Cyberspace; The Ultimus Collection

Chapter 27, Pursuit and Punishment

After Derick grabbed Daniel and began to drag him away, Catelin looked around at her group of heroes. What was left was nothing but mere fragments of a real team, but even with Daniel and Derick that wouldn't have changed much. She scanned through everybody, trying to determine the best course of action in taking down Leech. None of the UA students were usable, they've been through enough already. Sayori and the rest of the girls were a bit more promising, but this was out of their capabilities too. Her best bet was probably the most obvious one. Take Ashley and the rest of the guardians to confront Leech. It wasn't going to be easy, but maybe, just maybe, they could successfully hunt him down, or at the very least hold him off until Daniel and Derick returned. 

"C'mon guys, we have to go after him!" Catelin rounded up her new posse of warriors, Ashley, Alyson, Jax, G-1, and herself. "We don't have a moment to spare!" The five of them ran off towards Leech's general whereabouts. Through the thicket of trees and down to the city of streets. Back in the central heart of the internet, the gang followed an obvious trail of destruction and chaos. Blood, guts, and gore. Rubble, rebar, and glass. All lined the damned roads to hell, like a devilish display. 

"It's only been a few minutes! How could it have gotten this bad already?!" Alyson worried. 

"Either he's moving faster than we anticipated, or he's making a further mockery of us." G-1 hypothesized.

"Judging by how theatrical and self-absorbed he seems to be, I'd place my bets on the second one!" Ashley concluded. Catelin scowled. Her mind told herself to turn back, but her heart told herself to do what's right, what has to be done. So she steeled her nerves and pushed onwards. Suddenly, our heroes' pursuit was interrupted by an explosion coming from the restaurant in front of them. A massive fireball scorched the pavement below, and out from the flames stepped the red demon himself. 

"About time you showed up." Leech pulled his tail out from the fire, and what was caught in his snare was a poor frightened waiter. 

"No, no, no, wait please!" The waiter begged as Leech lifted him up by his leg and brought him to his face. "I have a wife and kids!"

"Oh good! I'll come for them next!" Leech dove for the waiter's neck, sinking in his teeth and living up to his namesake. He bit off a large chunk of flesh and carelessly tossed the poor man away. "A little tart that one, but still delicious nonetheless."

"You monster!" Alyson shrieked. 

"Oh like I haven't heard that one screamed at me before. Honestly, I thought you people would be somewhat gracious! I was under the impression the human race needed a little thinning out. I'm just doing the dirty work so that you all don't blame yourselves later."

"This is the last thing we need, you parasite!" Catelin yelled. "And we're here to put a stop to this, right now!" Leech snorted, struggling to contain his amusement.

"You? You of all people are going to stop me?!" He burst out laughing. "You're just some girl! You really think you could stand a chance against me?! What makes you different than the countless other buffoons I've slaughtered today?!" Leech continued to cackle, that is until he was abruptly stopped by a sharp pain in his stomach. Catelin's elbow, lodged firmly in his gut.

"You wanna keep talking?" Catelin pulled away as Leech keeled over and spat up his lunch. 

"You know... I should be mad." Leech wiped his mouth and gave a cheeky grin. "But that's the best shot someone's got on me since I got here." 

"Then keep talking, and I'll give you another." Catelin threatened. Leech stood up straight. 

"I can see why these idiots keep you around. With them, I can actually sense some power. They've all got some sort of strength that you don't. But that's what makes you deadly, huh? You seem all unassuming but under that cutesy, chipper look and attitude there's a real terror, ready to bare her claws when the moment's right." Leech started to approach Catelin and the rest of the group. Meanwhile Catelin readied herself in her best fighting stance. "Well, you've had your moment... now I think it's time we put the spotlight back on the real star!" Ashely noticed a glow emanating through Leech's claws. As Leech brought up his hand, Ashley spawned a wall of corrupted data. A shockwave of energy slammed and rippled across the corrupted wall. The force cracked and shattered it, leaving a cloud of red sparks. Leech's eyes widened. Within a blink of an eye, Leech switched up his game plan and attacked Ashley directly. He punched her in the face and sent her sprawling back. "You... I knew I sensed something off about you." Ashley stabilized herself, just in time to witness another attack by Leech. She used her corrupted blades to block and deflect his assault, but once she went on the offensive her fate was sealed. Rain began to sprinkle down. Leech grabbed one of her arms and lifted he up. "You remind me of someone. Now if that relation actually has meaning or is just pure coincidence, I don't know, and frankly I don't care. Because it pisses me off!" Leech tightened his grip on Ashley's arm, so much so that the sound of crackling bones was unmistakable. 

"Gah! Let me go!" Ashley demanded. 

"...okay!" Leech weirdly obliged, dropping Ashley right where he had her. She fell to the ground and turned to look up at her assailant. "Now, what I'm about to do might seem cruel, but it will be oh so therapeutic to me!" Leech raised his foot and positioned it right above Ashley. Ashley's expression turned from seething anger to pure terror. 

"NO! WAIT!" Catelin screamed, desperately trying to move her body over to Ashley, but despite her efforts, she hesitated, and she wasn't fast enough. Leech drove his foot clean through Ashley's chest, stomping down anything in between. Blood splattered everywhere. The ground, Catelin, Leech, all were soaked in a crimson bath, one that not even god's shower could rinse clean. When Leech raised his foot a red mass clung to him, only snapping off and plopping back into the corpse when under enough tension. Blood, guts, viscera, sinew, gore, many words could describe the carnage left before Catelin and the rest, but few could describe the feelings and thoughts plaguing their minds, hearts, and souls. Leech back off and admired his work.

"It's a shame really, such a waste of meat. But to be fair, it was probably tainted anyway!" Leech kicked Ashley's corpse aside. 

"YOU BASTARD!" Catelin charged at Leech, tears streaming down her face.

"Catelin, wait!"

"Stay back!" Her mourning team pleaded. 

"Do you people seriously never learn!" Leech grabbed Catelin's face and slammed it into the ground. "How's about some seconds?!" Leech let his slender tongue hang low, dripping saliva onto Catelin's forehead. 

"Oh I think you've had quite enough!" 

"Hm?" Leech looked up, only to meet Jax's flaming fist against his face. Leech tumbled back before finding his footing. "Ohoho, you're a spicy one aren't ya?!" 

"Why don't you bite my fist and find out?!" As Jax moved in closer Leech wrapped his tail around Jax's arm and spun him around. Unbalanced, Jax stumbled back into Leech, who in turn placed one arm around Jax's waist, and the other around Jax's neck. 

"You know, you've got a lot of talk in you. Sure, cold on the outside, but a raging inferno on the inside! But you know, after seeing you fight, you know what I think? I think you should stick to your normal routine..." Leech used his tail to grab ahold of Jax's tongue and force it out of his mouth. "...and bite your tongue!" Leech jolted his arm into Jax's jaw, biting down and severing his tongue. Leech let go of Jax, who staggered forward covering his bloody mouth. Leech tilted his head back and lowered Jax's tongue into his mouth, devouring it whole. "That sure hit the spot. Now, where were we?" Leech wondered up to Jax, raised his hand to his shoulder, and slashed his claws through Jax's throat. 

"JAX!" His newly widowed wife screamed as his body sunk lifelessly to the ground. 

"Well, it's been fun, but there's no point wasting any more time here. I've got a whole feast waiting for me, can't spoil my appetite on the appetizers. Ciao!" Once again, Leech flew off into the distance, leaving everyone in his wake broken, scared, and hopeless.