"I'M THE REAL NATHANIEL YOU FUCK!!" Nathaniel bellowed, refusing to believe the truths told to him, his face reddening as veins pulsed beneath his skin like twisted, living wires.
The straps that held the man snapped, and his muscles bulged, gripping the contraption on his face with an inhuman strength that seemed to shatter the air around him. As he ripped it apart, the crunch of shattering plastic and the screech of metal filled the air before he tossed it into the water with a resounding splash, where it sank, slowly disappearing beneath the ripples like a rejected truth.
Fur emerged from his body in a maddening torrent, as if the very fabric of his skin was unraveling to reveal a beast beneath. Wings sprouted from his back, their bony frames cracking and shifting into place like twisted, nightmarish sculptures, before unfolding into dark, membranous expanses that seemed to drink in the light around him.
Long, jagged spines appeared along his spine, each one bursting forth with a sickening crunch, like the sound of snapping bone. Four eyes appeared along his face, their irises glowing with an unnatural, malevolent light as if embers from some ancient, forgotten hell had been fanned to life within his skull. And a tail grew, long and black, its sleek, scaly surface seeming to ripple and writhe like a living thing, before terminating in a curved blade that gleamed with a cold, deadly light, as if forged from the very essence of his rage.
His voice was low and gravelly, "We'll find out about that."
Nathaniel reacted instantly, his form shifting in a blur of scales and snapping bone, transforming into his reptilian monstrosity before the blow landed. The impact slammed into his chest with bone-jarring force, sending him hurtling through the air like a rag doll, his body impacting the water's surface with a resounding splash, sending spray high into the air.
A shadow loomed ominously overhead, a dark cloud of intent that sent a chill down his spine, but he rolled along the water's surface, narrowly evading the deadly strike. As he sprang to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins, Nathaniel rushed forward with a fierce determination, unleashing a chaotic barrage of slashes aimed squarely at his target, each movement fluid and deadly.
The monstrous man transformed his hand into a thick, leathery shield that wrapped around him like a second skin, offering formidable protection against the onslaught. With a sudden burst of speed, he dashed to the left, his movements swift and calculated.
In one fluid motion, he gripped Nathaniel's shoulder with a vice-like grip, drawing blood as sharp claws punctured flesh. With a primal roar, he unfurled his massive wings, their dark feathers glistening ominously in the light, and took flight, soaring into the air with a powerful thrust that sent ripples across the water below.
He tossed him into the air, the spines on his back shuttering and releasing with a sickening crunch, cutting into Nathaniel's flesh as they ripped away the scales that had protected his form, leaving gashes of raw, exposed skin making him even more vulnerable.
Refusing to remain still, Nathaniel disregarded the agony and twisted in the air, striving to regenerate the scales in hopes of shielding his body.
Realizing the struggle was in vain, his body began to morph, shifting seamlessly into the sleek form of an eagle. With a burst of speed, he zipped through the air, his wings beating powerfully as he angled toward his opponent, determination fueling every movement.
The figure hovered motionless, his wings beating in a steady rhythm to maintain equilibrium.
The eagle pushed forward, dodging spines with ease having had more experience when it came to holding different forms.
The man tsked in irritation before diving into the water below, to avoid any potential attack.
His body twisted violently, bones snapping and reforming as gills burst forth, adapting to the aquatic environment. His eyes sharpened with a predatory focus, and around his neck, a thick, flowing mane emerged, a striking contrast to his sleek, powerful form. With a surge of energy, he dashed through the water with unparalleled speed, emerging as a formidable Shark-Lion hybrid, ready to assert his dominance in the depths.
Nathaniel growled and zipped through the air, his agility and quick reflexes allowing him to adjust his trajectory mid-flight, ready before performing a spinning dive. With precision and a burst of speed, he hit the LionShark Hybrid in the eye, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the water.
Using his sharp, hooked beak, he clapped onto the eye, securing a tight grip before generating rows of razor-sharp teeth. With a swift, jerking motion, he ripped the eye out, leaving a gaping wound that sent a cloud of crimson swirling through the water.
The man screamed, pain forcing him to revert back into his human form as his body contorted and shifted, the LionShark Hybrid's majestic physique giving way to a fragile, wounded figure that splashed along the water, leaving a trail of darkening crimson in his wake.
Nathaniel shifted midair, his body a blur of transformation as he descended, and landed gently on the water's surface, sending only a faint ripple through the already turbulent waves. A defiant smile spread across his face, his eyes flashing with determination as he confronted his assailant, his voice steady and unwavering. "You can't kill me, and you know it," he declared, the sound of his words carrying across the water with an unshakeable conviction.
A smirk emerged on the shattered man's face, "I'm not naive enough to think that killing you would resolve this problem."