“Welcome to the Sabres.”
* * *
Another taunt echoed through the darkness. Aiden was ready, closing his eyes as he dropped the flashbang grenade he had just fished from his weapons pack. It bounced off Matthew’s skin harmlessly. Aiden could only imagine the smirk, short-lived as it would be. The grenade detonated, filling the room with blinding light and heat. Some paper ignited, flames danced and flickered around the room, shadows too.
Matthew screamed, flailing around. The sudden light had blinded him, the heat had thrown off his senses, and the sound disoriented him. More importantly, the shadows were back.
An Aiden slammed into Matthew, delivering a punishing combo on his scales. All it did was irritate him and bruise Aiden’s fists. Matthew’s hand grabbed his head, claws digging into its skull. Another Aiden materialised from the library shelves, grabbing onto his tail. From Matthew’s shadow, yet another Aiden leapt out, his fist smashing into his jaw. Every bone in the shadow Aiden’s hand shattered, but Matthew’s teeth had cracked. An effective strike.
“I don’t care about your insults. Rookie or not, we are Sabres of Aslog. Of course, we can get the job done.” The real Aiden stood away from Matthew keeping his distance. The blood that soaked his uniform now served to give him a terrifying appearance. His eyes had darkened. No, they were completely black, without a hint of humanity in them. Shadows danced around him, darkness licked at his wounds and gathered in his hand. It gave even the cold-blooded Matthew Corran pause. “More importantly, you underestimated me. Don’t doubt, despite all the foolishness you’ve managed to pull, the Sabres will take down the rest of your men. You’ve only ever been able to win by operating through darkness and subterfuge — right now, I am the darkness!”
Absolute Shadow Bind!
All the shadows in the room had suddenly attached themselves to Matthew’s. Aiden’s Shadow Revolution esoterica, aside from giving shape and form to any shadow his interacted with, could also reverse the natural logic of shadows. The shadow would move the caster, not the other way around. For Mathew, to move, he would have to be capable of shifting the entire building. And so he was paralysed, frozen in place.
“That’s a dirty trick,” Matthew snarled, unable to move a muscle.
“There is no such thing in a life or death battle,” Aiden replied. “You simply failed to control the flow of the battle.”
“You can’t move either, can you?” Matthew scoffed, “That’s why you didn’t use this earlier. It’s double-edged sword.”
“A double-edged sword is still a sword.”
“It’s only a matter of time then, till the flames go out and you lose your shadow,” Matthew replied, “Wonder if your friends will come in while I’m mangling you, after I mangle you, or if they’ll even make it here at all. Wanna make that bet?”
“I won’t give you that chance.” Aiden cut him off. “I told you before, ‘I am going to kill you’.”
The shadow binding was released, and Matthew stumbled forward, thrown off balance by his sudden freedom. It was short lived.
Shadow TenDrill!
A mass of shadows flowed from the ground, given form by industria, shape by Aiden’s will. Matthew could only look in horror as they reared back, then rapidly rotated towards him.
The masked man collapsed to the ground, his mask reverting him back to a normal human body. A long black shadow tendril ran from the wall into the left side of his body before dissipating, leaving only a hole in its wake.
Aiden watched for a twitch, any sign of life. There was nothing. He exhaled, a sigh of relief, then he too dropped to his knees. His head hurt, really badly. He just needed to reach for a regen pill, but he couldn’t remember if he had packed one or not. He reached for his weapons pack once more, but his fingers couldn’t open it. He couldn’t stay focused enough to.
His own words came back to his ears.
For me, perhaps it’ll take death to truly learn.
“Not like this,” Aiden whispered to himself, “Not like this. Not like this. Not…”
As Aiden passed out, he could barely make out two figures rushing towards him.
Chapter 33 - Thundering Lion
Arriving at Warehouse Sierra, Caine was greeted with the sounds of violence he expected. The stack of masks had already been organised, all he need was to make them go away.
A portal opened. This would take some time.
* * *
Battle in Warehouse Foxtrot.
Lionel and Rocky
Lionel and Rocky clashed again, the former’s knuckle dusters deflecting the latter’s claws. Lionel threw another punch at him, electricity now flowing through his left arm, the other man dodged it, planting a knee in Lionel’s face as he leapt. Landing for just a moment, his leg scythed through the air, hitting Lionel’s unprotected ribs, sending him into a wall. It cracked with the force of the impact.
Rocky landed softly on the ground.
“Once again you’re here.” He said, stalking around Lionel. “I warned you off earlier, and yet, you chose to return here despite knowing the risks — despite what you did to June.”
“You’re the ones who hurt him,” Lionel replied “As for me — I’m a Sabre. Risk is something I do.”
He paused, and then he continued, “This goes against every instinct, but I understand a little about you now. Surrender now, and we’ll help you.”
“Why would you do that?”Rocky said. “There’s nothing for you to gain.”
“We know why you joined up with Masquerade. It’s not your fault if you turned out the way you did. Which is why I’m offering you a chance now, help us take down Caine, and the rest of them and we’ll make sure it all works out for you..”
“Do you even hear yourself speak?” Rocky replied, “You call this a chance? Caine went to your headquarters a few days ago, and your combined forces couldn’t stop him. Juniper was attacked, your teams couldn’t save him. And now, I’m about to kill you.”
A low growl rumbled in his belly as the Beast mask spread and covered his face.
“Can you stop me?”
He lunged at Lionel, who braced for the impact.
Not well enough.
He was knocked off his feet, and the impact carried the duo through the wall into the warehouse. Warehouse Foxtrot was one of the larger ones, but it was empty. Full of boxes, dust and scaffolding promising wealth that never came. Lionel recovered quickly, but Rocky was gone. No, not gone, he realised as his claws flashed through the air.
Blood splattered from his back as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.
There was no one there. Not even the sound of breathing. Did Rocky run away? No, he didn’t seem the type.
Another flash, claws ripped through him again. His chest. Then his back again. He swung out, nothing.
Lionel stood stock still, holding his breath to catch a hint of Rocky’s. Nothing.
Blood splattered from his thigh.
He released a blast of lightning towards the direction the attack had come.
Still nothing.
Another flash of claws. More blood.
He would be torn to shreds before he could even do anything.
Rocky was torturing him to death.
“You love how this feels, don’t you?” a disembodied voice came from the darkness. “I’m cutting you up little by little, and you can’t even fight back.”
A slash, but Lionel had adapted. He leapt over the attack and managed to catch a glance of Rocky as he slipped into invisibility again.
“A lone wolf who hides his true self from others. When someone else ferrets it out, it’s all raw and sensitive,” the disembodied voice came.
Lionel looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of him. His back again.
His jacket was now shredded. His armoured shirt wasn’t firming much better.
Claws flashed again. And Again. And again.
Werewolf’s Hunter Fest!
“You think you’re so superior, but you’re
just like me. A barely restrained ball of rage and hate.”
Lionel closed his eyes trying to focus. The other man had tried to get under his skin, but he was off base. Lionel wasn’t some lost teenager looking for direction. He had his life worked out. Sure, he liked to hit things now and then, but that meant nothing.
Another flash came. Then another, and another, and another still. He was getting torn apart. Lionel grabbed his hand this time just as the claws met their mark.
“Stop babbling,” He growled. Rocky saw his attack before he felt it as Lionel’s skin turned blue.
Lightning Spark!
A burst of omnidirectional lightning came from Lionel’s body, burning Rocky as the former held on to him.
“You don’t have a firm a grasp on me as you think.” He smirked as the other man fell to the ground coughing up blood, his skin burning. Gathering lightning into his palm, Lionel struck again, hitting nothingness as Rocky rolled away. He growled, then lashed out at Lionel, who countered his attack with one of his own. For the briefest of moments, the warehouse was fully illuminated, and Lionel did a double take as he saw Rocky again for the first time.
Wolf Mask: Anwanwu!
Industria poured out of his mask, flowing into his body. He was looking more and more like what one would imagine a werewolf would look like. Lionel had envisioned the body of a beast and the soul of a man. Or was it the other, he didn’t have time to continue this train of thought as a kick sent him flying, knocking the breath from his lungs.
“I don’t have a firm grasp on you?”
Lightning flashed. Searing the upper floors. Rocky had vanished again.
Lionel’s eyes darted around, “You just want to think I’m like you.”
Rocky grabbed Lionel by the face slamming him into the ground as he sprung forward, he could barely make out the next few words through the ringing in his ears.
“Maybe that’s true Lionel. Maybe I do think that. Maybe I just want to fuck everything up.” Rocky growled. “You’re still going to die.”
Looking up at him, he cut a sinister figure. He stood close to seven feet tall, his arms and feet and been elongated.
His claws flashed above his head. Lionel sparked again, forcing him to retreat.
Standing up, he grimaced. His body was torn in several places. His skull was probably fractured, and he had cracked a few ribs. Yet, he was determined. He had seen the blood on him in the bar, despite feeling sympathy for him, despite knowing why he was the way that he was, Lionel knew he was still facing a monster. A bloodthirsty psychopath that would justify whatever he did to spin himself as the good guy. That’s all he was.
“I get the feeling you aren’t going to back down.”
Rocky lunged at him, this time, he was going to bite his neck clean off his body.
Werewolf’s Crushing Fang!
Lionel grabbed his head, placing a foot on his torso, and pivoting so that he was sent flying harmlessly away.
“Even if you say that,” He continued, “I’m not going to die here either.”
He had thrown down the gauntlet, and the fight now moved into its final phase.
Rocky attacked first once again, his claws tearing through steel and metal as Lionel evaded his.
As Rocky turned towards him, fangs bared, it was his turn to counter-attack.
Lightning Rendition.
Lionel was suddenly behind Rocky. It wasn’t a straight shot; rather he was enhancing his movements with lightning, moving at the speed of a lightning bolt.
With that lightning, of course, came the thunder.
The sudden explosion of sound had stunned the wolfman temporarily, as he fell to his knees, then swept Lionel off his own feet the next second.
Pinning him to the ground, Rocky began to lay into him, slashing him, once, twice, three times, Lionel caught his arms, again. His strength was incredible, and it seemed like he would break Lionel’s arms first.
Rocky lowered his face down towards Lionel’s.
“You made your choice,” He growled, “And I made mine. I chose to be a warrior for Caine, to be his sword and shield. Everything I did — I did of my own free will. Why would I back down now? Just because the odds are stacked against me? They’ve always been, from the very start.”
“I agree with you. You have made your choice,” Lionel said as he struggled to get free. “Time for the consequences.”
Lightning Spark.
Lionel flared up once more, and Rocky spasmed as he was hit with over a thousand volts of electricity.
He rolled off then leapt a few steps.
“This is your last chance,” Lionel said as he stood. “Surrender.”
In response, Rocky’s claws were popped. He would never surrender. The Legion thought they were the good guys, in their arrogance, enforcing rules made by others. People like them were hypocrites. Especially bloodthirsty psychopaths who didn’t even embrace what they were. He popped his wicked claws as he lunged.
Werewolf’s Crushing Slash!
Were one to have stood outside the warehouse, they would have been blown away as the claws ripped through the walls, the shockwave shattering the glass around the area, If Lionel had been hit, he would have been killed, but he had moved at the last second.
Lightning Rendition.
Once more Lionel sped away, avoiding the attack that tore through the walls. Rocky followed him again under cover of darkness. A flurry of punches stunned Lionel. A kick drew blood. Another punch and he heard the crunch of bone. Lionel winced, his forearm fractured. Another spark. Rocky leapt out of the way, retreating to the rafters.
Hunter’s Stealth.
HIs ability activated once more. Industria was cloaking his presence and erasing his sound, scent and form from his opponent. His next attack for sure would end the fight.
Hunter’s Stealth: Hidden Stab
From the cloak of darkness, Rocky emerged behind a dazed-looking Lionel. His hand jabbed towards the latter’s back, and his claws would rip through him, killing him instantly.
Goodbye. Lionel.
Claws sang through the air, and lightning flashed. Blood splattered as the warrior’s hand ripped into the torso of his enemy. No. Rocky realised, he has just skimmed his side. Lionel turned towards him, rage in his eyes. His hands speared out, coated with lightning. It was over.
At the last second, the Saber turned his knife hand into an open palm. Placing it over Rocky’s torso. They both glowed blue for a moment, then lightning flared out, searing them both.
Lightning Searing Jolt!
“Nice one.” Rocky gurgled. Blood spurted from the corners of his mask as he looked down. His skin was seared. Sparks danced around him as the charge ran through his body.
“I’ve stopped you. Next time I’ll stop Caine. There will be no more Junipers on my soul, Rocky,” Lionel said, looking at the floor instead of the back of his audience. “And you couldn’t kill me.”
He pulled his arm back and then collapsed. He had used up nearly all his industria, and he had taken a beating in this fight.
Rocky gasped as he too fell to his knees. As his mask cracked and fell off, Rocky turned towards Lionel so that he could see his full face once again.
“Is that so? At least one of us isn’t a failure?” Rocky smiled. A bloodstained, but sorrowful look.
* * *
“I’m hungry,” Juniper had said 17 years ago.
“I found some food,” Rocky had said 17 years ago.
“I’m tired,” Juniper had said, years ago.
“I found this house. There’s no one there.” Rocky had said, years ago.
“I’m thirsty,” Juniper had said, years ago.
“I got this barrel off the merchants.” Rocky had said, 17 years ago.
“I’m dying,” Juniper had said, years ago.
“I can save you,” Rocky had screamed, years ago.
“Help me, Rocky,” Juniper’s eyes had pleaded, days ago.
“I can’t save you.” Rocky’s e
yes had said, days ago
* * *
“Stop,” Lionel whispered, reaching out Rocky helplessly as he realised what he was doing. His legs failed him. Moving was too hard.
“Goodbye Lionel, it’s been fun,” Rocky said. He held a switchblade over his throat. The one he had stolen and cleaned so tenderly just days ago. Silver flashed through the air. Seconds later, he had passed out. A minute later, he was dead.
He couldn’t die by someone else’s hand. He wouldn’t become a pawn in WestScarlet’s games. Lionel understood. For someone who had seen himself as fiercely independent, Rocky had never been in control. Until his tragic end.
Chapter 34 - King of the Jungle
Grudge Match.
Tyrone and Jack.
Blood stained hands dripped on the roof of the warehouses. The other battles still raged. Lightning flashed, Glass sliced and Industria burned through the air. Above it all stood Tyrone and Jack. The former, a steely determination, the latter wore a cold indifference.
“We’ve met before,” Tyrone said, “You tried to kill me.”
“Yes. That was this week.” Jack replied.
“It wasn’t personal then,” Tyrone said, “It was just business as usual. You were an enemy, I was an enemy, and it was natural that we clashed.”
“If there is a point to this, get to it.”
“Why then…did you have to murder my friend…what sort of cruel point did you want to make?”
“I just felt like it,” Jack said as a grin broke out on his face, “If I had known you would be so upset…I would have cut him up some more, perhaps sent him back to you guys in bits and pieces.”
“You’re despicable,” Tyrone replied. “My team will stop your men, and I will beat you.”
“Words. Just words. You just don’t want to acknowledge that that is the way of the world, the strong survive, the weak die.” Jack replied, “Caine is a survivor. I am a survivor. I am his appointed angel, the one who roots out the weak, the one who selects the strong.”
Tyrone started to reply, but Jack was already behind him. He began to turn, but white-hot pain seared his side as the now-masked Jack sliced right through it.
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