa cry in pain, but it also made it impossible for him to move.
'This… this bastard.' Girisia couldn't move, his face was red with blood and guts of his previous kill, the tumor on his body couldn't absorb more explosive energy as it seemed that Yoshikov had learned how the tumor mutation worked.
'Shit… shit!! Where are you Tarkov?' Girisia knew that it was getting serious. The players can't act before Tarkov comes otherwise Yoshikov will learn it was all premeditated.
"No explosive rounds, direct attacks."
And without Tarkov's support, Yoshikov's associate will make an easy work of the players. While after learning this was a trap since the start, his treatment will also turn lethal.
*Thuck
The attack continued, the other close combat mecha operator had also jumped in and stabbed Girisia on his shoulder, leaving the weapon lodged in and making his right hand completely useless.
Yoshikov launched another javelin that ruptured the left shoulder of Girisai in place.
'Shit… it hurts!' Even if the muscles Girisia covered his body lacked many nerve endings, the pain was still excruciating.
"What should we do?... at this rate the quest will fail."
"I am surprised the bastard is not dead yet, he is looking like a porcupine at this point."
"No, we can't move until the team leader gives us orders." Spoon said, looking at Tara, who stood away from them, alone. Acting worried and showing concern toward the well-being of Girisia.
He was not even sure if Tara even remembered the plan. She was too close to the NPC called Korus.
"Stop, he can't move anymore,'' Yoshikov ordered. Girisia was currently on the ground, barely able to move as his body twitched from time to time.
The javelins were the final nail in the coffin in stopping Girisia's rampage. But they also harmed his body. Blood was pouring out from the wounds he had sustained and his health was dropping by digits.
But Yoshikov didn't take any chances, he had time. He was far from Riber city and there was no need to hurry.
Letting Girisai bleed out till he loses energy to even control his meaty tentacles was the correct and most sensible choice.
The loss of a young soldier is always a hard thing to face and if that soldier just happens to be a prodigy, then it's a lot worse.
So he moved toward the body. His scanners have found the head of the girl who once acted as his driver.
The head was still inside the mecha's helmet, so Yoshikov collected it, along with other body parts he could find.
Yoshikov was old-fashioned, even if he had done some horrible things in his life. He still maintained the basic respect for life and didn't abandon his comrades and those that fought by his side on the battlefield.
The best he can do is bring her back to her family.
And her death not only affected Yoshikov, but others in Yoshikov's team also mourned her death. Among them was a young man who went over Girisa's body and started to kick him over and over. Making Girisia grunt in pain.
"Stop it, just seal him up. He is more important to our cause than either of us here. Those that died today have given their lives for our cause. Don't let it go to waste."
After stopping further torture of Girisia. Yoshikov looked at the player.
Moving to the players, specifically Tara, in a cold voice, Yoshikov expressed his apology for his previous behavior of punching her away.
"Don't worry uncle, I understand. You were just saving me from Uncle Korus…" She said in understanding. Then asked. "Will he be alright?... I have heard about this before but it is the first time I witnessed it from my own eyes."
"Don't worry, he will be fine. Gaining so much strength so fast has its problems and that may be the reason why that thing happened."
Looking at Tara talking with Yoshikov calmly, Spoon was left speechless.
The two had completely ignored the existence of Girisia who seemed to be reaching for his death soon. 'She is good.' Spoon understood, his previous understanding of Tara was wrong.
On the other hand, Girisia cursed at the soldier who had spit on him after Yoshikov turned his attention away from him. He can see, these soldiers hated him.
They were a strong group and considered themselves better than others in the same rank, but losing one of their own so easily made them wake up. They felt threatened and scared of their own mortality and Girisai understood this.
These men were neither programs nor were they evil people who would ignore the death of their comrade. They cared for each other as Girsia did for his people.
'Fuck you Tarkov… where the heck did you go.' Girisia cursed, as he saw his health reach a critical stage.
'No… no no no!! Not now!! Not yet.'
<...>
"NOOOOO. Not NOW!" Girisai screamed, startling not just the soldier that surrounded him, but Yoshikov too.
If he gains a new mutation now, the fight may resume. And at his current state, he will once again be apprehended and the only thing he will lose is his biomass.
Girisia felt it, a unique mutation started to take place inside his body, specifically, his digestive system. His eyes were red, hunger was taking hold over his body. Though still being in control of his sanity. Girisai understood what kind of food this mutation desired.
'I seem to have felt this hunger before.'
Girisia turned his head, toward the soldiers that surrounded him as his jaw grew in size and his teeth started to protrude out.
He desired meat, the meat of players, soldiers, and Yoshikov.
'Not this… not so early.'
"Let… me… feed… on… your… meat…!"
"Still awake?" Instead of meat, the soldier slashed at Girisia's eyes, causing it to rupture as white fluid started to drip down from it.
'No… no this is wrong… This hunger is wrong. I can't do this…' Though Girisia said these words in his mind, entirely different words escaped from his jaw. "Boi, just… feed… me… your… arm, I… will… let… you… live." Girisia was in no position to bargain, neither could he move from his place But his words creeped out the soldiers who were the closest.
"What is happening?" This change in Girisia also brought Yoshikov over. Who noticed the change in Girisia's physiology. 'Such fast mutations, just what kind of brain tumor can give such bizarre abilities.'
Yoshikov was surprised, Girisia was a lot more special than he thought. 'Keeping him alive is a must.'
But his thoughts were short-lived.
"Move!! We are under attack!" Yoshikov ordered. His sensors detected something, something very dangerous.
From the sky, high above the clouds, countless bombs flew down on Girisia and Yoshikov's men.
But due to their slow speed of delay, it gave ample time for everyone in the vicinity of Girisai to leave the area. And the only one to face the impact of the bombs was none other than Girisia.
Blast after blast, bombs after bombs fell from the sky on Girisia's body. And his Buloid tumor's started to work, absorbing most of the explosive damage on Girisia's body. While the javelins on his body also broke down under the impact.
'About time.'
Health: 30…45…40…60…57…90…187… 185… 350…
"It's time, run and hide in the forest, keep distracting the mobs beside Yoshikov," Tara ordered, as she ran into the forest to hide. She was merely level 10 with no mecha of her own so she had no way to face the lvl 14-17 enemies. The only thing she can do is provide support and the same is true for other players who were even weaker than her.
Biomass: 106/550
The tumors on Girisia's back were brimming with energy. Though parts of javelins were still lodged inside Girisia's body while he had lost one of his legs. It didn't bother him. Manipulating some muscles, Girisia created a pseudo leg in an instant while he closed off the injuries on the body to prevent any further blood loss.
And none of these actions, for self-preservation, was done on his own will, he did it instinctively while his entire focus shifted to hunting prey.
The hunger may be gone from vitality infusion.
He was running low on biomass fuel, and the enemy was disoriented by the sudden attack.
"So Wilkis's dog caught up to us." Yoshikov misunderstood instantly.
"No! General had nothing to do with this, I am here on my revenge." Tarkov floated from the jungle, his armor glistening in dark light, that with a single click sound abandoned the stealth plates while some more armor pieces flew from the jungle and latched on his body. Augmenting his armor further.
"Revenge?" Yoshikov came to an understanding. "So you escaped a purge?" Yoshikov may not know who was under the armor, but he felt a huge threat from the person. A kind of threat he may not be able to face on his own.
"Alpine snake Mark IV, there are too few of these. How can someone so weak wield a powerful mech like that?" A soldier asked, his eyes still recovering from the previous attack.
"You shouldn't worry about stupid questions at the moment." With that said, Tarkov started his fight. His target was exclusively Yoshikov supported by the other three mecha operators.
Giving Girisia a chance to refill his biomass meter.
"No... no … no!! " Girisia cried, tears streaming down his one remaining eye as he tried his hardest to stop himself. But his body didn't listen, the three people he previously killed were now his feast.
He wanted to throw up, he wanted to move away from this place. But the smell of their meat, the sweet taste of it made his body act on instincts entirely.
This was the result of entirely relying on his instincts.