Caption (to assist readers):
- Everything is good. - = speech of the character
"All good." = character thoughts (during certain scenes)
*boom* = ambient or scenery sounds (similar to using other types of comic fonts)
This chapter is told from James Heller's point of view.
*Mercer's loud howl*
Mercer's howl marks the start of the next round.
Mercer moves to the left as further changes affect him. His wolf helmet merges with his face, making him resemble a mutant werewolf who can bare his razor-sharp fangs.
I also begin to run. His animal behavior is predictable, similar to a speedy predator who runs around other animals in order for them to be cornered, despite this, it is still dangerous to face him.
I'm slower than Mercer, with his new four claws help him speed up and keep up his acceleration. The best I can do is run in the opposite direction to give him less opportunity to attack.
Our chase is almost over. Despite my best sprinting, the distance between us is closing as Mercer is gearing up and readying to attack.
- "Let's do it! I'll take on the beast!" - I steel my mind and brace myself by gripping both hands on my blade, ready with a split second to react to my opponent's attack.
*Sound of metal clashing*
Mercer lunges forward with a powerful movement. I twist my body as fast as I can, hitting his claws and getting wounded by his newly-grown fangs on my right shoulder.
I block Mercer's third attack with my sword thanks to my quick reaction time, parrying the small blade on tip of his whip-like tail.
Mercer's a real threat. Running circles around me, leaving no chance to attack first.
I'm cornered by the speed advantage. Using all my senses, focused, to react fast enough to avoid Mercer's opening for a brutal attack.
Mercer attacks suddenly from my left.
I react quickly while spinning and cut off one of his front paws. His whip-tail targets my face.
I cover my head and eyes with my left hand to protect myself while holding my blade only with my right hand.
Mercer's blade-tipped whip pierces my left hand. I clench my fist and hold his tail before he gets a chance to rip my hand off.
Mercer's strength and speed are strong enough to pull me towards him. I have no choice but to let go of my blade in order to hold the tail with both hands and stop him from breaking my balance.
*Heller's loud scream*
I scream to fight back, using all my strength against Mercer, tearing off his tail to stop him from pulling me.
I turn to see where Mercer went, holding onto his ripped tail. I watch him fall as he loses his balance after losing his front left paw and tail.
I use my left hand to absorb Mercer's tail whilst transforming my left arm into a whip to grab my blade and seize my chance to attack a vulnerable, still regenerating Mercer.
The second I grab my blade, I pull with all my strength, fusing the tip of my whip with the blade. This creates a weapon that I use to launch an attack in Mercer's direction.
I hit the ground creating a loud impact, but my attack misses, giving Mercer a perfect opportunity to counterattack.
*Heller groans in pain*
I don't have time to react to Mercer's next attack. I feel Mercer's sharp claws pierce my shoulder, and his fangs are biting hard through my neck trying to rip me apart.
I feel a strong pain from an attack that would kill me if I didn't have superhuman abilities. I clench my right fist and aim at Mercer's belly.
*Series of loud impact sounds*
One, two, three, four hammer punches until Mercer frees me, eating part of my flesh torn by his fangs.
Mercer steps back, regrowing his tail using my flesh, While I pull my blade back, absorbing it to use the black mass to recover more quickly from my injury.
I decide to change my defense style. The blade form is risky against Mercer's agility.
I need to reverse the scenario in my favor if I want to reduce Mercers chances of attacking.
Mercer advances toward me, coming from the front. I can feel that he's more confident now.
I show my vulnerable right arm by putting it in front of me, baiting Mercer to take the chance to attack.
Mercer is careful and ignores my right arm, changing his attack to aim for an opening on my left side.
Mercer's fangs aim to bite below my left arm, trying to reach my body, but I have another trick ready.
I move my left arm faster to cover my body, getting Mercer's bite before it reaches my body. He easily penetrates my arm with his fangs, without being unable to tear my flesh like the previous time.
"I got you, damned beast." I say, grabbing Mercer's shoulder hard to keep him from escaping with my right hand.
"Hedgehog form, Spike Barrage Devastator!" I announce my new Devastator attack move, erupting spikes from my body in every directions, piercing everything that's close to me. Mercer's body included.
*Mercer's pain roar sound*
I created a new move similar to Mercer's former Tendril Barrage Devastator, using less bio mass to use it without losing potential in close range. The Devastator attack stresses my body state without enough critical mass to use, even pulling in the spikes is hard enough to help me recover.
Without the spikes, Mercer back-steps awkwardly and rolls on the ground after losing the balance due to his injury current state.
We are meters away from each other, both focused on recovering. We have crossed the boundary between humans and monsters, although we are close to the current limit of our bodies.
Mercer's armor tears apart, showing his humanoid appearance once again. Visibly shaken, he appears to have broken his own body's limits first than me.
I return to my original human form, even keeping the armor currently affects my recovery. This fight was harder than all previous ones.
Mercer proved himself to be worthy of being the ultimate survivor being, and I had to risk my life to beat him.
Mercer is still on his knees, unable to stop trembling and stand up.
His desire to fight is evident in his gaze, and I can feel conflicted. I still gonna to kill Mercer, yet I pity him.
If I'd lost the fight, maybe I'd have the same rage in my eyes as he does right now? I will never know.
*explosive loud sound coming from far away*
An explosion suddenly interrupts our last act. It is coming from the ruined room where Pariah was.
Before I can see it, I instinctively feel that something dangerously appeared.
- Shit... That bastard set us up... - I can hear Mercer complain, and I feel the same. Pariah still had one last secret plan for his escape.
The new monster reveals itself, floating a few centimeters above the ground. Pariah removes the dust and obstacles with a simple wave of his left arm.
A new monster with a two-colored halo, white clothes, and a human form. Even with his left eye closed and the other opened and not glaring at us, I don't see how things will end well for me.
Mercer clenches his fists against the ground and tries to stand while looking at Pariah direction. He won't give up.
I will never give up too. if our situation has changed, I will face the change like myself in the War. Time to create an emergency plan for my survival!