Cyberspace; The Ultimus Collection

Chapter 34, Unholy Parasite

In the presence of perfection, we are nothing. That is the one shared emotion and thought felt by all who stood before Leech. The strong vise of inferiority and fear, choking out any semblance of confidence. Leech stared down his prey, like a lion stalking its next meal. His body glowed brightly, as if a holy aura surrounded his being. Powered surged throughout every muscle in his pristine body. The innocents trembled in horror, fearful that the universe would drag them back to their grim fate. All except Daniel, and Derick. 

"I don't remember designing him with those symbols." Vincent cowered. "I must have really blacked out back then huh?"

"Maybe... But I think there might be a better explanation." Daniel suggested. He paused for a moment, thinking, trying not to crack under the pressure set by the perfect killing machine. "Hey Derick! Do you recognize any of those symbols on him?" 

"Yeah! Yeah, I think I do!" He responded. 

"So, then that must be the case..." 

"Wha... What are you talking about?" 

"Who exactly are you, bug?!" Daniel asked Leech, ignoring Vincent.

"Whatever do you mean? I'm Leech!" Leech answered, taken aback by Daniel's questioning.

"But you're not really, are you? The man we fought before, that was Leech. But those symbols on you, the color in your eyes, they suggest something else." Daniel smirked. "You're Crysalis, aren't you?" Leech smiled.

"Well, aren't you perceptive!" Leech bolted forward. He moved faster than the eye could see, faster than the brain could comprehend. It was like he teleported from one point to another. He latched onto Daniel's neck, but instead of stopping Leech dragged Daniel across the ground. He propelled himself faster and faster, all the while shredding open Daniel's back with rough rocks and hard concrete. "I was a little worried you wouldn't catch on! Mortals aren't as intelligent as gods you know!" Leech reeled his arm back. He then flung Daniel up and off the ground. Daniel spiraled through the air before crashing into a building. His bones cracked against the metal frames and his skin split from the glass shards. Leech cackled in triumph. 

"Daniel!" Catelin screamed. 

"Damnit! I gotta help him!" Vincent sprinted to the fight, praying to the goddess that he could make it in time. "You guys evacuate the area! Doesn't matter if this is Leech, Crysalis, or whoever, it's not safe for civilians!" Derick and Alyson nodded.

"You heard the man, let's move!" 

"If you're hurt, come to me! I can heal your wounds! If you're healthy then follow the others!" Daniel propped himself up. He coughed up blood and dust and wiped his mouth. 

"Let me know when you want to get serious!" 

"I am serious!"

"Could've fooled me." Leech teased.

"Grrrrrr!" In a blind rage Daniel went back on the attack, ready to punch Leech as hard as he could. 

"Daniel, wait!" Vincent called out, but it was too late. Daniel's actions were already in motion. Leech quickly grabbed ahold of Daniel's arm and redirected his attack. 

"Special delivery!" Leech pivoted his body and forced Daniel's assault upon Vincent. The two collided into each other and tumbled across the pavement. "This is fantastic!" He laughed. "I don't know why I didn't do this sooner! I mean possession is just so much simpler than persuasion! No morals to get in my way, absolute control, just total domination over the mind and body! And all I had to do was keep convincing that fool this was his destiny!" 

"You're not... going to get away with this!" Daniel struggled, hacking up bodily fluids. "We're... going to stop you!" Daniel's body quaked as he mustered up the strength to stand up, Vincent following his actions close behind. "Because we... are guardians! And we're stronger than you!"

"Hmph! That remains to be seen. But if you're so sure, then come on! Give it your best shot!" Leech mocked, smugness radiating from his presence. Daniel panted, struggling to breathe. Vincent took in deep breaths, both to regain his stamina and to steady his nerves.

"We attack him together. We attack simultaneously, in unison with each other. We don't ever let up, we keep pushing, and give him everything we've got!" Daniel huffed in between each word, every breath a painstaking strain on his lungs.

"Daniel... are you sure you want to do this? I mean we can swap you out with someone else." 

"No, I have to do this, me! Besides, I told you I'd help you out. You don't have to face your demons alone; we can do it together!" Vincent's face of worry suddenly vanished and morphed to match Daniel's face of determination. The two nodded at each other before refocusing on Leech. 

"Come on boys! I'm waiting!" Leech antagonized. In a burst of fury, Daniel and Vincent let out a loud shout, a war cry. They rushed at Leech, as prepared as they ever could be to strike him down. Unleashing a flurry of attacks, they managed to keep Leech on the ropes. Punch after punch. Kick after kick. Swing after swing. They fought to kill, to put an end to everything. They would either accomplish that goal or die trying. Leech eventually started to struggle to keep up. His blocks proving to be not enough. Daniel was beginning to sneak in strikes and slashes. Vincent was beginning to sneak in cuts and stabs. "Not bad! But still not enough!" Leech forced the two assailants back. However, instead of stumbling or losing balance, Daniel and Vincent immediately sprang back and continued their assault. Daniel remained at Leech's front, but Vincent moved to flank from behind. Quickly, Vincent grabbed ahold of Leech's tail. "What are you-" Vincent raised his corrupted blade and sliced off Leech's tail. "MOTHER FU-" Seeing his opportunity, Daniel plunged a sword into Leech's gut, impaling the roach. "YOU IMPUDENT LITTLE!" Suddenly, Leech's tail regenerated so fast it shot out and strangled Vincent. 

"Shit!" Leech slammed Vincent into the ground before sliding him back into Daniel. The guardians were once more knocked off their feet. Leech then pulled the sword out from his stomach and snapped it in half over his knee. 

"Daniel! I'm coming! Hold on!" Catelin yelled, making a mad dash into the jaws of death. 

"Catelin, no!" Ashley called out.

"You two really know how to piss someone off!" Leech planted his foot over Daniel's chest, the same way he did to Ashley. "If you won't give me a real challenge, then why should I humor you at all?!" Leech slowly began to add pressure. "I should just end things here, right now!" 

"DANIEL!" Catelin continued to scream, catching Leech's attention.

"On second thought..." Leech stepped off of Daniel and took several steps in Catelin's general direction. "I think I might know a way to raise the stakes!" Leech crossed his legs and straightened his body, forming everything to a sharp point. He then flexed his muscles, and a shockwave of energy shot through his body and drilled into the ground. The earth cracked as if I spike were just driven into it. The soil and rock fractured and caved in, forming a dusty crater for all those close enough to sink in. The ground buckled and crumbled, creating a jagged, uneven territory. When the dust settled, Daniel found himself upon a small, raised cliff. Several feet below he saw Leech, and in his claws was the young and innocent Catelin.