Tame stood off to the side, observing the chaos with a frown but not engaging. He seemed to be waiting for something, biding his time. When Anna joined the fray, her movements were swift and deadly, her attacks focused on exploiting any opening she could find. It was now three against two, and the battle had taken a new turn.
But then, with a thundering crash, Sasha arrived on the scene. She did not come in her human form but as a massive white bear, her fur bristling and eyes glowing with fury. She charged straight at Mia with a deafening roar, her paws swiping with devastating force. Mia had little time to react as Sasha's tremendous attack knocked her crashing towards a tree, causing a horrible snapping sound. Mia dropped to the ground, unconscious, and slumped at the base of the tree.
Sasha let loose a victorious scream, which echoed over the white terrain. She rushed forward to finish Mia off, her claws poised for a killing blow. But just as she closed in, a strange sensation gripped her chest, a tingling that quickly turned to a sharp, jabbing pain. Instinct kicked in, and Sasha transformed into a crow, her massive bear form shrinking into a small, agile bird that took to the sky, narrowly avoiding the sudden attack of the body phaser who lunged from the shadows, his hands reaching out where her heart had been moments before.
She flapped her wings frantically, gaining altitude and darting around to dodge further strikes. She thought she was safe, soaring high above the fray, her heart pounding in her chest. But she let her guard down for just a moment too long.
From below, two beams of glowing red light flared to life, cutting through the snowy haze with deadly precision. They speared through the air like bolts of crimson lightning, and before Sasha could react, the beams pierced through her chest.
Tame had attacked.
The agony was tremendous, tearing through her whole body. She gave out an outburst as her body convulsed in midair, her wings flapping violently. She was suspended in the sky, an image against the pale winter light, for a little period before falling.
She dropped from the skies, crumpling as she landed with a dull thump. Blood pooled beneath her as she reverberated back into her human form, staining the snow a dark red. The light in her eyes faded, and her body lay still. Sasha was dead.
The battleground was still for a while, as a chilly breeze blew across the devastation. Freya's barrier rippled and then faded, her gaze hardening as she appraised the situation. Tame's frown deepened, his hands clenching into fists. Anna took a step back, a twisted smile creeping onto her lips.
The scales of battle had shifted once more.
Malek's eyes blazed with fury as he watched Tame effortlessly take down his ally, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. He was a towering figure of rage, his muscles tensing, and his breath heavy with each passing moment.
"Damn you piece of metal crap!", With a roar that echoed across the battlefield, Malek redirected his fury towards Anna. In an instant, he launched himself at her, the force of his movement creating a sonic boom that cracked through the air. His massive fist swung wide, a blur of dark red and black metal, aimed squarely at the demonic girl.
Anna's instincts kicked in. Her skin hardened, transforming into a nearly indestructible material, the toughest defence she could muster. But Malek's punch was fueled by pure rage, and it tore through her hardened arms like they were made of paper. The impact sent her flying back into the forest, her body crashing violently through the brittle, withered trees. Each collision was like the sound of thunder, wood splintering and cracking under the force of her body.
She eventually came to a rest, tumbling into the foot of a big tree. Blood flowed from her nostrils and mouth, and her breathing was erratic and weak. Crawling was practically impossible for her without functional arms. Pain pulsed throughout her entire body with every minuscule movement. The woodland floor beneath her was chilly, and her eyesight blurred as she battled to remain aware.
High above, Freya witnessed Sasha, the flying crow, plummet to the ground, morphing back into her human shape after the hit. She screamed in despair, her voice full of genuine anguish and rage Tears flowed down her cheeks as she saw her friend's lifeless body lying unmoving in the frigid snow.
Freya, fuelled by wrath and despair, pushed herself towards Tame, her translucent wings thrusting her onwards at amazing speed. She charged, shouting, her fists glowing with arcane energy, but Tame was undisturbed. The robot stood still, his countenance emotionless, as many weapons sprouted from his entire being, each taking aim. With mechanical accuracy, the weapons fired, releasing a hailstorm of bullets.
The bullets ripped through Freya's body, each one hitting her chest with an aggravating bang. Her cry was cut short, and her entire body jerked and convulsed as the bullets penetrated her skin. Blood splattered in all directions, soaking the snow underneath her. She tried to push forward, but the barrage was relentless, each bullet tearing deeper through her body.
Her momentum carried her forward a few more steps before she collapsed, skidding across the blood-soaked snow until she lay still at Tame's feet. The android's expression remained unchanged as a pistol morphed out of his hand, its cold metal barrel gleaming in the pale light. With a casual flick of his wrist, he spun the pistol once and aimed it at Freya's head. The sound of the shot echoed through the clearing—a loud, deafening bang. Her head exploded, blood and bone splattering across the ground, leaving nothing but a crimson stain where her face had been…Now, it was three against one.
Mia and Anna lay unconscious, their bodies battered and broken, but Tame, Gold, and the body phaser stood united, their eyes fixed on Malek. The behemoth stood erect, his chest heaving with each breath and his eyes filled with flaming fury. He was aware that he was outnumbered, yet his expression was one of grim resolve rather than fear.
"Then I shall die the honourable death of a warrior", Malek said with a tone of finality. The three fighters positioned themselves strategically, spreading out to surround Malek, cutting off any escape routes. Gold's hands glowed faintly, prepared to unleash another blinding light, while the body phaser stood ready, his form shifting and shimmering as he prepared for the next attack. Tame's weapons were already at the ready, every part of his body bristling with revealed guns, waiting for the signal to unleash hell once more.
Malek's fists clenched, his knuckles cracking like thunder. He could feel his strength ebbing with each moment, but he refused to back down. He would fight to his last breath. His rage had not dimmed, and as he stared down his three remaining adversaries, a dark smile twisted his lips.
…..
Feeling the surge of his newly acquired abilities coursing through him. The [precognition] skill tingled at the back of his mind, providing a constant, subtle alert of any immediate danger. He understood now why Preto had failed—the sand wyrm's jaw had been an inevitability that exceeded the three-second warning the ability provided. There had been no escaping it, not even for one gifted with foresight. His other two new abilities, [cloning] and [instant regeneration], pulsed with latent power. The clones were limited—only two at a time, each able to wield just one of his active abilities. But they could serve as distractions or decoys, splitting his enemies' attention.
He had used one which had fought toe to toe with Preto while he observed and waited for any form of accident on the trees. Unfortunately, the clones were not capable of speech and their eyes were completely black and inhuman. He needed to develop this ability if he was to use it properly in the future. The instant passive regeneration was his true boon; the power to heal any wound within milliseconds was a near-invincible shield.
The only potential threat to this was the shrouded mist virus he'd stored within himself, a deadly countermeasure derived from a sea creature he'd killed during the second purge. The mist, dangerous and destructive at a cellular level, was a double-edged sword, difficult to activate and maintain, but devastating to anything it touched. It couldn't work simultaneously with this ability so it was best to use his clones for this.
Finished with his reconnaissance using [exogene sense], Omen detected the faint signatures of Kiba and the remaining survivors. He moved as swiftly as possible until he found Kiba. The red wolf, now in his human form, lay on the ground, his body bloodied and torn, gasping for air. Nearby, Jacobi's mangled corpse was the proof of the fierce battle he'd fought.
"Shit! The plan was for me to meet you up, couldn't you have waited? I wanted to kill him too", Omen said in frustration but paused when his gaze turned to Kan. Kan was slumped against a tree, severely wounded but still clinging to life.
Kan's gaze widened in terror and panic as he saw Omen. Without delay, he whirled and fled, his startling speed indicating that he had no intention of lingering. Omen made a quick decision; he would deal with Kan later. He turned his focus back to Kiba.
"Hold still," Omen instructed gently as he crouched down, attempting to lift Kiba. But Kiba resisted, pushing weakly against Omen's arms, his voice a strained whisper.
"No…finish the mission," Kiba gasped, his breath rattling in his chest. "I've done my part…there's nothing left for me."
Omen's face remained stoic, but a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. He nodded solemnly, acknowledging Kiba's wishes. Without another word, Omen sprang to his feet and took off after Kan, his movements swift and precise. Frost crunched below as he sprinted through the woodland, every step bringing him closer to his objective.
The trees blurred past him as he regained ground, his increased pace transforming the scene around him into a smudge of white and brown. Omen's mind was a cold, calculating machine, already planning his next moves. He could sense Kan's exogene signature drawing nearer.
As Omen closed in, he activated his cloning ability, sending two duplicates sprinting to flank Kan on either side. Each clone carried a different power—one with the [instant dash], the other with [laser beam], their presence meant to confuse and corner Kan. They darted through the trees, moving with an almost eerie synchronization.
Kan glanced back and saw the clones closing in, panic evident in his eyes. His breathing was ragged, his wounds slowing him down despite his earlier burst of speed. He made a desperate turn to the left, crashing through a dense thicket, but Omen's clone with enhanced speed was already there, blocking his path. Kan skidded to a halt, his eyes wide with terror. He turned again, only to be met by another clone, its eyes glowing with a menacing red hue, ready to unleash a beam of [laser beam].
Kan's options were dwindling fast. He saw he was encircled and his thoughts raced for an escape. His body hurt and the anguish from his wounds threatened to overwhelm him, but he could not afford to give up. He had to escape, had to find a way to—
Omen appeared directly in front of him, his true self, not a clone. His presence was calm but commanding, his eyes dark and unyielding. He raised a hand, his intention clear, and Kan froze, knowing he had nowhere left to run.
"I once promised to kill," Omen said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "Didn't I?"