Zack cursed under his breath, realizing there was no way to avoid the mutated tiger's gaping, bloody maw. Gritting his teeth, he swung his chain sword straight at its mouth. The massive jaws clamped down, but Zack had already yanked his arm back just in time. He activated the leg reflex assist in his nanosuit and yelled, "Thruster!"
Boom!
The boosters roared to life, launching Zack upward with explosive force. He rocketed out of the tiger's grip and slammed into the roof of the tunnel. His chain sword, however, remained lodged in the tiger's mouth. The saw's jagged teeth began grinding furiously against the tiger's jaw, spewing blood everywhere.
"ROAR!!" The mutant tiger thrashed violently, shaking its massive head to dislodge the sword. Blood splattered across the tunnel as it growled in pain and fury, but no matter how hard it shook, the weapon remained lodged.
Zack dropped back down, landing heavily on the tunnel floor. His gaze hardened as he barked a command. "Power amplification mode!" In an instant, the nanosuit's fibers began to glow faintly red as the internal mechanisms hummed to life. The artificial spine's hydrogen battery pumped energy into Zack's system. The nanofibers in the suit burrowed deeper into his skin, syncing perfectly with his muscles.
"Let's see what you've got," he snarled. Zack's eyes were bloodshot, his veins pulsing under the suit's influence. He clenched his fists, and with a single leap, the ground beneath him cracked and shattered. He launched himself at the mutant tiger like a missile. Despite the overwhelming size difference, Zack's momentum was devastating.
Boom!
The impact was like a cannonball hitting a drum. The massive tiger staggered, its body crashing to one side. The sight of the comparatively tiny Zack forcing the colossal beast to stumble was both shocking and satisfying.
"ROAR!" The tiger swung its massive tail through the air, the sound of its movement like a whip slicing through the wind. The tail slammed toward Zack with terrifying force.
Instead of dodging, Zack planted his feet firmly and reached out. Snap! His hands clamped around the tail like a vice.
The impact reverberated through his suit, the red ionized glow rippling across the fibers. The nanosuit's power mode dispersed the shock throughout Zack's body, reducing the strain on any single point. Even so, Zack slid back several feet, leaving a deep gouge in the ground. "Not bad," he muttered, his lips curling into a smirk.
The tiger roared again, lifting its tail in another attempt to strike. Zack tightened his grip, his muscles tensing under the suit's enhancement. "You're not going anywhere," he growled.
The tiger flailed, jerking its tail wildly, throwing Zack into the air like a ragdoll. Using the tail's momentum, it swung Zack toward the tunnel wall with immense force. At the last moment, Zack let go. Activating his leg thrusters, he kicked off the wall, cracking the concrete as he launched himself back toward the tiger.
With gravel and debris flying behind him, Zack curled his fist and drove it straight into the tiger's jaw. CRACK!
The blow forced the tiger's mouth to slam shut, driving the stuck chain sword deeper into its jaw. The blade tore through the bone, emerging from the underside of the tiger's head.
Blood poured from the wound as the tiger let out a guttural roar of agony.
Zack's lips curled into a cold grin. "Looks like your bones aren't as tough as you thought," he taunted. Fueled by rage and adrenaline, Zack leaped onto the tiger's back. His fingers dug into the bloody wound on its spine, clawing through the flesh.
"Die!" he roared, his voice filled with unrelenting fury. With his enhanced strength and the suit's power amplifications, Zack began to pull. His fingers sank deeper into the wound, gripping the edges of the torn flesh. He clung tightly and resumed tearing at the gaping wound on the tiger's back. Blood poured out in waves, soaking him completely. His entire figure was drenched, making him look like a specter rising from a crimson nightmare.
Finally, his hand brushed against something solid deep within the wound. "Gotcha!" he growled through clenched teeth. Without hesitation, he shoved his entire arm into the wound, his fingers searching for the tiger's spine. The beast roared in agony, thrashing wildly in its death throes. Its massive body slammed toward the tunnel wall, attempting to crush him.
"Not so fast!" Zack bellowed, just as the tiger's back was about to hit the stone. Summoning every ounce of strength, he gripped its spinal column and yanked with unrelenting force.
CRACK!
A chunk of bone, flesh, and sinew ripped free from the tiger's body. The sound was sickening, a wet snap followed by a gush of blood. The mutated tiger let out one last tortured roar before its hind legs collapsed lifelessly. It kicked reflexively for a moment before the back half of its massive frame went completely still. Its forelimbs weakly scratched at the ground as it whimpered in pain.
Zack dropped to the ground, his breathing heavy but steady. He deactivated the power amplification mode on his nanosuit, wiping the blood from his visor. The suit's three modes—stealth, power amplification, and speed enhancement—were designed for limited use. Overuse could push the human body to its limits, and Zack wasn't about to test those boundaries.
But something felt off. "Wait… is the boost mode still on?" Zack muttered, noticing his heightened reflexes, sharper vision, and unnatural strength hadn't subsided.
"Sir," came the calm, mechanical voice of Ego, his AI companion, "using the nanosuit over time optimizes your physical capabilities. Think of it as… a very advanced form of exercise equipment."
"Great," Zack grunted, shaking his head. "Guess I'm stuck on an upgrade plan." He turned to the tiger, which was still attempting to growl despite its broken body. Blood pooled beneath it, and its massive chest heaved in ragged, uneven breaths.
"Let's finish this," Zack said, striding to its head. Its golden eyes, though dimming, still glared at him with a mixture of rage and despair. The beast's mouth hung open, the hilt of Zack's chain sword protruding from its throat. He grabbed it and yanked hard, dislodging the weapon in one swift motion. Blood sprayed everywhere, but Zack barely flinched—he was already soaked from head to toe.
"Rest easy, big guy," Zack murmured. Lifting the chain sword high, he placed it against the tiger's thick neck and flicked the switch. The blade roared to life with a metallic whine. The tiger let out a final, feeble snarl before the saw's teeth bit deep into its flesh. Its massive head toppled to the ground with a dull thud, eyes frozen in a grotesque expression of defeat.
Zack stared at the severed head for a moment before giving it a light kick. "Might make a good trophy," he muttered before turning toward the tunnel leading to the Armory.
Behind him, the tunnel reeked of blood and death, the massive, headless corpse of the mutated tiger lying in a growing pool of hot, steaming blood.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, chaos erupted. The air was thick with gunfire and the cries of the wounded as a brutal power struggle unfolded. "Team King! Get the others out of here!" yelled a pilot, his face streaked with sweat and grime. "I'll hold them off!"