Cyberspace; The Ultimus Collection

Chapter 30, Guardian Assault

Derick wiped the blood off of the cold steel of his blade while Leech wiped his blood off of his face. He tilted his head back and let himself regenerate. Derick patted Daniel on the shoulder and pulled him in close. 

"You take care of the bug. Use what we learned, what we worked on. I will be by your side, and we'll be sure to assist you if need be." Daniel nodded as Derick positioned himself on the sidelines. Leech shuddered from his pain and his own revolting bloody taste, meanwhile Daniel readied himself into a fighting stance. 

"Well, well, well. Ain't this a surprise? The meek little fighter has finally decided to do his job and take a stand. I'm impressed by your confidence, but not your power."

"I know we ran before, but it was a necessary risk if it meant being able to kill you." 

"Oh! A necessary risk, was it? Was it necessary then for your peers to die a gruesome death? Or what about all those innocent civilians?" While Leech and Daniel began to bicker, Derick shuffled over to Catelin. He nudged her shoulder and secretly passed her a note. The two looked at each other, while keeping their bodies faced towards the altercation. 

"Just like how we discussed, got it?" Catelin nodded. "Good girl." Derick patted Catelin on the back and set her off on her way. 

"Why do you kill, Leech?" Daniel asked. "What's the point of all this needless violence when you know you are destined to fail?" 

"Fail? No, I have to disagree with you on that one, runt. But there is a reason for all of this, a method to my madness."

"Which is?" 

"My entire purpose is to kill. I was put here in world to feed off the life force of every last one of you fuckers! It's a bit fucked up if you think about it. A poor innocent creature being forced to maim and murder because that is what he is meant to do." 

"Then why do you embrace it? Why don't you just change your purpose, your destiny?" 

"Because that's just how the world works. That's just nature. And who am I to disgrace and disregard the natural order of things?"

"You as an entity are unnatural, you disgrace nature purely by existing!" Leech started to chuckle ad he approached Daniel, gnashing his teeth and flaunting his claws.

"Does a sheep cloned in a lab not deserve to act like a sheep, simply because it's origins were unnatural? Or does a fungus not deserve to carry out its life cycle because it is seen as grotesque?" 

"What are you getting at?" Daniel began to back away slowly, still holding his stance.

"The horrific nature of my existence shouldn't warrant judgment or extermination. I am entitled to the same life as any other living creature. I should be allowed to execute my life's purpose without backlash!" Leech, within the blink of an eye, lunged at Daniel and grabbed him by the throat. "I am a predator, and I should be allowed to hunt my prey!" Leech squeezed Daniel's neck, bursting several blood vessels. He then dropped him and let Daniel fall to the ground and bathe in the dust and dirt. "Now then, for my real prey..." 

"Oh sweet Jesus, he's going to kill me." It was if Vincent had come to terms with his fate. Leech darted towards Vincent, almost slithering like a snake. But as Leech grew closer, Derick's blade slashed across the parasite's neck, halting him in his tracks. Leech spiraled out of control and slide across the ground, his nails digging into the earth, creating sparks. 

"You tripped." Derick antagonized. 

"Fine then, what's another appetizer?" Leech sprung forth, clawing at Derick. The two struck at each other, blocking and deflecting each other's blows. "Grrr! This is getting annoying!" Leech grabbed Derick's sword with his tail and redirected his next attack. Now with a new opening, Leech drove his fist into Derick's gut, denting his armor and sending him to the ground. "I will achieve my purpose. I will achieve perfection!" Suddenly, a blunt metal object slammed into Leech's back. He grunted in pain as he felt his spine splinter and as he spat up blood. 

"You will achieve nothing. Your terror ends here!" G-1 proclaimed. 

"Damn bucket of bolts! Quit getting in my way!" Leech quickly whipped around and fired a blast of energy point blank at G-1. The blast did sizable damage to the android, frying his electronics and causing him to topple over. "Now then... where was I?" Leech huffed. But before he could act, Leech was hit in the back twice more by two small balls of energy. He hissed as he peered behind him. 

"I can do that too you scaly fuck!" Daniel yelled out. Leech sighed. 

"You know the more you fight, the harder this has to be!" Leech thrusted his hand towards Daniel, and from is came a beam of energy. Daniel panicked and brought up a shield to block the incoming attack. The laser slowly pushed Daniel back, forcefully digging his heels into the dirt. Suddenly the beam started to let up. Daniel peeked out from the cover of his shield and was promptly met with the fist of Leech. An onslaught of attacks rained down upon Daniel. All sorts of blows connected on every part of his body. Leech joined his hands together and raised them above his head. He the slammed then down onto Daniel. Sure of his victory, Leech let out a triumphant laugh. However his pride soon turned to rage, as when the dust kicked up by his volley cleared, Daniel stood there unshaken. 

"Like father like son." Daniel grinned. He pushed off against Leech, throwing the monster off balance.

"What?!" 

"Vincent tried something similar." Daniel swung his arms, like he was swing a baseball bat, while he manifested himself a weapon. As Leech found his footing, a battle axe wedge itself into his side. Leech grunted in pain, but before he could retaliate Daniel spun around, following through on his last attack, and lodged a small knife into Leech's shoulder. This time Leech screamed out in pain, and once again, before he could react, Daniel kicked him in his jaw. Leech felt the bone fracture as he stumbled back. Soon after, while Leech and Daniel both tried to catch their breaths, an arrow of light pierced Leech's chest. Leech's eye twitched before he finally snapped.

"That is it! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!" As Leech shouted a large shockwave of energy rocked the earth. A massive forcefield, a bubble of pure rage induced energy, ruptured the ground beneath them. The shockwave expanded and knocked everyone off of their feet. The ground cracked; the earth shattered. The landscape changed so drastically that everyone practically became separated. New and differing altitudes and topography altered the battlefield beyond recognition. The light created from the explosion of energy blinded all who dared to gaze upon it, everyone but Leech. As the heroes laid helpless, Leech approached his defenseless prey. Footsteps drew ever nearer. Tensions rose like never before. Sounds of a struggle could be heard, but no way to discern what exactly was happening. It wasn't until everyone was able to open their eyes that they could see the full picture. A chill ran down Alyson's spine as she gazed upon the sight in horror. Vincent wrapped up the tail of Leech, like a fly caught in the spider's web.